Candy Cane Course - Des Moines

Candy Cane Course - Des Moines lines up in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 20, 2026, with every distance starting at 9:00 a.m.: a 15K (9.3 miles), a 10K (6.2 miles), a 5K (3.1 miles), a 1 mile and a kids dash. Registration covers a personalized bib, a shirt and a finisher medal, including for the untimed mile and the children's dash, and the timed races come with live results. Free photos, treats at the finish, youth pricing and a virtual option round out the event.

Because the distances share a start, families can enter different races and still meet up afterward without anyone waiting around for an hour. If several of you are running, agree on a meeting point at the finish before the gun. Runners taking the longer options should treat the shared start as a pacing trap: the first half mile will feel quick because of the 5K field around you.