Iowa · 1 Mile (recreational · competitive · and USATF elite divisions)
Grand Blue Mile
Grand Blue Mile is a 1 Mile (recreational, competitive and and USATF elite divisions) event held in Des Moines, Iowa. Its next confirmed date is Tuesday, April 20, 2027. About 3,700 runners take part across all distances.
- Race day
- April 20, 2027
- Location
- Des Moines, IA
- Field size
- ~3,700 runners
Race details
- Date
- Tuesday, April 20, 2027
- Location
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Distances
- 1 Mile (recreational, competitive, and USATF elite divisions)
- Field size
- About 3,700 runners
- Course
- Flat
- Registration
- runsignup.com
- Official website
- grandbluemile.com
Registration, course & weather
- Registration status
- Registration status as last checked October 2, 2026: not announced
- Course profile
- Point-to-point course; Road surface
About the Grand Blue Mile
Held during Drake Relays week, this downtown Des Moines street mile combines recreational waves of thousands with an elite USATF national championship featuring world-class milers.
Rankings and notes
- Rankings and awards
- Hosts the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships; a men's road mile record was set at the 2026 edition; over 50,000 participants since 2010
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- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
Grand Blue Mile: common questions
- When is the Grand Blue Mile?
- The next confirmed date is Tuesday, April 20, 2027.
- Where is the Grand Blue Mile held?
- In Des Moines, Iowa.
- What distances does the Grand Blue Mile offer?
- 1 Mile (recreational, competitive and and USATF elite divisions).
- How many people run the Grand Blue Mile?
- About 3,700 runners across all of its distances. That figure is an estimate of the field size, not an entry cap.
- How do I register for the Grand Blue Mile?
- Registration is handled by the organiser at runsignup.com. Entry fees, caps and deadlines are set there.
- Is registration open for the Grand Blue Mile?
- Registration status as last checked October 2, 2026: not announced.
- What is the course like at the Grand Blue Mile?
- Point-to-point course; Road surface.
Plan this race in RaceRove
Save it to your plan, compare it with other races, check typical race-day weather and track your 50-state progress in the interactive app.