Overall very well done. Traveled from NC and it was worther the trip. Kidos to race organizers, volunteers! I had only one negative: At one major intersteion, runners were stopped to allow motor vehicle traffic to paass through. I would highly recommend this marathon to anyone interested in running a great course, a reace with excellent support and organization. Just make sure traffic is stopped not the runners.

When you hear 'inaugural marathon' you might shy away from such a race - way too many potential difficulties to deal with. I'm happy to report this race had no first time problems and was simply a great overall event. The mostly-flat course was a nice blend of urban, residential and parks and the organization was incredibly effecient. Crowd support was decent; I'd expect it will increase in coming years. This is a terrific, medium-sized Midwest marathon that hopefully is here to stay!

For my first marathon, I needed all help I could get! The rolling hills were working against me, but the fans of my hometown crowd kept me smiling! The park setting was beautiful for 6 of the final 8 miles, but hard for fans to get to, and that is when I really needed some help! The finish fans did keep me running the final 1.5m and across the line in 3:32! Thanks DSM!

The course is relatively fast, and this year the weather was quite suitable. The fans were friendly.
This was a first time marathon, and since I've run 14 marathons, including 3 Bostons I feel qualified to say that there were many first-time mistakes that took away from the total experience:
1. There was chip timing, but first we had to have them activated just before the start instead of the day before. There was no mat at the start, which made chip timing kind of useless.
2. Mile markers early on were poorly marked and you basically found them by luck.
3. There was no one calling out splits anywhere on the course.
4. No clock at halfway, ergo no split.
5. No first mile split though most marathoners gauge their race pace in mile one.
6. For those running for age group awards, forget it. No age group awards.
These are all fixable, and if the director needs a resource, talk to the director of the Columbus, Ohio marathon, the best I've ever run re: total organization.

Some said, 'if you build it they won't come.' Judging from the over 1,100 full marathoners and over 600 half marathoners I would say that was wrong. Helene and some key individuals put their heart and soul into making this first time event big time. It had chip timing, great selections of merchandise, first class artistic touches, a great pasta party, a world record for famous long distance runner Helen Kline and wonderful volunteers. The course was moderately challenging in some spots, but the view of the city the lakes and the trails made it worth it. Water stops were well staffed and stocked. Though the crowds were predictably absent for a first time event, spots like mile 13.1 with the festive atmosphere and a few others with high energy volunteers were fun. The Hotel Savory was a first class headquarters and blocks from the start and finish, nice touch compared to most others. The finish line was well thought out, with the spectators unable to clog the artery for us wearly finishers who had to catch our breath, get chips off, our medals and some hydration and food without fighting well wishers too quickly. Hats off to everyone involved with making Des Moines a must run for me next year!

The inaugural Des Moines Marathon was one of the best organized and supported marathons I have run in. The race started on time and had adequate water stops. The spectators were plentiful and the volunteers seemed eager to please. The course had more hills than I expected, but none of them were too severe. With a great job in the first year, I would expect the experience to just get better.

The Alliance Inaugural Des Moines Marathon is over. Well, the race is; I'm still hurting. For a city of rolling hills, in a state of rolling hills, it was amazingly un-hilly. There's a long low-grade climb that runs for about a mile (with a couple of flat stretches thrown in) between miles 7 and 9, and a few short climbs as well. The steepest was a downhill from the State Capitol (beautiful 5-domed structure) just past mile 5.

Repeating views of the Capitol, and the small but impressive downtown skyline combined with miles of park land, riverside, and finally the beautiful circuit around Gray's Lake. The last included a bridge over one part of the lake, with great views of downtown. It was heartening to know as we approached the mile 23 marker that the finish was within sight. The finish itself was a flat approach, veering down a small incline, and running right next to the Des Moines river, with the Cubs AAA baseball stadium in view beyond the finish line.

The fan support was light, but avid. Living in Des Moines, I was still hearing a lot of 'What Marathon?' the week before the event. But it was a great runner turnout, and big volunteer base. I was one of only a few with my name on my shirt, so I had great fan support. And the course laid out well for viewing at several spots on the route. There were multiple groups of specators that I saw 5-7 times along the course. One group from Kansas City caught me at the finish and wanted me in a picture with them. I'd do this one again. And again.