DES MOINES, Iowa (May 30, 2020)— RipRoar Events, the production company behind the EMC DAM to DSM, has announced changes to the 2020 event in response to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, most notably to the race course.
The race will now be run on a 10K loop through downtown Des Moines, starting on the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge in front of the Center Street Dam. Runners committed to running a 20K race will have the option of completing the course twice. The event has historically started on the Saylorville Dam, but RipRoar was recently notified from the Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Dam that the federal government was suspending all events held on federal property until Oct. 1, 2020.
RipRoar has also announced a virtual option for runners that would prefer to stay home. “We’re wanting to offer a little something for everyone. As per the guidelines put in place by Governor Reynolds and the state of Iowa, this event will need to strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines. As leaders in the community for large-scale running events, RipRoar will plan, communicate, and enforce a unique approach to this year’s event to keep our staff, volunteers and athletes safe,” said Race Director Michael Zimmerman.
Additional changes include a wave start to limit group sizes in the athlete holding area, releasing athletes in a single file at the start, and a modified packet pick-up process and post-race party.
Last month, it was announced that the 2020 EMC DAM to DSM would be postponed from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend on Saturday, Sept. 5.
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