Sycamore 8 2026

Sycamore 8 is a small trail race in Des Moines, held on the first weekend in December along the Sycamore Trail by the Des Moines River. It follows mostly single-track dirt trail, with a short section of paved bike path, and entries are limited to 300 runners. The race has been part of the local calendar since 2012 and serves as a late-season finish for many Des Moines runners. The route uses rolling single track with river views and wildlife, making it feel more like a winter trail outing than a road race with dirt. Iowa weather can turn the same course into very different races, from rain, snow, and below-zero cold to mild 50-degree days on fast dirt. The field includes experienced trail runners and people new to trails, and readers of Iowa Momentum Magazine have voted it runner-up for Top Cross Country Race.