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Missouri > Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon,
Half Marathon & 5K
Kansas City,
MO
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Date
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Event
Details
Perhaps the most notable distinguishing feature of the hilly and
sometimes difficult course at the Waddell & Reed Kansas City
Marathon's 13.1-mile half marathon race is an abundance of what many
other American cities have, but not nearly in as great a number as
Kansas City
-- majestic, scenic fountains like those found in European capitals and
tourist meccas like London and Rome.
Along the route, runners will see as many as 15 of the more than 200
fountains dispersed throughout the city, in addition to parks, downtown
neighborhoods and historic districts.
The half marathon, like the full marathon and relay, begins in downtown
Kansas City at Washington Park near Crown Center, near the corner of
Pershing and Grand Boulevard. From there, the course follows a mostly
counter-clockwise loop route, taking runners first northward along
Grand and then southward along Main, past the Liberty Memorial in Penn
Valley park as well as through Volker, Gillham and Spring Valley Parks
as it makes its way around the city.
This being Kansas City, the course is of course a hilly one, with the
most challenging uphill stretches occurring between miles 1 and 3 as
well as around the 10-mile marker on the home stretch back in toward
the finish. Runners will experience an elevation gain of over 200 feet
at the first big hill, from a low of just below 800 feet above sea
level after the first mile marker to a high of nearly 1,000 feet above
sea level just before the third mile marker, reaching the same height
around the 10th mile.
Runners will finish the race not far from the starting line, in the
area of Kansas City known as the Freighthouse District, at the corner
of West 19th Street and Baltimore Avenue. Though the time limit
shouldn't be a problem for most half-marathon participants, runners
will be limited to 6 hours on the course -- which is generally enough
time for walkers to participate in the half marathon, as both the half
and the 5K are open to walkers as well as runners.
Race
Weather & Climate
Set along the state's western edge near the nexus of the Missouri and
Kansas rivers, the town of Kansas City tends to see milder, drier
weather conditions in the early autumn, though conditions can still be
fairly warm at times. In October, average monthly temperatures range
between 69°F and 49°F, while rainfall amounts average
around 3.28 inches for the month.
Fees
$35 if registered by May 15, 2008
$45 from May 16 - July 15
$60 from July 16 - October 4
$70 from Oct. 5 - 17
Registration
To reserve your spot in the fall 2008 running of the Waddell &
Reed Kansas City Marathon, Half Marathon, Relay or 5K, register online here.
Websites
www.waddellandreedkcmarathon.org
Kansas City - City of Fountains
Course Map
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Half Marathon?
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