IMT Des Moines Marathon Weekend

The IMT Des Moines Marathon Weekend takes place in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, with all races centered in the city. This annual event, held in mid-October, features a Boston-qualifying marathon. Other events include a half marathon, marathon relay, 5K, 5-mile run, 1-mile walk, a youth run, and a Jingle Jog, all scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The courses wind through downtown streets, city parks, residential areas, and offer views of the Des Moines skyline. Over 9,000 participants have taken part in the weekend's events, drawing a diverse field from children and walkers to relay teams, novice marathoners, Boston hopefuls, and elite runners. The marathon was established in 2002, with records set by Philip Lagat at 2:12:19 for men and Abnet Simegn at 2:32:28 for women.