You start at 8:00 am at Two Rivers Park, where the Raccoon meets the Des Moines River, and the gold dome of the State Capitol catches the low October sun across the water. The course climbs gently out of downtown into the older neighborhoods and parkland before looping back to the river trail, and while the organizers call the 2024 redesign flat and fast, you should expect long, rolling grades rather than a pancake. Mid-October in Iowa means cold hands at the start and bright, dry air by mile 15, with the smell of fallen leaves along the neighborhood streets. The seven-hour limit is one of the most generous in the Midwest, so this is a kind race for a first attempt. Pace the early rises conservatively and the final river miles will feel like a reward.
Loop starting and finishing at MidAmerican Energy Two Rivers Park downtown; the organizers introduced a new course in 2024 that they describe as flat, fast and spectator-friendly, though Find My Marathon classifies it as rolling. Course map ↗
Closes 2026-10-17. Online registration closes October 17, 2026 at 6:00 pm CDT. Current fees: $175 marathon, $130 half, $550 relay, $70 10K, $45 5K, kids run free. Early-bird marathon pricing was $135 before July 30, 2026. Register ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.