DES MOINES, Iowa -- Events leading into the Drake Relays start Sunday with the Drake Road Races in Des Moines.
Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon says the road races follow a historic route through some of Des Moines' residential neighborhoods.
"It highlights the Drake neighborhood, and especially Kingman Boulevard to Polk, and then through Waterbury and back through parts of Beaverdale."
The kick-off to a week's worth of hype leading into the Drake Relays starts Sunday morning at 7 a.m.
"The half marathon will start with staggered start times at 7 a.m. We've moved that start time up to avoid conflicts and road closures as much as possible."
Boldon says the relays are the latest sign events are coming back after a year in a global pandemic.
"And as much as community members get to come and run a 5k and a half marathon and finish in Drake Stadium, and spectators will be allowed to watch Iowa's best high school athletes, and some of the world's best athletes, it will be a historic event and unlike any of the previous 110 editions."
The half marathon map is below. See a full schedule of events at the Drake Relays here.