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!

I came from out of town for this race, so took advantage of the day of packet pick up. I did hear they had 3 different packet pick ups in different locations so that sounded nice if you were local. I was able to easily park and get my packet, which included a swag bag full of awesome coupons and goodies and a super soft cute t shirt that I will wear again. I noticed very quickly that many food trucks and booths were being set up for post race, as well bouncy houses and a beer tent.
I was a pacer for this event and was pleasantly pleased that they had flags set up for various pace groups on the starting chute. Yes, there were short lines pre race for the porta potties, but as the race grows, I am sure the amount of porta potties would grow as well. Anyway, we loaded into the chutes with very little confusion, had a beautiful National Anthem and then were counted down. As the horn sounded, a HUGE flame was shot off of the start gate and that was pretty cool! The course was relentless hills, but nothing horrible, they just never really ended. The course was an out, a loop, and a back, and wasn't very scenic, but I didn't mind it at all. We mainly saw fields, houses, and more fields. We had a full two lanes to run on for most of the course, and had no threat of traffic at all. Most aid stations had water and gatorade, but coming back, a couple of the stations no longer had gatorade, and one of my ladies in my pace group really needed it. I did pace a later group, so they may have just run out, no biggie. There was an aid station with bananas, as well as an aid station with I believe GUs and other goodies. I carry most of what I need since my tummy is so specific. Everyone was very friendly, cheering us on, but overall crowd support on the course was pretty small. Again, I don't mind lack of cheering, but it was fun when we came around to groups of people cheering for the ladies battling it out in my pace group. The finishers chute had a couple of announcers, and I heard my name twice and got a big thank you for pacing, which I super appreciated. The medals were very nice and VERY cute, and we had bottled water and bananas, as well as chocolate milk in the finisher's chute. The after party was really good, still going strong way after the 3 hour mark. The food was amazing and the beer was cold. I would highly recommend this race to anyone who wants a challenging course that won't kill you like Hospital Hill in KC:) I would do this race as a pacer or just to run for time again in the future.

Okay if you are looking for a fun race that you can do with your dog, this is it! The Tails on the Trail team do a great job of making this the perfect 5k for you and your 4 legged friends! Here are my favorite points about this race:

1. Super cute long sleeved t shirt that has their logo on the front and also on the back the dog that won the bid for the t shirt in the silent auction. The long sleeved t shirt is a little big so take that into consideration when ordering your size (i think it is uni sex). Participation bag has numerous goodies for both human and dog.

2. Fun environment pre and post race. Pre race you can visit the vendors, get free samples, eat and get coffee inside, and visit the mobile adoption truck. Post race you can again head inside in the heat to eat and rest before the awards ceremony and you can browse and bid on an amazing silent auction. The award's ceremony is great with hand made awards and trophies. They also do a post race competition for many categories including biggest dog, smallest dog, and dog with longest tail/no tail.

3. FUN course! The course is on both flat fields and trail for a nice mix of easy and challenging. The trail is not technical, but it is hilly and does have some root and rock challenges. The course marshals do a great job of blocking any wrong courses and both the trail part and the part that goes around the park is very well marked. There were lots of people cheering along the course this year which was a nice surprise.

4. chip timing. There was a time when this race was gun time only but now it is chip timed.

5. Free pictures although they are not professionally taken. Pictures are posted on the website and facebook page really quickly post race and can be tagged or shared or downloaded.

Please note that this is not a race in which you get a medal for finishing. There are also tons of walkers but they mostly all stay to the back. Lots of people come with dogs that may or may not have been around lots of dogs so keep you dog close. This is a race I really love and will do every year it fits into my schedule! I so love races that allow our training buddies to run with us! Another note is that the dogs do not pay a separate fee to enter AND they get a big with your number written on so you match!

I work in Manhattan and this race has been on my radar since it started so when it fit into my schedule this year, I was so excited! This course is SO much fun and could be a great course for a BIG PR! Here are my thoughts on the race:

1. Parking and catching the shuttle bus was super simple. We parked next to the stadium and hopped right on the school bus to take us out to the start. There were tons of porta potties at the finish (which is where we caught the shuttle). The only bad was that we were taken out to the start which is out on the highway and there was a large tent in which we huddled in until the start. RDs can't control the weather and it was very cold and windy that morning. Luckily we were able to drop our bags at the start so we could either use throw away gear or regular gear and then take it to bag drop. Lots of porta potties out next to the tent.

