Midwest · IA
Running Races in Iowa
Iowa currently has 112 upcoming races with a confirmed date listed in RaceRove. Des Moines, Iowa City, Davenport and Bettendorf have the largest concentration of events.
By distance, that includes 84 5Ks, 32 10Ks, 14 half marathons and 4 marathons. Many events offer more than one distance, so a race can appear in more than one of those counts.
October (40), November (22) and September (21) are the busiest months on the calendar right now. Another 129 annual races are waiting for next year's date to be announced.
- Upcoming, date confirmed
- 112
- Active listings
- 241
- Cities with races
- 118
Browse Iowa races by distance
Upcoming races in Iowa
The next 60 of 112 with a confirmed date, soonest first.
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Fleet Feet Training ProgramsDavenport, IAQuad Cities Running Festival - 12 Week Half Marathon Training ProgramQuad City Times Bix 7 - 7 Week Training Program
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Team Breast Friends 5K Rack Run / Family Fun RunIowa City, IAIn Person 5K Not TimedIn Person 5K TimedVirtual 5K
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Iowa SHRM State Conference HRCoralville, IAFridayOne-Day Rate - Full Time StudentOne-Day Rate - National SHRM MemberOne-Day Rate - Non-SHRM o
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Paws in the Park 5K Run/Walk for the Foundation for the BAHS - Boone, IAMadrid, IA5K Run/WalkLazy Dog
Dates come from each race's own listing. Always confirm on the organiser's site before you book travel.
Largest races in Iowa
By estimated field size across all distances at the event.
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Especially for You Race Against Breast CancerCedar Rapids, IA Usually held in October · date not confirmed5K Run (timed)5K WalkFamily Fun Walk (~1 mile) ~16,679 runners
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Quad-City Times Bix 7Davenport, IA Usually held in July · date not confirmed7 Mile2 Mile (Quick Bix)Jr. Bix (kids) ~15,000 runners
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The Des Moines Turkey TrotDes Moines, IA Usually held in November · date not confirmed5 Mile5KTot Trot ~15,000 runners
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Living History Farms RaceUrbandale, IA Usually held in November · date not confirmed7.01 Mile cross country ~7,500 runners
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TBK Bank Quad Cities MarathonMoline, IA Usually held in September · date not confirmedMarathonHalf MarathonMarathon Relay5K ~6,000 runners
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Des Moines Marathon & HalfDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · date not confirmedMarathonHalf5K ~5,000 runners
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Grand Blue MileDes Moines, IA Usually held in April · date not confirmed1 Mile (recreationalcompetitiveand USATF elite divisions) ~3,700 runners
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Drake Road RacesDes Moines, IA Usually held in April · date not confirmedHalf Marathon10K5K ~3,600 runners
When races happen in Iowa
- February
- 1 upcoming race
- March
- 1 upcoming race
- April
- 5 upcoming races
- May
- 7 upcoming races
- June
- 4 upcoming races
- July
- 2 upcoming races
- September
- 21 upcoming races
- October
- 40 upcoming races
- November
- 22 upcoming races
- December
- 9 upcoming races
Iowa cities with the most races
- Des Moines
- 15 upcoming races
- Iowa City
- 6 upcoming races
- Davenport
- 5 upcoming races
- Bettendorf
- 4 upcoming races
- Cedar Rapids
- 4 upcoming races
- Ames
- 4 upcoming races
- Council Bluffs
- 4 upcoming races
- Dubuque
- 3 upcoming races
Annual events awaiting their next date
These races are held every year, but the next date isn't in the listing yet. The month shown is when each is usually held.
