This is a small, urban, fixed-time race, yet there are enough finisher's for it to count for the 50 State Marathon Club and Marathon Maniacs. It is a really nice … MORE
This is a small, urban, fixed-time race, yet there are enough finisher’s for it to count for the 50 State Marathon Club and Marathon Maniacs. It is a really nice venue, consisting of an approximately 1.9 mile paved loop around Gray’s Lake in Des Moines, IA. The path is wide with just enough undulations to give yourself a break by going down short hills. Overall I would describe it as a flat course though. There were also at least three bathrooms with indoor plumbing within a short distance from the course. It is in a park-like atmosphere, with some prairie plants along the shoreline and views of the skyline of Des Moines. The course was open during the day, so there were other pedestrians, cyclist, and fisherman on the course, but it was never a problem because of the wide path. The one and only disappointment for me was the aid station. The only liquids available were cola and water, and the food selection was rather limited to cookies, chips and candy. If you like to eat real food like PB&J sandwiches, you would need to bring your own. Bling consisted of a nice pullover sweatshirt that I was given after I finished. Despite the one shortcoming, I will remember the pleasant fall day, and the seemingly never-ending flock of tens of thousands of noisy Common Grackles that flew overhead for a long time. It was a well managed race that I hope to do again sometime.
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Nice urban fixed-time race
This is a small, urban, fixed-time race, yet there are enough finisher's for it to count for the 50 State Marathon Club and Marathon Maniacs. It is a really nice … MORE
This is a small, urban, fixed-time race, yet there are enough finisher’s for it to count for the 50 State Marathon Club and Marathon Maniacs. It is a really nice venue, consisting of an approximately 1.9 mile paved loop around Gray’s Lake in Des Moines, IA. The path is wide with just enough undulations to give yourself a break by going down short hills. Overall I would describe it as a flat course though. There were also at least three bathrooms with indoor plumbing within a short distance from the course. It is in a park-like atmosphere, with some prairie plants along the shoreline and views of the skyline of Des Moines. The course was open during the day, so there were other pedestrians, cyclist, and fisherman on the course, but it was never a problem because of the wide path. The one and only disappointment for me was the aid station. The only liquids available were cola and water, and the food selection was rather limited to cookies, chips and candy. If you like to eat real food like PB&J sandwiches, you would need to bring your own. Bling consisted of a nice pullover sweatshirt that I was given after I finished. Despite the one shortcoming, I will remember the pleasant fall day, and the seemingly never-ending flock of tens of thousands of noisy Common Grackles that flew overhead for a long time. It was a well managed race that I hope to do again sometime.