Des Moines will host three half Ironman events, the North American championship, beginning on June 21, 2020. 

The annual 70.3 Ironman competition for three years will be the first Ironman play in Iowa. The 70.3 refers to the number of miles in a half Ironman.

Des Moines lost a bid to host a full Ironman event, which will be held in Tulsa, Okla. But organizers were impressed by the community support here, and the prospect of the competitors getting a look at Water Works Park and other nice spots in the city.

“As we went through a process to identify new host cities in the Central United States, the response that we witnessed by our athletes and the local Des Moines community was incredible,” said Shane Facteau, Ironman’s chief operations officer. 

The 1.2-mile swim will take place in Gray’s Lake, followed by a 56-mile bike course through Water Works Park and West Des Moines and rural areas and a 13.1-mile run through Gray’s Lake Park and downtown. The finish line will be in the Court Avenue entertainment district.

Registration will open July 9.