Cheer at the Des Moines Marathon
We love watching the Des Moines marathon (and half) and cheering on all the runners! This year’s marathon is on October 20, 2024, starting at 8 a.m. Over the years we have cheered many times and wanted to share some of the best tips we have gained.
Preparation
We love making signs to cheer on the runners. My best tip is to use permanent markers and make your signs on the top of plastic tub lids. They will last for years and they are much easier to hold on windy days! Packing noise-makers also encourage the runners and keep kids engaged. We have used a plethora of jingle bells, cowbells, and hand clappers. We will also bring along a good Bluetooth speaker to play our favorite motivating songs.
Where to Watch the Marathon
We try to hit three to four spots to watch if we know people running the race. When finding a place to cheer, we always keep in mind your access to I-235 without crossing the marathon’s path and running into road closures.
Starting Line and Mile 2.5
I recommend parking in the 800 Mulberry Parking Ramp (Wells Fargo Employee Parking Ramp.) This ramp is free on weekends for the public. From this parking ramp, it is a four-block walk to cheer near the starting line. Then the marathon will loop back on the north side of the parking ramp at mile 2.5.
Mile 4.5
If you want to avoid downtown, our favorite spot to cheer is near 26th St and Grand Ave. From Ingersoll, you drive down the alleyway by Taco Johns (2600 Ingersoll Ave.) Here you can drive right to Grand, hop out of your car, cheer, do a U-turn, and head back to Ingersoll.
Mile 7.5 and Mile 10.5
We like to take 28th St under I-235 and head to Kingman Blvd. There is typically street parking within a block or two of Kingman available. This is a perfect spot to sit in one place but to cheer because the runners pass you twice!
Mile 9 (Drake Blue Oval)
As the runners run around the iconic Drake Blue Oval, you can cheer in the stadium. This is a fun place to cheer but parking and navigation is more difficult to get here. The easiest is to take 19th St to Forest Ave and park in Drake Lot 1 or nearby street parking.
Mile 14
From I-235 take exit 3 (West Des Moines 8th St exit) and continue down 8th St. Turn east on Hillside Ave to 6th St. Park anywhere along 6th Ave and walk one block to 5th Ave to cheer as the marathon enters into historic Valley Junction.
Mile 20 to 22
From Valley Junction head to Waterworks Park, you will want to take S 11th St. to Lincoln St to 63rd St to avoid the Railroad/63rd St intersection. Take 63rd Street to Park Ave and then to George Flagg Parkway. Here park along George Flagg Parkway and cheer away!
Finish Line
Our favorite place to cheer is the finish line! From Waterworks Park, go to Thomas Beck Road to SW 9th St. to downtown. Street parking is free but can be very hard to find nearby. I would recommend parking in the Science Center of Iowa parking ramp (small cost but very close to the finish) or the 800 Mulberry St parking ramp (free but a six block walk to finish.)
Cheering for the Half Marathon
For the half marathon, the starting line, mile 2.5, and mile 4.5 are the same. Waterworks Park is around mile 8.5 in the half marathon. The finish line is also the same.
