What you need to know about the Ironman triathlon Sunday in Des Moines

Grace Altenhofen, Des Moines Register
·5 min read

The Ironman North American Championships are returning to the Des Moines metro — and athletes will be going the distance as they complete a staggering 140.6 miles of swimming, cycling and running.

The June 12 triathlon will be a full-distance event, twice as long as last year's half-event at 70.3 miles. The first Des Moines Ironman was scheduled for 2020, but delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here's what you need to know about the 2022 Ironman race.

Volunteers still needed for the Ironman

Ironman is still seeking medical volunteers such as nurses, EMTs, paramedics, physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners and record keepers.

The shifts will be three- to six-hours long in the finish line medical tent. More information about positions and shifts available can be found on the Ironman website under Volunteer.

Womens Pro get ready to start swimming during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon as athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines.
Womens Pro get ready to start swimming during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon as athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines.

Important dates and locations for the Ironman

Athlete check-in will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 9-10 at Cowles Commons.

The Ironman Village — which includes a triathlon store, information tent and Ironkids Fun Run sign-up in Cowles Commons — will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 9-10 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 11-12.

Saturday, June 11, will offer a practice swim for athletes from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in Gray's Lake and mandatory bike and gear check-in from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ironman race will officially begin June 12 at 5:30 a.m. for the pro male swim start, 5:37 a.m. for the pro female swim start and 5:45 a.m. for the age group swim start. After swimming 2.4 miles, the athletes will move on to the 112-mile biking portion before ending the race with a 26.2-mile run.

A celebration breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 13, followed by the awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. in Cowles Commons.

The full schedule of events, times and locations can be found on the Ironman website.

Runners race along the Kruidenier Trail Bridge during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon as athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines.
Runners race along the Kruidenier Trail Bridge during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon as athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines.

Bring the family: Ironkids Fun Run

The Ironkids Fun Run will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, at Principal Park. Kids ages 1-17 are invited to participate.

The Toddler Dot Trot will be a short track for children ages 1-3. Kids ages 3-8 can sign up for a half mile, and ages 5-17 can sign up to run a full mile.

The Ironkids Fun Run "offers young athletes the opportunity to feel the excitement of competition while enjoying the outdoors and promoting healthy living," according to the website.

Parents can register their kids for the Ironkids Fun Run through the Ironman website.

Parking and shuttles near Ironman events

On June 12, 10 buses will shuttle both athletes and spectators from Cowles Commons to Water Works Park from 3:30 to 5:30 a.m.

For spectators and athletes parking in the Bell Avenue Parking Lot near Bell Avenue and Fleur Drive, five buses will run from the Bell Avenue Parking Lot to Water Works Park from 3:30 to 5:30 a.m. on race day.

From 9 a.m. to noon, four shuttles will run from Water Works Park to the Bell Avenue Parking Lot and then to Cowles Commons.

For parking maps and more information, visit catchdesmoines.com/ironman.

For race course maps, head online to ironman.com/im-des-moines-course.

Swimmers compete during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon as athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines.
Swimmers compete during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon as athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines.

Road closures on Ironman race weekend

Several roads will be closed for part or all of the day June 12 to allow athletes to safely compete in Ironman. The following roads will be closed for the biking portion of the event:

  • Fleur Drive between Bell Avenue and MLK Parkway, 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.

  • George Flagg Parkway between SW 30th Street and Park Avenue, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Park Avenue between George Flagg Parkway and Highway 28, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Highway 28 between Railroad Avenue and Army Post Road, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Veteran's Parkway between Highway 28 and Grand Prairie Parkway, 6 a.m. to noon.

  • Grand Prairie Parkway between Veteran's Parkway and Raccoon River Road, 6 a.m. to noon.

  • Raccoon River Road between W. 88th Street and I-80 overpass, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The following roads and trails will be closed June 12 for the running portion of the triathlon:

  • Kruidenier Trail, the entire loop around Gray's Lake, 9 a.m. to midnight.

  • Meredith Trail between Gray's Lake and Mullets, 9 a.m. to midnight.

  • Fleur Drive between Bell Avenue and MLK Parkway, 9 a.m. to midnight.

  • Locust Street between Fleur Drive and Fifth Street, 9 a.m. to midnight.

  • Fifth Street between Locust Street and Cherry Street, 9 a.m. to midnight.

  • Court Avenue between Third Street and Fifth Street, 9 a.m. to midnight.

  • Walnut Street between Third Street and Fourth Street, 9 a.m. to midnight.

Jason West of USA wins the men's race during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon. Athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines in 2021.
Jason West of USA wins the men's race during the inaugural edition of the Ironman 70.3 mile Des Moines Triathlon. Athletes compete in a 1.2-mile swim at Gray’s Lake, 56.0 mile bike race (shortened due to 3-hour rain delay), and a 13.1 mile run in Des Moines in 2021.

Best viewing spots for spectators

VIP packages are available for purchase on the Ironman website for supporters who want a front-row VIP experience watching the race. However, for fans on a budget, some free spots around the metro will have a view of parts of the race.

The Gray's Lake Bridge at 2101 Fleur Drive will provide the perfect bird's-eye view for spectators to watch the swimming portion of the event as it takes place in the lake below. To see the athletes transition from swimming to biking, head over to the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park at 2251 George Flagg Pkwy.

To view the biking portion of the triathlon, Catch Des Moines recommends grabbing a bite to eat at The Chicken in Orilla at 4221 S. Orilla Road in West Des Moines as athletes pass by on the Great Western bike trail. Athletes will then be biking through Winterset, where spectators can watch from the town square and surrounding businesses.

For the running portion of the event, spectators can cool down with a drink on the Exile Brewing Co. patio at 1514 Walnut St. while watching the athletes run past.

The Pappajohn Sculpture Park will have one of the best views toward the end of the race — second only to the Polk County Courthouse on Court Avenue, where spectators can watch the finish line as athletes complete the Ironman race.

Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What to know about Des Moines Ironman triathlon race in 2022