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  • Posted Oct 12, 2023

This will be the 21st year BIKEIOWA.com has provided Bicycle Course Support for the Des Moines Marathon.

The IMT Des Moines Marathon is this Sunday, Oct 15th!

The Des Moines Marathon has become internationally known for their awesome two-wheeled Course Support and we thank the 60+ cyclists who volunteer every year to make race day super-cool for thousands of athletes!

Look for us on course. We'll be in the reflective Safety Green t-shirts - Cheer us on too!

Read this News Post about the trails the races will use for 2023 and the times they will be congested.

RIDE SAFE !!



RACE SCHEDULE

Race Expo: Cowles Commons - 221 Walnut St. Des Moines
Friday 3-8PM
Saturday 10AM-6PM

Sunday Race Start Times:
8AM
IMT Des Moines Marathon
IMT Des Moines Half Marathon
Bankers Trust Marathon Relay

8:30AM
Principal 5K Road Race

12PM
Kids Run

For more info check out desmoinesmarathon.com

ROAD CLOSURES & REROUTES

Many roads surrounding the IMT Des Moines Marathon route will be closed on race day. You may want to consider avoiding many roads near the course during the races.

For City of Des Moines road closures and traffic reroutes, click here.

SPECTATORS

Crowd support is enormous, The races are fun too watch and cheer the athletes!

WHAT DOES THE BIKEIOWA COURSE SUPPORT TEAM DO?

We focus our attention to making sure everyone knows the course, stays on-course and knows where the amenities like restrooms, first-aid stations and mile-markers are.

  • We aid the athletes through the course.
  • We are a mobile information booths and answer any questions athletes or spectators may have regarding the course, mile markers, restrooms, food, baggage claim, lost & found, road openings/closures, etc.
  • We are there to help police the course (crowd and automobile control)
  • We make sure corners are open and free of spectators and debris
  • We watch the race bib numbers to ensure athletes are on the correct race course - AND make sure each athlete has a bib number
  • We provide emotional support and encouragement
  • We are the first-responders in case of an emergency
  • We use the buddy system to aid athletes as needed
  • We keep an eye on the athletes throughout the race. You'll be pretty much with the same pace groups all day. It's pretty easy to see someone with issues after you've been riding near them for hours
  • We keep non-registered athletes and non-official bike support off the race course
  • We aid the injured athletes and those in distress
  • We ensure there is no one else on the course other than the athletes and race volunteers
  • We stop traffic from entering the course
  • We work with the ham radio operators and race headquarters and alert them of any emergencies, athlete locations, etc.
  • We carry tracking devices on the lead and tail end of the races so race control knows where the beginning and end of the races are
What we don't do:
  • Pace athletes
  • Give preferential treatment to athletes

History

The BIKEIOWA Bike Team has been providing Course Support since 2002 (day one) for the Des Moines Marathon. The Des Moines Marathon has by far the best Bicycle Course Support on the planet! We have become an integral part of the marathon operations.

Check out Past year's Bicycle Course Support Crews!

2023

Bicycle Course Support

2022

Bicycle Course Support

2021

Bicycle Course Support

2020

PANDEMIC - VIRTUAL RACE

2019

Bicycle Course Support

2018

Bicycle Course Support

2017

Bicycle Course Support

2016

Bicycle Course Support

2015

Bicycle Course Support

2014

Bicycle Course Support

2013

Bicycle Course Support

2012

Bicycle Course Support

2011

Bicycle Course Support

2010

Bicycle Course Support

2009

Bicycle Course Support

2008

Bicycle Course Support

2007

Bicycle Course Support

2006

Bicycle Course Support

2005

missing photos from this year

2004

Bicycle Course Support

2003

Bicycle Course Support

2002

Bicycle Course Support




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