Drake Road Races Celebrate Decades of Tradition with New Strategic Partnerships
Chicago Running Company to Oversee Operations, Timing, and Photography Services for 2025 Races

DES MOINES, IA – The Drake Road Races, one of the Midwest’s most iconic running events, returns in 2025 with fresh energy and exciting developments. With more than five decades of history, this cherished community event continues to draw thousands of runners to Des Moines, serving as the official starting line for Drake Relays Week. Last year’s sold-out races produced the first six Drake Relays Champions, and excitement is already building for 2025.

In 2024, nearly 3,000 athletes of all ages and abilities crossed the finish line on the famous Blue Oval in Drake Stadium, solidifying the event’s reputation as a premier destination for runners nationwide. This year, the Drake Road Races are proud to announce key partnerships that will further enhance the participant experience.

Chicago Running Company, renowned for its commitment to delivering outstanding running experiences, will manage race production, operations, premium apparel and medal design, as well as timing and photography services for the 2025 races. Their expertise provides a fresh approach to race logistics while maintaining institutional knowledge, ensuring an exceptional experience for every participant from start to finish.

"This new partnership with Chicago Running Company is the next logical step in the evolution of this historic event. Members of their team have been involved with the Drake Road Races since 2018, providing a strong foundation as we move forward with event enhancements, including our new website that launched this week," said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. 

Ben Huftalin, Race Director for the Drake Road Races, added, "Chicago Running Company’s attention to detail, innovation, and experience with large-scale events will take the Drake Road Races to new heights. From the racecourse to the unforgettable swag, participants can expect the highest quality in every aspect of the event."

New for 2025, RunSignup will serve as the official registration platform, streamlining the registration process for all participants. The platform simplifies signing up for the 5k, 10k, and half marathon, ensuring a smooth, accessible experience for runners of all levels.

Bob Bickel, founder of RunSignup and self-proclaimed “Chief Running Nerd,” expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "We are thrilled to collaborate with such a historic event as the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile. These iconic events positively impact the lives of thousands of Iowans every year, and we look forward to supporting them for years to come."

The 2025 Drake Road Races will once again offer the popular 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances, starting just outside of Drake Stadium and finishing on the legendary Blue Oval. Whether a seasoned athlete or a first-time runner, participants will experience the camaraderie and competitive spirit that define the Drake Relays. 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 19, 2025, and join us for another unforgettable race day. Registration opens for the 57th edition of the Drake Road Races with the lowest prices of the year on Monday, October 21, 2024. For two days only, registrants can save 50% off race day prices, with the half marathon, 10k and 5k priced at $55, $35 and $25, respectively. 

About the Drake Relays

The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom has served as "America's Athletic Classic" since its first running in 1910. The annual competition, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is recognized internationally as a destination for the world's premier track & field athletes across multiple professional and amateur divisions. In 2020, the Drake Relays was named a Silver Level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, one of only two meets in the United States to earn Silver Level status. In addition to its signature stadium competition, the Drake Relays includes two marquee road running events open to the general public — the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Drake Road Races. For more information, visit drakerelays.org.

 About Chicago Running Company

With over 60 years of combined experience, the team at Chicago Running Company (CRC) is dedicated to bringing events to life while meeting and exceeding client goals. From charity walks to national championship races, CRC expertly manages all aspects of event production, including operations, logistics, procurement, customer service, timing, photography, and marketing. Whether organizing Olympic Trials or fun runs, CRC delivers memorable experiences and successful outcomes for events of all sizes and distances.  For more information, visit: www.ChicagoRunningCompany.com

About RunSignup

RunSignup, an employee owned company, is the leading US event technology company powering registration, ticketing, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Our comprehensive, free, end-to-end platform provides solutions from marketing tools to event day management because we believe everyone deserves powerful technology to improve their events. More than 28,000 events use RunSignup, TicketSignup, and GiveSignup to sign up over 8 million people annually. Since 2010, we have helped our customers raise more than $2 billion.