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Kansas > Lawrence Half Marathon & 5K
Lawrence, KS
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Date
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Event
Details
Take a springtime run through the hometown of the University of Kansas
Jayhawks at the Lawrence Half Marathon & 5K, which takes
runners on a course through this city's downtown areas and
neighborhoods along the banks of the Kansas and Wakarusa Rivers. The
course for the 2008 half-marathon has been changed somewhat from
previous years, as race organizers have eliminated a few turns, swapped
the steep downhill that occurred around mile 6 for a gradual downhill
stretch, and removed the out-and-back stretch that took place beginning
at mile 9.
Made up entirely of paved city streets, the half marathon course begins
on the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University in the southern part
of the city, and follows a northward route toward the center of
Lawrence for the first couple of miles. Along the way, the course runs
toward Memorial Stadium and the
campus of Kansas University on its way eastward toward and through the
green, tree-lined Edgewood Park and past the Memorial Park, Oak
Hill and Calvary Cemeteries.
Through this stretch of the course, runners come within view of the
Kansas River (also called the Kaw River) and the Shunganunga Boulder,
which was left near the river (and present-day 6th Street) by ancient
glaciers. In the wintertime, eagles are a common sight in this part of
the city. Between miles 4 and 6, runners pass by several of Lawrence's
most historic landmarks, including Mt. Oread, the Spencer Museum of Art
and the Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials. Here also is the hill
where settlers traveling on the Oregon Trail once paused on their
journey toward the west.
The course passes by the homes of a number of well-known Americans who
hail from Lawrence, including William Burroughs (author of Naked
Lunch),
noted architect John Haskell and John Naismith, the
inventor of basketball and KU's first basketball coach. At the finish
line back at the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University, runners
get an Olympic-style welcome back as they cross the finish line on the
track at the football stadium to a hero's welcome.
Race
Weather & Climate
The opening days of spring bring milder and warmer weather to the
Lawrence area, which lies about 41 miles west of Kansas City in the
northeastern corner of the state. April temperatures average between
68°F and 46°F, while rainfall amounts average about
3.54 inches for the month.
Fees
$35 if registered by April 9, 2008
$40 between April 10 - April 19
$45 on the day of the race
Registration
Register for the 2008 Lawrence Half Marathon (or the 5K or 1-Mile Fun
Run events) by registering online here
or by downloading and mailing in this printable form.
Website
www.sunflower.com
Course Map
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Larger Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in the Lawrence Half Marathon or 5K? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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