Des Moines St. Paddy’s Day Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Des Moines, IA
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Get your green on and start training by chasing rainbows and leprechauns at the Des Moines St. Paddy’s Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K. The courses are on entirely paved surfaces, either street or bike trail. Finisher medals for marathon and half marathon finishers, and commemorative finisher gear that includes pint … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Mar 14):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 51 | 79 | 59 | 39 | 61 |
| L (°F) | 34 | 54 | 48 | 21 | 39 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Green and Great
This was my first time running the Des Moines St. Paddy's Day Half, and I was very impressed by the production. For a smaller race, it was efficiently run. Packet … MORE
This was my first time running the Des Moines St. Paddy’s Day Half, and I was very impressed by the production. For a smaller race, it was efficiently run. Packet pickup was easy – I grabbed mine a few days prior to the race at Fleet Feet. The shirt is EXTREMELY green! On race day, there was plenty of parking up by the Capitol Building and more than enough portable toilets for all the runners. Good start!
The course itself is wonderful, running through Des Moines’ East Village, onto the trail next to the river (thank goodness, because a train rolled through town right at the start – we were able to run under it), around Principal Park and then the entirety of the Gray’s Lake and Waterworks Park complexes. Already being familiar with the territory, I was very much looking forward to the route, and it delivered. Vibes were pretty good on the course — LOTS of green! There were some spectators, but not an overwhelming amount. Still, it was very fun, even in the late miles. Also — great swag! The aforementioned shirt is nice, the medal is unique and the finisher’s pint glass/free beer was a welcome touch!
I felt bad for the marathon runners — they had to do a second lap of the half marathon course, but the turnaround was literally right in front of the finish line. I can’t imagine getting so close to the finish line only to have to turn around and run the other way again! However, all-in-all, this was a good experience and I would recommend it to anyone that needs an early spring race.
Frozen Fingers, Happy Finisher
Small race. Stayed at the Embassy Suites only .3 miles from the start/finish. It was very cold. 31 degrees and windy, typical March Iowa weather. I wish I would have … MORE
Small race. Stayed at the Embassy Suites only .3 miles from the start/finish. It was very cold. 31 degrees and windy, typical March Iowa weather. I wish I would have worn gloves. Most of the course was on a path around ponds and lakes. There wasn’t an abundance of aid stations but the 6 were exactly where you needed them and were well manned with both water and Gatorade. I took a couple granola bars with me so water and Gatorade was all I needed. Not a ton of spectators but great scenic views. Enjoyed the swag. Glass, finishers medal, and choice of shirt. All in all I’d run the half again.
Friendly organizers
State 39 in the books. The Iowa course was two loops. Which means you get the special mental challenge of seeing the same miles twice and realizing exactly how far … MORE
State 39 in the books. The Iowa course was two loops. Which means you get the special mental challenge of seeing the same miles twice and realizing exactly how far you still have to go.
Crowd support? Let’s just say… it was a very intimate race. For long stretches it was just you, the road, and the endless pod / lake view. No cheering crowds, no loud music, just the sound of your own footsteps and the wind moving through the fields.
And the wind… the wind was no joke. At times it felt like running on a treadmill that someone quietly turned up to level 12. You lean forward, push harder, and somehow the scenery barely moves.
But that’s also the beauty of races like this. It strips marathon running down to the basics. No distractions. Just you, your legs, and the decision to keep moving forward.
And when you finally cross the finish line, the local volunteers greet you with the kind of genuine Midwest warmth that makes everything worth it.
Quiet course. Big wind. Friendly people.
Iowa, you were tougher than you looked.
Great city, easy race, but ...
