Drake Road Races 10K - 2025 recap

There’s something to say about consistency.

Like returning to a favorite event, year after year, even if you switch-up the distance on occasion. Case in point, the Drake Road Races, and I made it a priority to be there again.

Affiliated with the Drake Relays, the Drake Road Races (now in their 57th year) kick-off the start of the week-long Relay-related events in Des Moines, Iowa. Where the Relays themselves attract pre-qualified athletes at the elite, collegiate, and high school levels, the  Drake Road Races are for more "common folk" runners. 

I have several races that are a must-do every year, and this is one of them. I first ran the 10K (back in 2013), and returned for the half marathon in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 ,2021, 2022 and 2023. All events had to assume a virtual format inn 2020, so I ran the virtual 13.1 on the actual race weekend (on my hometown streets). Then, a few months later, I “biked” the virtual event (again) when the swag arrived (me, myself, and my healing stress fracture).

Last year, due to my crazy spring and less-than-desirable training schedule, I switched my registration from the half marathon to the 10K (recap). Much to my surprise, that 2024 race day rewarded me with my second fastest 10K ever. So, why not go back and test the waters this year? 

Race day, this year, was on Saturday, April 19th. This was the first time, at least in my experience, when these races happened on a Saturday instead of a Sunday (I’m guessing because of Easter). I prefer Saturday races, anyways, so I was fine with that!  

Grabbing my race bib, while volunteering at the expo

The weather always seems to be sketchy for this event. Let’s just say the spring season in Iowa isn’t usually race-day friendly. This year, though, the temps were decent…kind of cool, but the wind wasn’t too treacherous and the precipitation was a no-show.

The start time was 7:30 for the 10K and Half Marathon peeps (the 5K started about 10 minutes later). Although I wasn’t worried about the 10K distance, I did have doubts as to how I’d do. After all, with the near-PR from a year ago looming over me, I felt a bit of pressure to perform in a similar fashion, LOL.  

Lining up…

Like with any race, the first mile is a major cluster of runners. We start on Forest Avenue, outside of Drake Stadium, heading due east for a short ways. Next, we turn onto 25th Street, and start the gradual climb towards Kingman Boulveard. There’s always numerous Drake University students, repping various clubs and organizations, cheering with much enthusiasm right after we make the turn.

Right out of the gate, I was feeling crazy thirsty. I’m always leery of drinking too much water (ugh, who wants to make pitstops along a race course?). Living much closer to Des Moines now (it was less than a 20-minute drive to the race site), I don’t have as much time to hydrate as in years past (when I had close to an hour-long commute). Thankfully, the temps were still pretty cool in those early miles, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Just after turning onto Kingman, we passed the first mile mark. I found myself behind three gals all dressed in identical gear (I labeled them the Bobby Triplets). They were running alongside each other, and taking up a lot of room, but I managed to get around them. A short ways further, I saw the water stand, and pulled over for a few seconds to gulp down a half-cup of water. Doing so, though, allowed the Triplets to pass me…but I caught back up to them, and they were no longer a worry (or an annoyance).

This stretch on Kingman Boulevard is my least favorite part of the race route. It’s fairly flat, very straight, and over a mile in length…and seems like it takes forever until we make it to Park Boulevard. It’s around the 2.25-mile mark when we head south on Park, and it’s a very welcome change in direction. 

It was just after the 2-mile mark when I saw the lead 10K runners coming back from the turn-around. Yeah, they were zipping along, and approaching the 4-mile mark!

The segment on Park is fairly short (not even half a mile), and is mostly downhill, before the 10K runners split-off and turn left onto Harwood Drive. I was feeling thirsty again, and was hoping for another water station near the turn-around…but no such luck. 

Pic from my friend, Rachael

After the turn-around, the route took us back to Park (now heading north). I heard someone call my name, but couldn’t spot who it was. I later learned it was a cousin, who was running the half marathon (and running the opposite direction at that point). I also learned, after the fact, that my friend Rachael had spotted me in about the same place (and snapped my pic, LOL). I must have really been in the zone.

Back on Kingman, finishing Mile-3 and embarking on Mile-4, I tried to assess my situation. I hadn’t paid any attention to my pace other than glancing at the splits at the mile marks. I was starting to feel a bit fatigued, but knew I was keeping under a 9:00 pace. I’d taken a short walk break at the Mile-1 water stand, and had paused near the turn-around for maybe (?) 10 seconds of walking as well. I decided to take another quick walk break before catching-up with the 5K walkers at their turnaround (because I remembered how crowded it had been last year). 

I was also feeling pretty warm. I’d taken off my gloves (near the 2-mile mark), and was hoping to grab a cup of water at the next water stand. Unfortunately, that wasn’t until we were near the 5-mile mark. 

Once we pass the 5-mile mark, the route gets pretty easy. Although the 10K route isn’t what I’d call hilly, it does have some gradual inclines. After the 5-mile mark, though, it’s pretty much all downhill to the finish line.

There’s not much to say about the final mile other than it felt good to just let my legs go. Although I hadn’t been holding anything back, knowing there was just the final jaunt to the finish line is quite liberating! The cluster of student groups were even more animated than before (I suspect they weren’t just drinking coffee), and I felt their mojo as I rounded the corner back onto Forest for the last few blocks to the Drake Stadium.

Entering the stadium is really exciting! Getting to run on the famous blue track, known as the Blue Oval, makes one feel like an Olympian (well, sort of, LOL). There’s usually a good crowd of spectators in the stands, and the announcer calls out as many names (as he’s able) as the runners make their way to the finish line. 

Whew! It felt great to be done! 

I had not paid any attention to my time as I was running, but I knew most of my splits were sub-9:00. Although I ran this 10K a little faster in 2024, I was really happy with my 2025 finish of 56:20 (via my Garmin). Given the fact I’d taken a few short walk breaks, the 1:30 time difference is not too disappointing.

2024 (on left) vs. 2025

As for my splits…well, they tell the real story, LOL. The first mile is not only very crowded, but also uphill. Mile-5 was the final stretch on that boring road (and I did take a short walk break in addition to the water stand). Overall, though, most of the splits were pretty consistent.

My official stats are interesting. It shows the 10K distance (6.2 miles), but both of my Garmin readings show 6.28 for distance. Hence the slight difference in pace.

My friend, Kelly, and I drove together. She’s much speedier than myself. I think she said she ran the 10K in 53-ish minutes.

Pic from Kelly

And, it’s not a Drake race without a few snuggles and smiles with Griff II, the live Drake Bulldog mascot. Isn’t he a charmer?

 

The swag featured a nice 1/4-zip jacket. A bonus is the jackets are gender-specific.

I love, love, love the medal! Ever since their 50th anniversary, in 2018, the Drake Road Races have showcased the Blue Oval on the medals. All 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon runners get race-specific medals, which I think is how it should be.

My collection from 2018-2025

So, that’s a wrap on the 2025 Drake Road Races. Although I had some FOMO by not doing the Half Marathon, I’m happy with my 10K efforts. This event is a great time regardless of which event you choose. BTW, stay tuned…I’m headed back on Tuesday (April 22) for the Grand Blue Mile.

Do you have a favorite race you run every year? If so, have you ever switched the distance you run on occasion, or do you stay with the same distance?

I’m linking this with Zenaida and Jenn for the TuesdayTopics Linkup. 

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