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Download our app and opt in for breaking news notifications. And we are off to the races People of all ages crowded into downtown Des Moines this afternoon for the Grand Blue Mile. There were multiple recreational races today. ����vlog's Ophelie Jacobson is LIVE near the finish line. Ophelie --- thousands crossed that marker just hours ago. Ben and Stacey... They did! Event organizers told me numbers for this year's Grand Blue Mile were back to pre-pandemic levels. There were people ages one to 96 running the course --- and eventually, making their way across this iconic finish line. Spike's Sprint ---- <NAT POP> is a new event at the Grand Blue Mile this year. Kids ages two to ten <NAT POP> racing down the iconic World Record Way. Six-year-old Tarren <CLIP 4695 TIME 4:31:04 "YEAH, I'LL TRY TO."> says he wants be at the front of the pack. Running towards the finish line ---- <CLIP 4695 TIME 4:30:56 "GETTING A MEDAL AT THE END."> His mom is running the Grand Blue Mile this year for the first time too. <CLIP 4695 TIME 4:30:05 "THIS BASKETBALL SEASON, WE BECAME BIG DRAKE FANS."> <CLIP 4695 TIME 4:30:12 "WE BECAME KIND OF SUPER FANS AFTER THAT AND HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN A LOT OF DRAKE EVENTS SINCE."> The mother-son duo enjoyed all of the festivities ahead of the run. Face painting, balloon art and bouncy houses. <NAT POP> It's why regulars say <CLIP 4701 TIME 4:42:51 "THIS IS MY 14TH YEAR."> <CLIP 4710 TIME 5:20:18 "MAYBE TEN I DON'T KNOW."> they keep on coming back for more. <CLIP 4710 TIME 5:20:00 "GRAND BLUE MILE IS THE PLACE TO BE. AND THE REASON WHY I LOVE IT SO MUCH IS IT'S ALL AGES, ALL ABILITIES."> <CLIP 4686 TIME 3:23:01 "IT IS THE MOST WE'VE HAD SINCE, BEFORE COVID."> Assistant director of event production Ben Huftalin says 3,000 people --- of all ages and abilities --- signed up for both the recreational and professional races this year. <CLIP 4686 TIME 3:23:48 "THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT, BUT IT MAKES FOR A REALLY COOL LOOK AND A REALLY FUN NIGHT."> <NAT POP> A really fun night that takes on a deeper meaning for runners like Robert Rasmussen. <CLIP 4686 TIME 4:43:28 "I'M DOING IT BECAUSE IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY, MY TWO KIDS. I'M DOING THE RACE FOR THEM."> People tell me the highlight of their day was watching the professionals race. Definitely a lot of stars here --- and potentially stars in the making --- with some of those younger kids. Live in downtown Des Moines, Ophelie Jacobson