... it was cloudy, windy and cold (wind chill 25F/-4C). I know, is not the organizers fault. Nature is nature. Just be prepared if you go to the upper mid-west … MORE
… it was cloudy, windy and cold (wind chill 25F/-4C). I know, is not the organizers fault. Nature is nature. Just be prepared if you go to the upper mid-west in late winter 😉
The race itself is great. Mostly flat with very few short ups or downs. Relatively small size with about 500+ half runners together with 200+ full marathoners. Very comfortable to run. Most of the race is in a wide paved trail along the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers and a couple of lakes. The full marathon route is the half route twice. My out-most respect for the full marathoners. I did the half and I was beat up and frozen when I finished. To see them coming around to do the route again was amazing.
There are a total of 6 water/electrolyte stops (3 stops that you cross twice) with awesome weather-brave volunteers. I didn’t see gels. But I could have missed it since I bring my own. Crowd support mostly at start/end (did I mention it was cold). Starts and ends at the steps of the Iowa State Capitol (must see inside !.. beautiful building). There is NO expo. You pickup your race bib and swag at the local running store. This year you had the option of a shirt or a hoodie. The hoodie was very nice and came quite handy in the cold. Very little post race food or fanfare.
Des Moines is a very nice city. Great choice for 50-staters. I would certainly do a race again here.
The green was certainly present.
Fantastic, designed course started and finished by the beautiful state capital. The trail portion meandered along the river and through the park and its lake. Very strong head winds at … MORE
Fantastic, designed course started and finished by the beautiful state capital. The trail portion meandered along the river and through the park and its lake. Very strong head winds at times especially off the lake. Very friendly and helpful support staff as well
A Runner's Race
This was the first time I have been to Des Moines and I was here to get Iowa off my 50 marathon state list. I liked to course very much. … MORE
This was the first time I have been to Des Moines and I was here to get Iowa off my 50 marathon state list. I liked to course very much. It is two loops which around 90% of the race is on a flat smooth asphalt trail. The section that is on the street does have pot holes and cracks. Aid stations were about every two miles. It should be noted that each aid station in addition to water/Gaterade also had Gu Shots.
The race bib pick up was at Fleet Feet. There is no expo. The hoodie was a nice and a big improvement over a t-shirt.
The race started on time and had plenty of volunteers. There was not much crowd support and no music on the course. This race is geared toward runners, so swag and crowds are minimal. That also means minimal fanfare at the end. You get a cookie, 1 beer, a glass and water. They do give you a finisher’s medal, although they are all the same size. ( marathon, half marathon/5k)
Overall I liked this race, with the exception of the wind which really picked up during the second loop. Des Moines is a lovely walkable town!
Logistics were easy with several motels within short walking distance to the start/finish line. There are numerous restaurants in Des Moines and it was a very safe place to just walk around. The airport is about a 15 minute Uber drive to downtown.
I would recommend this race if you are looking for a small town experience and a peaceful paved flat course through parks to run on!
Fun Race, Well Organized
The scenery on the course was great, well organized, good amount of crowd support as well! Aid stations were well placed throughout the course. Swag was alright but the race … MORE
The scenery on the course was great, well organized, good amount of crowd support as well! Aid stations were well placed throughout the course. Swag was alright but the race was fun regardless.
OK Race Ruined in the last 0.01 miles
I was moving along making great pace, sprinting for the finish, and when I was 0.01 Miles away from the finish line, I just about got hit by the city … MORE
I was moving along making great pace, sprinting for the finish, and when I was 0.01 Miles away from the finish line, I just about got hit by the city bus! 6th Ave, wasn’t blocked off!! So I had to step back and wait for traffic before I could cross to the finish. This took 20 seconds off my finish time. I was so pissed when I crossed the finish line. It ruined the whole race for me.
Unbelievably cold this year
The race itself is well organized, the course is flat and scenic. Des Moines is a smaller city and so the logistics of hotels, parking, etc. are all fairly easy. … MORE
The race itself is well organized, the course is flat and scenic. Des Moines is a smaller city and so the logistics of hotels, parking, etc. are all fairly easy. 13.1 mile double loop course was not overly crowded even the the 1st loop of half runners. Bitter cold may have kept folks away some. Aid stations, etc. we’re all reasonably spaced. Water, Gatorade, and GUs were all I saw. Our temp was 10 deg with 20 mph winds and a -9 windchill. Be ready!
