About cycling & running in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Des Moines Training Notes
Running: Locals run the Riverwalk when they want an easy downtown loop with water views and quick add-ons. The route runs 2 miles along the Des Moines River and starts the Des Moines Downtown 'Runseing' Tour. The full tour covers 1 km and gains 132 m when you take the full line through parks, the Capitol, and Sherman Hill Historic District. Gray's Lake sits 2 miles west of downtown and works for steady Z2. Capital Striders bring weekly Saturday runs and Wednesday track workouts. The IMT Des Moines Marathon, Capital Pursuit, Drake Road Races, and Grand Blue Mile anchor the calendar.
Cycling: Locals ride a lot of path miles, and Greater Des Moines has over 100 miles of them. The Raccoon River Valley Trail spans 89 miles, the Great Western Trail runs 17 miles from Des Moines to Martensdale, and the High Trestle Trail stretches 25 miles north of Des Moines. The Chichaqua Valley Trail adds 20 miles from Bondurant to Baxter. There's a 5 mile gravel route from Mills Civic Parkway to S 88th St. Des Moines Cycle Club runs social rides under and over 15 miles. CIRREM is the gravel anchor, and the west-side rollers are where locals look for climbing.
Season: Spring, summer, and fall give runners and cyclists the cleanest base-mile rhythm. Summer turns the trail system into the main training ground, and Des Moines Cycle Club keeps POTP on Monday nights from April 27th to August 17th with longer rides on other days. Capital Striders and Fleet Feet keep runners moving year-round, with Capital Striders meeting Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Fleet Feet and Fleet Feet social runs meeting Saturdays at 8 a.m. Winter changes the job. Crews clear streets and paved trails well, many runners continue to run outside, and the biggest challenge of winter running is the ice.
