Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
Do not underestimate the elevation on this course. Tough Tough Tough
Conservative pacing strategy is a must. hard to expect a PR without some insane tolerance and love of pain.
Definitely challenging with hills, but you get to see the best views of Kansas City at a perfect time of year. This year was no end sunny and beautiful as the sun rose, was a little slower time than I'd hoped for but again challenging and definitely would recommend.
As my first half-marathon I have no comparisons, but despite my anxieties about its size, location, and intensity of grades, this marathon turned out to be a fantastic experience and incredible fun. The parking was sufficient, even though within a limited urban area. The organization of the event was top notch. The route was scenic nearly always. The fuel stops were sufficient and friendly. Crowds were and supportive. Hills were manageable. Only downside, was the packet pickup location being so far from the race start, requiring a different trip to a different downtown location. I plan to definitely up my game and try the full marathon next year!
I have been running regularly for about four years now following my open heart surgery for valve repair. So I went into this first half-marathon with a disciplined 8 week training plan in which I routinely ran a faster pace than I planned to run on race day (since I was running with my daughter who was doing the full marathon at a slower pace). The training paid off perfectly, and the slightly slower pace enabled me to run feeling refreshed throughout the half-marathon, leaving me tons of energy for a strong finish in the quarter mile. I would plan to arrive at least 1 hour early to avoid anxiety in finding available parking. Heavily attended event so plan to arrive early and have time to enjoy and prepare for your starting spot in the chute.
Good parking garages for free at north end of University of Missouri KC campus.
The city put on a great race. The first half was a great tour of downtown which made it easy for spectators to get around the course. The second half was through shady neighborhoods, and I was pleasantly surprised to see some residents hanging out on their lawns cheering us on. The out-and-back was great to see the faster runners and cheer each other on as you're running the opposite direction. Be prepared for some steep hills!
The pace team handed out race bands that took into account the elevation gain/loss of each mile, so helpful!
Well supported, pretty course, quite hilly!
Some looong hills. Nothing super steep but very long uphill grades.
Great Communication leading up to the event. Smartphone apps that let friends and family live track on GPS (didn't eat my battery) The Expo wasn't great and no real 'swag' in the bag. The registration was easy.
Plenty of volunteers out during the course Nice scenery through the city Course was reversed this year and maybe one hill taken out . Note: It is STILL HILLY and 24-25 is challenging ! Pacers were great.
Last quarter mile a good downhill pace to the Finnish.
New marathoners : Go Easy in first half
You'll need it at the end.
Find a pacer you can run with as it ready saves you having to worry about watching your watch!
Stayed at Sheraton downtown - nice hotel but pricey - just stayed Friday night and got new hotel for sat night
Great run thru city. Poor expo & finish.
Very hilly, but the course goes through various areas of Kansas City.
Train on hills.
The course is well laid out to maximize some of the most scenic parts of Kansas City; Downtown, the Plaza, Ward Parkway... In 2013 there was about a mile of the course where the street was in the midst of being repaved, and the old asphalt had been milled off, but the new hadn't been laid by race day. As a result that mile (probably between 7-8 outbound, and 20-21 inbound) wasn't very popular with the runners. There are a number of hills, though the more strenuous ones seemed to be early in the course (or maybe it was that I was just able to focus on them more early on). They had a couple bands along the route, which was great, and through some of the residential areas there were spectators with boom-boxes, and at one point even a middle-school aged kid who was playing the 'Rocky' theme on his saxophone for passing runners.
Mid- to Late-October is an unpredictable time, weather-wise, in Kansas City. The day could be 50 - 70 degrees and sunny, or 30's and rainy. 2013 had a chilly start (about 35), but after the sun rose it was a gorgeous day. Especially if you're traveling in from out of town, follow the weather forecasts closely and be prepared with a range of race-day gear.
While they provide lots of parking near the start of the race, what with the street closures, getting in can be more time consuming (especially for locals who think that 10 minutes is a 'long wait in traffic') than you might think. You may be better off parking on the street a few blocks away, and walking in.