Back to the DAM - 2026 D2D race recap

Yes, I did it again. 

I returned, with my 19th bib in place, for the 2026 DAM-to-DSM Half Marathon on Saturday, May 30th. Believe it or not, it was just as exciting (and hot and humid) as it had been the first time I crossed the start line…

As mentioned in previous posts, D2D has been my favorite race ever since that first time, in 2008. Simply put, it never disappoints! 

This event was previously known as Dam-to-Dam for 39 years. In 2018, the committee decided the event had run its course (so to speak), making for an epic end of an era. A very short while later, though, the Rip Roar company stepped in and took the reins. The route remained (relatively) the same point-to-point adventure from the Saylorville Dam to downtown Des Moines, but they renamed the event DAM-to-DSM. 

11 years of Dam-to-Dam medals (2008-2018)

…and seven years of DAM to DSM medals (prior to 2026)

Most know this race is, hands-down, my favorite race every year. Here’s a a few remarks from the D2D website about this iconic Des Moines event:

I have changed my race day strategy, substantially, in recent years. Although I have had a few sub-2 hour finishes over the years, gunning for a PR has long left my interest. I can’t deny that it would be euphoric to knock-out another sub-2, my priority now is to enjoy the unique race course and celebrate the fact that I’m able run that kind of distance. 

Anyways, I did the typical weather stalking leading up to race day . Thankfully, the forecast showed less chance of rain, as the week progressed, so I was guardedly optimistic Momma N would play nice once we crossed the start line. 

The D2D start time was 7:00, but the last shuttle bus left downtown Des Moines at 6:00. I was parked, and standing in line by 5:30. My bus had us to the Saylorville Dam, where the race would begin, just before 6:30. 

Ready to board one of the shuttle buses

Although there were numerous porta-potties, the lines were long and very slow-moving. I took advantage of the downtime and did some dynamic stretching until I made it to the front of the line. Then it was time to head to the start line.

Headed to the start line

The start line is just beyond the Saylorville Dam. When I was lining up that first time, back in 2008, the announcer pointed out the Principal Tower, off in the distance. He told us we’d be finishing the (then 20K) race near that significant landmark. Every year, I make certain to grab a quick pic of it, and I never tire of looking for it as I make way along the (now) 13.1-mile race course. 

Although the temps were comfortable (to me at least), the humidity was pretty thick. As much as I love my sunshine, I was grateful for the cloudy conditions. I’d left my sunglasses behind, but brought along my handheld water bottle, which (#spoiler) proved to be a very wise race day decision. 

The long walk across the dam tot he start line…

My fueling plan was to eat a few Honey Stinger chews every 3-4 miles. I’d had breakfast (oatmeal) and had brought along a HS waffle to eat during the bus ride, and also ate a few chews right before the race started.

The first few miles felt great, and my splits were indicative of how good I felt (all sub-10:00). Most know I’d been having some periodic wonky hip/ITB issues for the past several months. Noting ever hurt, per se, but there were some definite “reminders” that things weren’t 100% perfect either. Nonetheless, none of those weird tweaks showed up on race day.

But ugh, the air was SO muggy! I was ever-so-hopeful the forecasted rain would be a no-show, but I’d braided my hair as a precaution (MUCH easier to un-do, should it get rain-soaked). That said, those braids were already feeling petty damp from all the humidity and were sticking to the skin on my shoulders. 

The first half of the race takes us through the countryside. There are a few slight inclines and some easy curves as we make our way to the halfway point. One of my favorite parts of the race course is just before the halfway mark, though, as we cross I-80. I always wonder what the vehicle drivers are thinking about all of us crazy runners on such a hot and humid Saturday morning.

A quick photo op on the I-80 overpass

Shortly after making it halfway across the route, we have the big hill just after the start of the seventh mile. This hill encompasses the majority of Mile-7, and is a lot steeper than it appears in the photo. It also has a slight curve, so you can’t quite see where the incline levels off, LOL.

About halfway up the big hill…check-out the crazy hair!

Once we reach the eighth mile, we’ve entered the edge of town and there are numerous residents lining the streets, all cheering. I was still feeling pretty good, but decided to take a brief walk break. Trust me, I wasn’t alone. In fact, there were a lot of racers already walking well before the halfway mark.

Near the start of the ninth mile, the route takes us on a stretch through Riverview Park. I took a brief pause to refuel (coupled with some serious issues securing the Koala Clip back in place, under the straps across my back). A short ways later, I decided to grab another pic of the Principal Tower (also with a repeat of the Koala Clip issues).   

Can you see the Principal Tower? It’s actually much closer than it appears…

It was around the 10-mile mark when I began to feel the effects of the weather. By then, it had been sprinkling a little, though I hadn’t noticed until I glanced down at the rain-soaked trail. My skin was already plenty damp and sticky, and I was wearing a hat so I hadn’t felt anything pelting my face. The rain didn’t last long, not even half a mile.

By the time I reached the 11th mile, I was feeling slightly light-headed. I had been diligently sipping my water all morning, and had refilled it shortly after the big hill (after the 8-mile mark), and I think my fueling was consistent and on-point. Nonetheless, I knew a brief walk break would be a great idea. So I walked for a couple minutes.

It was about halfway through Mile-11 when the rain reappeared, and this time it was there to stay. Thankfully, it wasn’t a heavy downpour, but it was a steady rainfall nonetheless. The 12th mile had me feeling pretty recharged, and the rain actually felt quite refreshing as we ran past the Botanical Center.

The final mile had me taking another brief walk break. Overall, though, my energy was decent despite feeling slightly dehydrated. Amazingly, none of my muscles felt fatigued, but my pace had definitely slowed down. 

Crossing the finish line always feels oh-so-good, especially in the rain! It was great seeing so many spectators lining the that last mile (and beyond the finish line).    

So, how did I do? Well, it wasn’t my slowest D2D, but far from my fastest, LOL. My official finish time was 2:20:44. I finished 13th (out of 45) in my age group, 1,011th (out of 2079) among all the women, and 2,609th overall (out of the 4,337 runners). I can blame the hot and humid weather conditions, but everyone else had to run in them as well. I figure I probably lost a good 10-ish minutes from the photo ops and the refueling stops, and let’s not forget there were a few walk breaks. Not a big deal as I am just thrilled to run this race every year (BTW, I’m already registered for the 2027 D2D). 

This event comes with some sweet swag. The race short is really nice! They offer a women’s cut, which I appreciate. Also, the race logo and artwork very eye-catching, and the fabric is tech material. Total win-win!

In addition to the shirt, all participants get a fancy swag box. There was a hat, socks, and a massage ball included as well.

So, that’s what went down on my 19th running of DAM to DSM. As mentioned, this is my favorite race every year. The unique point-to-point route is exciting because it offers a little bit of everything (countryside views, residential neighborhoods, paved trails through a scenic park, and the downtown finish).Had I not had all those stops (and walk breaks), I would have run it only 5-10 minutes slower than I did back in the beginning. Considering I’m now 19 years older, I’m totally fine with that!  

Have you ever done a favorite race over and over, again and again? If so, what’s the most times you’ve run such a race? How do you feel about running in the rain…buzzkill or refreshing?

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

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