2. Downhill race = fast and fun. Some small hills towards the end but over either downhill or flat race course.

3. Great scenery. So much fun running into town and seeing all the sights including campus, aggieville, city park, and downtown.

4. Great post race food and lots of entertainment for the kiddos. I think they had 2 or 3 BIG bounce houses, which is great for those of us who have kiddos and spouses waiting at the finish line. Lots of vendors set up in the finisher's area. Food is laid out on tables so you can just go down the line.

5. PACERS! I love a race with good pacers and this race did not disappoint! I didn't originally start out with as certain pace in mind as I was running with a friend but when she had to stop and do some walking towards the end, I motored on and caught up with the 2:20 pacer, who was very encouraging.

Love the fact that this is a point to point downhill race. I would love to do this race again either as a pacer myself, or with a pacer and gun for a PR. Very easy to pick up packets (at the Manhattan running company) and super cute shirts (again women's cut run a bit small so either size up or exchange your shirt post race). Free pictures both on course and at finish line and you finish right next to KSU stadium. While this year didn't have a power cat as the medal, the medals were still super cute and I saw both Willie and Bill Snyder milling about taking pictures with people. Very easy to park and ride the shuttle and very easy to get out post race. I will be back!

Jackson TN is my hometown from the time I was 1 till I moved to Kansas at 21. I love my little southern town and was so excited to run the streets of where I grew up. Here are my thoughts and observations
on the race:

1. Packet pick up was super simple. There is no expo, you just go to the Performance Running store located out north of jackson and get your packet. I LOVED the hooded t shirt! The design is unique and the hooded t shirt is SUPER soft.

2. The pasta feed was super yummy AND they had a guest speaker come and entertain us during the feed. I really enjoyed hearing his tales of running and being a guide for blind runners at some pretty major marathons.

3. Being from Jackson, finding parking was very easy for us and seemed plentiful. There weren't too many porta potties but it didn't seem to be a big issue with the number of people entered.

4. Plentiful aid stations and great volunteers! Several houses we passed were having yard parties and cheered us on. Most of the race was through residential areas with some being commercial area. I noticed porta potties on the course and on course entertainment in a few spots. Lots of police presence and large coned off areas for us runners to run in when we were on major roads.

5. Double loop course. I am not a huge fan of this, especially since this course is very challenging and hilly, but I understand the need. Point to point races or out and backs require many more volunteers and many more road closures so I get it. Mentally knowing what I had already encountered the first loop kind of kicked me in the butt for the second loop. Sometimes a nice surprise of what is in store works best for my brain.

6. Unique medals and awards. Since it was such a small race for the full, I got an age group award and it was very nice. Unfortunately, they were having the awards ceremony as I was finishing, so no podium for me LOL!

7. Post race party. First the good. Bands playing, food trucks and food vendors making yummy food, bounce houses for the kids that stayed up for quite a while post me finishing, and the farmer's market going on were all good things. Now the bad. Most food vendors were packing up as I finished. The course had a 6.5 hour time limit and I made it in around the 5 hour mark. The finish line photographer had also left or was no longer shooting. While I got a few very nice photos from the course and when I crossed the finish mat for my first loop, there were no finish photos. This doesn't affect me as much as it did the runners behind me and directly in front of me whom it was their first marathon. Again, just as I got several on course shots they did as well, but a finish line photo is always one to treasure forever and ever.

8. There was a little confusion on starting the second loop but other than that, the course marshals were wonderful at guiding us through the twists and turns through Jackson. Even as I was slowly trodding through my second loop, they were there cheering and directing! Several of the aid stations were dressed up which made it super fun as well.

Overall, I would be back to do the course as a half, but I am one and done as a full. Most of the course was not shaded and while the heat wasn't horrible, being on pavement and no shade did not help. The double loop killed me mentally, but it was SO fun seeing all the places I grew up and having lots of nostalgic moments. I LOVED the swag and the award and the pasta feed, but I wish the photog and food vendors had stuck around a little longer. I don't have an appetite right after I finish, but it slowly comes back as I recover and at that point it was a ghost town. The RD was SO nice and I loved the new to me running store in my hometown.