An event that was stifled due to the COVID-19 pandemic is coming back this weekend to the Raccoon River Valley Trail.

The eighth annual Market-2-Market Relay Iowa is Saturday, where the 75-mile race starts in Jefferson, heads along the Raccoon River Valley Trail to downtown Des Moines. Jefferson Coordinator Craig Berry says the event includes 250 teams for a total of over 1,600 people, with several exchange points along the trail, including three in Greene County.

“It’s like handing a baton off at exchange points. The first exchange point in Greene County is south of town at Winkleman Switch, the next one is at Cooper, and then the next one is down in Herndon and goes outside the county there.” 

Berry points out the first wave of runners will take off at 5:30am on the southside of the downtown square in Jefferson, and the last wave is at 8:30. Even though the beginning of the event happens early Saturday morning, Berry still believes it’s a great opportunity to showcase the city.

“We get to get people into Jefferson who have never seen Jefferson before, because the teams are in the state and in the surrounding states, they come in. It’s kind of to show off Jefferson, again it’s a little early in the morning but we do show off Jefferson.” 

Berry adds Lincoln Way will be blocked off from Wilson Avenue to the bike trail east of town until after 8:30am Saturday. There will also be traffic controllers on the trail to help direct traffic. He urges motorists to be aware of the closures as well as loud music and public address announcements during that three hour time period. The race is sponsored by Pink Gorilla Entertainment.