SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH
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MRKT DISTRICT
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DOWNTOWN DSM
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SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH ✦ MRKT DISTRICT ✦ DOWNTOWN DSM ✦
CHOOSE A DISTANCE
Running, especially when you sign up for an event, should make you feel something.
And if we’re honest, it doesn’t always.
Lately, it’s all started to look the same. Early alarms. The same loop around the same lake (you know the one). A finish line arch dropped onto a trail. A medal that ends up in a drawer.
why this
exiSts
You’ve seen it. We have too.
That’s where Night Run comes from.
From wanting a run in Des Moines that actually feels like something. Unpredictable. Gritty. Social. A night that feels like peak summer.
The 2026 course runs down Court Ave as the neon lights flick on. It dives into an alley most people never notice during the daily commute. It climbs the 8th Street Viaduct, leveling athletes with the setting sun high above the city. It passes the baseball stadium during a summer night game and finishes along the waterfront.
And, for the first time in more than 60 years of Des Moines road racing, runners will climb up and down a seven-story downtown parking garage.
There are always unknowns when you do something for the first time.
But one thing we do know.
This will be unlike anything you’ve ever run.
When we started designing The Night Run route, we knew one thing right away: we didn’t want the typical Des Moines race course.
There are plenty of events that highlight the trails or the parks. We wanted something that highlighted the urbanism of Des Moines. The streets and structures that built this city.
It took time, but we’re confident The Night Run will be unlike any race you’ve done in Des Moines, and likely anywhere else.
When we started designing The Night Run route, we knew one thing right away: we didn’t want the typical Des Moines race course.
There are plenty of events that highlight the trails or the parks. We wanted something that highlighted the urbanism of Des Moines. The streets and structures that built this city.
It took time, but we’re confident The Night Run will be unlike any race you’ve done in Des Moines, and likely anywhere else.
The 2026 course runs down Court Ave as the neon lights flick on. It dives into an alley most people never notice during the daily commute. It climbs the 8th Street Viaduct, leveling athletes with the setting sun high above the city. It passes the baseball stadium during a summer night game and finishes along the waterfront.
And, for the first time in more than 60 years of Des Moines road racing, runners will climb up and down a seven-story downtown parking garage.
There are always unknowns when you do something for the first time.
But one thing we do know.
This will be unlike anything you’ve ever run.
3 Laps. 1 mile. under the lights.
The Night Mile brings track meet energy to the MRKT District streets. A heat for every pace, finishing with the fastest runners in the city after the sun goes down.
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All Paces, All Ages
15 Minute Cut Off
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Men’s + Women’s
7 - 9 Minute Pace
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Men’s + Women’s
5:30 - 7 Minute Pace
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Women’s Only
Sub 6:30 Minute Pace
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Men’s Only
Sub 5:30 Minute Pace
PRICES IN GREEN INCLUDE NIGHT MILE ADD-ON
PRICES INCREASE AT MIDNIGHT ON THE LAST DAY OF EVERY MONTH
PRICES IN GREEN INCLUDE NIGHT MILE ADD-ON
PRICES INCREASE AT MIDNIGHT ON THE LAST DAY OF EVERY MONTH
we are riproar
RipRoar Events exists to bring people together through experiences that make an impact.
Proudly based in Des Moines, Iowa, we dream big, build bold, and bring brands to life with thoughtful design and seamless execution.
From epic races to immersive activations, we craft moments that spark connection and build lasting memories. Because the best events aren’t just attended—they’re remembered.
