Midwest · IA
Running Races in Iowa
Iowa currently has 102 upcoming races with a confirmed date listed in RaceRove. Des Moines, Bettendorf, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids have the largest concentration of events.
By distance, that includes 74 5Ks, 33 10Ks, 22 half marathons and 9 marathons. Many events offer more than one distance, so a race can appear in more than one of those counts.
November (24), September (11) and April (10) are the busiest months on the calendar right now. Another 139 annual races are waiting for next year's date to be announced.
- Upcoming, date confirmed
- 102
- Active listings
- 241
- Cities with races
- 118
Browse Iowa races by distance
Upcoming races in Iowa
The next 60 of 102 with a confirmed date, soonest first.
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Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k, & Greubel Memorial 5kCarlisle, IA5K10KHalf Marathon ~5,097 runners
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Christmas in LeClaire Ugly Christmas Sweater 5k Run/WalkLe Claire, IA5KBecome a SponsorKids Reindeer Dash Fun RunSecret Santa Sleep-In
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Des Moines St. Paddy's Marathon, Half Marathon & 5KDes Moines, IAMarathonHalf Marathon5K ~1,000 runners
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Grand Blue MileDes Moines, IA1 Mile (recreationalcompetitiveand USATF elite divisions) ~3,700 runners
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Lewis & Clark Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 5k and 1-Mile Fun RunCouncil Bluffs, IAMarathonHalf Marathon5KKids 1-Mile Fun Run
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Cedar Rapids Marathon WeekendCedar Rapids, IAMarathonHalf MarathonTeam Relay10K +2 more ~2,500 runners
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Market to Market Relay IowaDes Moines, IA~75-mile team relay (18 stages of ~3-5+ miles each) ~3,000 runners
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 · next date not announced5K Run (timed)5K WalkFamily Fun Walk (~1 mile) ~16,679 runners
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Hillbilly Hike Half Marathon, 10k, & Greubel Memorial 5kCarlisle, IA5K10KHalf Marathon ~5,097 runners
When races happen in Iowa
- January
- 2 upcoming races
- February
- 2 upcoming races
- March
- 2 upcoming races
- April
- 10 upcoming races
- May
- 10 upcoming races
- June
- 5 upcoming races
- July
- 7 upcoming races
- August
- 9 upcoming races
- September
- 11 upcoming races
- October
- 10 upcoming races
- November
- 24 upcoming races
- December
- 10 upcoming races
Iowa cities with the most races
- Des Moines
- 23 upcoming races
- Bettendorf
- 6 upcoming races
- Iowa City
- 5 upcoming races
- Cedar Rapids
- 4 upcoming races
- Davenport
- 3 upcoming races
- Dubuque
- 3 upcoming races
- Marion
- 3 upcoming races
- Waterloo
- 2 upcoming races
Running in Iowa cities
Browse Iowa races by month
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 · next date not announced5K Run (timed)5K WalkFamily Fun Walk (~1 mile) ~16,679 runners
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Des Moines Marathon & HalfDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · next date not announcedMarathonHalf5K ~5,000 runners
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IMT Des Moines MarathonDes Moines, IA Usually held in October · next date not announcedMarathon10K5K1 Mile ~5,000 runners
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Run for the SchoolsIowa City, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced10K5K1 MileHalf Mile ~2,000 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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Ditmars Spiked Apple 5kCouncil Bluffs, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced5K ~1,000 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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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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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 · next date not announcedHalf 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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Moorehead Park Trail MazathonIda Grove, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced10K8.8 Miles17.6 Miles ~300 runners
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Trail of the Dragon 50K/50mile RunIda Grove, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced31 Miles50 Miler ~300 runners
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Yippee-Ki-Yay RacesCouncil Bluffs, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced50KMHalf Marathon10KM ~200 runners
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Harvest Half Marathon and 10KSioux Center, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced10KHalf Marathon ~130 runners
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Geode Challenge RacesDanville, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced25K12K5K ~64 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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Atkins Watermelon Days 5k Walk/Run or 1-Mile Fun RunAtkins, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced5K1 Mile
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Booneville Backroads UltraBooneville, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced100 Miler100K50K10K
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Breaking the Silence Suicide Awareness WalkCamanche, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced1 Mile Family Walk
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CKS Move for a Mission: Cohen Francis 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run/WalkSheldon, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5K1 Mile
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Corpuscle Shuffle 5K Run/WalkDavenport, IA Usually held in October · next date not announced1 Mile5K Run/ WalkSleep In
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Corydon Old Settlers Race (2-mile walk / 5K / 10K)Corydon, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced5K10K
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Dallas Center Fall Festival Road Race - 5K, 1 Mile and Tot TrotDallas Center, IA Usually held in August · next date not announced1 Mile5KTot Trot
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DMACC 5K Walk/Run and Kids Fun RunAnkeny, IA Usually held in September · next date not announced5K
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.
- 4 min read Diplo's Run Club 2026-27: Every City, Date and Course Diplo's Run Club is a 5K with a post-race concert. Every US date for 2026-27 (San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix), start times and courses.
- 8 min read How to Choose Your First Marathon A practical checklist for choosing a first marathon based on course, weather, cutoff, travel, field size and support.
- 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 102 upcoming races in Iowa with a confirmed date, plus 139 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 (23), Bettendorf (6), Iowa City (5), Cedar Rapids (4) and Davenport (3).
- When is race season in Iowa?
- Of the upcoming races listed, the busiest months are November (24), September (11) and April (10).
- 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.