Iowa cold is COLD!!
Let me start by saying that this race was exceptionally cold and windy with a -10 degree windchill at the start and never getting above 25 degrees. There was a … MORE
Let me start by saying that this race was exceptionally cold and windy with a -10 degree windchill at the start and never getting above 25 degrees. There was a lot to like about this race and I believe that much of what was lacking was due to the weather.
Packet pickup was at Fleet Feet near the start line. Apparently the entire race showed up at the same time on a Friday, one hour before store closing. Not sure how this could be avoided unless the store stayed open until 7 or 8 (they might have made some sales as it was too packed to shop)
Parking was a breeze on race morning as there is a free parking garage 2 blocks north of the start line. Unfortunately the only mention of parking was in broad strokes leaving you to wonder if you’d be able to get into any of the garages on race morning.
There were plenty of port-o-John’s with no lines – yay! The sound system was hard to hear and most people had no clue the National Anthem was even being played. The half and full started at the same time with a staggered start and it went well.
Volunteers were great and I honestly don’t know how they handled the cold as we were at least moving. The water was freezing in the cups and the Gatorade was slushy, and yet they made it work. Kudos to all of them!
The finish line was pretty sad (I’m a slower runner but still had 35 minutes to spare), but I’m going to attribute it to the cold. No names were announced, I didn’t see a time clock (maybe because of wind) and there were definitely no spectators and I don’t blame them. There were Shamrock cookies, trail mix and granola bars along with bottles of water and cans of beer. With better weather, I’m sure it would have been a fun celebration.
The race shirt was good looking (unisex only), the medal was nice and the pint glass was a nice touch.
We chose this race because our prior Iowa race (Wabash Trace) was cancelled due to lightning about 3-6 miles in and we were thrown off course without explanation, and nobody at finish to explain things. They then let the half runners continue and didn’t even offer us the option to do that distance. Trust me when I say that even with the brutal cold, I’d pick this race again.
Nice, small race in a flat park
Things I enjoyed: * the double out-and-back course (with a few detours) was both varied and predictable, nice and flat through a park, with a little city vibe near the … MORE
Things I enjoyed:
* the double out-and-back course (with a few detours) was both varied and predictable, nice and flat through a park, with a little city vibe near the start/finish/13.1 turnaround.
* The half marathon started 1 hour and 15 minutes after the full, so there was not any congestion, but we saw them on the course.
* There was a morning bib pickup option, and an option to have it mailed
* start/finish is close to a nice area with hotels and cute shops
* Des Moines is a nice city and easy to get to; no need to rent a car (if you stay near start/finish).
* cool photo ops in front of the state capitol.
The literal only thing I didn’t like (which feels so picky) is there were no bananas at the finish–only cute Shamrock cookies and water (in a cup).
Ran on my own (official race postponed)
Since they did not have the actual race due to Corona fears, my opinions will be of what my virtual race entailed. Communication before the race was good. Packet pickup … MORE
Since they did not have the actual race due to Corona fears, my opinions will be of what my virtual race entailed.
Communication before the race was good. Packet pickup was easy and the fleet feet people were real nice. They gave out the swag (minus bibs) incase you want to come back and run the race at the rescheduled time. I did not so i ran most of the course on my own and put my results in as a virtual race.
Swag included a decent themed medal, long sleeve 1/4 zip and a pint glass.
I also added in the “kiss me i’m a runner” green t-shirt as you know it was St Patrick’s Day. Many hotels near the start/finish line and the city is easy to navigate especially on a weekend.
The course is very flat and mostly along the river on ‘bike trails”. It was cold (28-35) and a little windy (15MPH), but the river and city scenery was pleasant. Had a great meal at a local restaurant and met many nice people from there and also those who showed up to run.