Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Des Moines, IA

Holiday 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Des Moines, IA is run in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 12, 2026. The half marathon (13.1 miles), the 10K and the 5K all go off at 8 a.m. on routes picked to show the character of the city. Every finisher receives a medal, and runners are invited to turn out in holiday costume for a chance at prizes.

A December half in the Midwest usually means training through the fall, so this race tends to reward whoever kept the routine going: twelve weeks with a weekly long run and a couple of sustained efforts at goal pace. If the fall got away from you, the 10K is the more useful race and sets up a spring build nicely. The 5K is where to bring anyone who has never pinned on a number. One start time for all three keeps the morning simple.