HalfRuns
Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series

Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series

Des Moines's Midwest Greater DSM Half Marathon offers a fast, flat course through the heart of downtown.

Race Date

Sep 27, 2026

Location

Des Moines, IA

Solid Pick47

Quick facts

Date
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Location
Des Moines, Iowa
Distance
Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 6.2 Miles, 3.1 Miles, 1 Miles, 13.1 Miles
Course
Loop Course
Terrain
Road
USATF certified
Not listed
Finishers on record
955

Highlights

Good For

PR FriendlyDestination Worthy

Atmosphere

Spectator SupportGreat SwagWell Organized

Course

Fast Flat

The Experience

The Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series, formerly the HyVee Half Marathon, returns to downtown Des Moines, Iowa, for its latest edition. Runners begin and finish just steps from the Polk County Courthouse on Court Avenue, immersing themselves in the city's core.

This race is designed for speed, featuring a flat, certified course that is a magnet for personal bests. With a typical winning time around 79 minutes, it attracts serious competitors and those looking to achieve new goals. The series also includes 10K, 5K, and a popular Kids One Mile Fun Run, making it a family-friendly event.

Attracting runners from approximately 17 states, the event has seen steady growth, with around 294 finishers in recent years. While the repeat-runner loyalty is currently around 8%, the race offers a well-organized experience in the heart of the Midwest.

Race-provided description

Dear Registered Participants, We are writing to share an important update regarding the Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, originally scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026. Recently, we learned of a major scheduling conflict with the Golden Harvest Half Marathon taking place on the exact same morning, at the same time, just three miles from our course and start / finish line.  This has never happened as we have been in this market for the last 20 years producing triathlon events and high quality road race events, for tens of thousands of athletes over the course of the last two decades.   Because we pride ourselves on delivering a premier, world-class race experience, we refuse to put on an event that doesn't meet the high standards you expect and deserve. Due to these combined circumstances, Premier Event Management has made the difficult decision to permanently cancel the Midwest Greater Des Moines event. What this means for you: Every registered athlete will receive a full refund of their entry fees. You do not need to take any action; refunds will be processed automatically back to your original form of payment through RunSignUp over the next few business days. Keep Running With Us While we are sad to close this chapter in Des Moines, we would love to have you join us at one of our other premier events this year.  If you are looking for a new goal, check out some of our other events across the midwest and United States:  Use the discount code DSM50 and receive 50% off of any of these other Premier Event Management Events!   Midwest Twin Cities Half Marathon, 10K & 5K (June 28, 2026 | Bloomington, MN): Just a short trip north, enjoy a beautiful summer course in the Twin Cities. Big Easy Halloween Half Marathon, 10K & 5K (Oct 25, 2026 | New Orleans, LA): Experience a festive, fast, and fun fall race in the heart of New Orleans. The Inaugural New Orleans Marathon, Half & 5K (Nov 14, 2026 | New Orleans, LA): Join us for our brand new, flagship marathon event in our vibrant home city. Mississippi Blues Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K (February 20, 2027 | Jackson, MS): Join us for our 20th Anniversary Marathon Weekend flagship event in the Capitol City of Jackson, Mississippi. Shamrockin Run Half Marathon, 10K & 5K (March 7, 2027 | New Orleans, LA): Experience a festive, fast, race course with plenty of Green to Go Around!  Since 2006, Premier Event Management has loved being a part of the Des Moines endurance community.  From producing the Hy-Vee Triathlon for a decade and the Drake Relays Half Marathon for three years, to our recent Midwest Half Marathon Series, we are deeply grateful for the 20 years of incredible support from the wonderful Capital City. We sincerely apologize for any disruption this causes to your fall training schedules, and we wish you the absolute best of luck in your upcoming races, including the IMT Des Moines Marathon. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly at billpemusa@gmail.com. Thank you for running with us.   Sincerely, Bill Burke

Logistics

Race Day

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Start Time

7:30 AM

Giveaway

T-Shirt

Start Location

420 Court Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50309

Directions

Course Info

Course Type

Loop Course

Terrain

road

Scenery

Urban

Surface

Paved

Difficulty

Ultra-Flat

Net Drop/km

0 m (Flat)

Separation

0.0%

Also Offers

6.2 Miles3.1 Miles1 Miles13.1 Miles

Quality Score

Solid Pick47
Methodology
Heritage8/20

4 years running

Size12/15

~294 finishers a year

Momentum5/5

growing or steady

Loyalty8/20

8% returning runners

Course & details3/15

6 timing sources

National draw7/10

runners from 17 states

Front-pack speed3/5

winner 1:19:04

Weather0/10

typical high 78°F

Race Day Weather

5-year historical avg

Start (Low)

57°

Afternoon (High)

78°

Warm — hydration strategy is key, start conservatively

0.0"

Precipitation

10 mph

Wind

64%

Humidity

Historical Finish Times

How 955 finishers actually crossed the line across 4 years.

Most recent

2025

Total finishers

955

Median time

2:09:16

Latest turnout

294

States

27

10%
25%
75%
90%
1:10p50 median ≈ 2:104:05

Turnout by year

20212025

'21'22'24'25
See full results

Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.

Frequently asked

When is the Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series?

The Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series is held on Sunday, September 27, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.

Where does the Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series take place?

It takes place in Des Moines, Iowa.

What distances does the Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series offer?

The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 6.2 Miles, 3.1 Miles, 1 Miles, 13.1 Miles.

Is the Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series course flat and good for a PR?

The Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series is a ultra-flat, loop course course.

How many people run the Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series?

HalfRuns has finish records for 955 runners who have completed the Midwest Greater Des Moines Half Marathon Series.

HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.

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