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Especially for You Race Against Breast CancerCedar Rapids, IA Usually held in October · date not confirmed5K Run (timed)5K WalkFamily Fun Walk (~1 mile) ~16,679 runners
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Quad-City Times Bix 7Davenport, IA Usually held in July · date not confirmed7 Mile2 Mile (Quick Bix)Jr. Bix (kids) ~15,000 runners
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The Des Moines Turkey TrotDes Moines, IA Usually held in November · date not confirmed5 Mile5KTot Trot ~15,000 runners
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Living History Farms RaceUrbandale, IA Usually held in November · date not confirmed7.01 Mile cross country ~7,500 runners
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TBK Bank Quad Cities MarathonMoline, IA Usually held in September · date not confirmedMarathonHalf MarathonMarathon Relay5K ~6,000 runners
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Des Moines Marathon & HalfDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · date not confirmedMarathonHalf5K ~5,000 runners
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Grand Blue MileDes Moines, IA Usually held in April · date not confirmed1 Mile (recreationalcompetitiveand USATF elite divisions) ~3,700 runners
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Drake Road RacesDes Moines, IA Usually held in April · date not confirmedHalf Marathon10K5K ~3,600 runners
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Dam to Dam Half MarathonDes Moines, IA Usually held in May · date not confirmedHalf Marathon ~3,500 runners
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Market to Market Relay IowaDes Moines, IA Usually held in May · date not confirmed~75-mile team relay (18 stages of ~3-5+ miles each) ~3,000 runners
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Cedar Rapids Marathon WeekendCedar Rapids, IA Usually held in June · date not confirmedMarathonHalf MarathonTeam Relay10K +2 more ~2,500 runners
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Hy-Vee Greater Des Moines Half Marathon, 10K & 5KDes Moines, IA Usually held in September · date not confirmedHalf Marathon10K5KKids One Mile Fun Run ~2,500 runners
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Run for the SchoolsIowa City, IA Usually held in October · date not confirmed10K5K1 MileHalf Mile ~2,000 runners
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Des Moines Firecracker 5KDes Moines, IA Usually held in July · date not confirmed5K ~1,500 runners
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Run CRANDIC Marathon & HalfCedar Rapids, IA Usually held in April · date not confirmedMarathonHalf Marathon ~1,500 runners
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University of Okoboji Homecoming RacesArnolds Park, IA Usually held in July · date not confirmedMarathonHalf Marathon10K5K +1 more ~1,500 runners
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Capital Pursuit 10-MileDes Moines, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced10 Mile4 Mile ~1,000 runners
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Des Moines St. Paddy's Marathon, Half Marathon & 5KDes Moines, IA Usually held in March · date not confirmedMarathonHalf Marathon5K ~1,000 runners
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Sturgis Falls 5K & 10KCedar Falls, IA Usually held in June · date not confirmed10K5K ~1,000 runners
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University of Okoboji Winter Games 5K Fun RunArnolds Park, IA Usually held in January · date not confirmed5K ~1,000 runners
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Beaverdale Fall Festival 5KDes Moines, IA Usually held in September · date not confirmed5K ~600 runners
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Wabash Trace Running Festival (Marathon & Half)Shenandoah, IA Usually held in September · next date not announcedMarathonHalf MarathonMarathon Relay10K +1 more ~600 runners
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Amana Colonies Trail RunAmana, IA Usually held in October · date not confirmed26K13K5K ~500 runners
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Marion Arts Festival Half Marathon & 5KMarion, IA Usually held in May · date not confirmedHalf Marathon5K ~500 runners
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Step Up Storm Lake Half Marathon, Relay & 5KStorm Lake, IA Usually held in September · next date not announcedHalf MarathonRelay5KYouth races ~500 runners
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Jingle Bell Run Iowa CityIowa City, IA Usually held in December · date not confirmed5K ~400 runners
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Mines of Spain Trail RacesDubuque, IA Usually held in August · date not confirmedHalf Marathon7 Mile4 Mile ~400 runners
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Pufferbilly Days 5K & 10KBoone, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5K10K ~400 runners
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The Driftless Half MarathonLansing, IA Usually held in October · date not confirmedHalf MarathonRelay10K5K ~400 runners
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Alzheimer's 5K & Half Marathon DubuqueDubuque, IA Usually held in August · next date not announcedHalf Marathon5K ~330 runners
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Frosty Trail RacesDes Moines, IA Usually held in January · date not confirmedHalf MarathonMarathon50K trail ~300 runners
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Medal Madness 5K, 10K & Half MarathonBettendorf, IA Usually held in March · date not confirmed5K10KHalf Marathon ~300 runners
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Pirate 5K, 10K & Half MarathonBettendorf, IA Usually held in April · date not confirmed5K10KHalf Marathon ~300 runners
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Andover Kinderfest Run for the Hill of ItAndover, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced4.5 Miles2 Miles
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Arrowhead Obstacle Trail RunNeola, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced1 Miles5K
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Atkins Watermelon Days 5k Walk/Run or 1-Mile Fun RunAtkins, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced5K1 Miles
Races in nearby states
Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 8 min read How to Choose the Best Half Marathon for a PR, Racecation or 50-State Challenge The best half marathon depends on what you want from it. How to choose a course for a personal record, a race worth travelling for, or an efficient stop on a 50-state challenge.
- 7 min read How to Find a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon Near You A practical way to find running races near you: pick a distance, decide how far you'll travel, read the listing properly and confirm the details before you register.
- 9 min read How to Run a Race in All 50 States How to plan a 50-state running challenge: set your own rules, group states into trips, build a calendar around the seasons, budget for it and keep track of every finish.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
Running Races in Iowa: common questions
- How many races are there in Iowa?
- RaceRove currently lists 112 upcoming races in Iowa with a confirmed date, plus 129 annual events whose next date hasn't been announced yet.
- Which Iowa cities have the most races?
- By upcoming events listed in RaceRove: Des Moines (15), Iowa City (6), Davenport (5), Bettendorf (4) and Cedar Rapids (4).
- When is race season in Iowa?
- Of the upcoming races listed, the busiest months are October (40), November (22) and September (21).
- What is the biggest race in Iowa?
- By estimated field size, the largest race listed in Iowa is the Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer, with about 16,679 runners across all of its distances.
Search every race in Iowa
Filter by month, course profile and field size, save races to a shortlist and compare them side by side in the interactive search.