About the Girls on the Run 5K
This is the end-of-season celebration for a Girls on the Run program, and the feel of the event reflects that. The crowd is mostly young participants finishing their season alongside family, coaches, and community runners who join in to cheer them on. The finish line carries real weight for the girls crossing it.
The race is held at Principal Park, with a fun zone open before the start. Packet pickup runs across the two days before the event at the Wellmark YMCA, with a morning window on race day as well.
Free race emails
Get the Weekly RunSesh
In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Des Moines on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.
Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Distances & Start Times
3.1 Miles11/8/2026 14:00$25
Going for a Time?
Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Des Moines — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.
