This is my first year running this little gem of a race, as I volunteered for it at an aid station last year. This is only their second year of having this race and I can see great things ahead! The course was beautiful rolling hills nestled in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Whoever says Kansas is flat hasn't been to the Flint Hills. The course is mostly all gravel with a small portion of asphalt and sidewalk at the beginning and end. There are portions that have shade and portions that do not, but to me, nothing is more beautiful than the Flint Hills in the spring time. Since the race is small, if you are not running with someone else or have someone of similar pace, you are pretty much on your own the entire course. I liked the solitude though, as I train on gravel in rural KS. The RD did allow me to run with my dog as long as she was on leash and under control at all times. This is a HUGE bonus to me because we train together, so why shouldn't we run together! There were both manned and unmanned aid stations with all the delights of an ultra including ginger ale and coke, which are two of my favs and all the foods you can think of. At each aid station, the volunteers were very friendly and very helpful, as my hands got pretty cold and soaked thanks to the rain and my thick gloves. They filled up my water bottle as well as stella's little collapsible water bowl, and attended to any other needs I had. The course was well marked with signs that told you when to turn or go straight. You did have to be vigilant any time you crossed an intersection to make sure you didn't miss any signs. The course was a full loop of 26.2, which was nice as most races are either point to point or out and backs. The small community center had easy access parking and nice warm bathrooms for changing and getting ready. The race director was super friendly and the belt buckles were very nice for not only the 50 but also the marathon. I train on gravel so this race was kind of like training at home and I loved it. If you want a challenging, hilly course in spring in KS, where the weather can be a little unpredictable, this is the race for you!