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Latest reviews by Sydney S
Sydney S recommends this race
(2020)
"Best 10K in KC - PR plus best scenery!"
Overall
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Plaza 10K takes place in the Country Club Plaza, a popular shopping area and destination for tourism and staycations in Kansas City. The architecture, both residential and commercial, is really cool and the perfect backdrop for a 10K race. The fact that the course is the flattest and fastest 10K in the KC area is an added bonus (there are large crowds at this race for a reason every year! When race day comes, pretty much every runner in the area is either running or volunteering in the event). There is also a great after party, but there are plenty of cool places nearby to take in brunch if you prefer. Definitely a must for fall race calendars!
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Sydney S recommends this race
(2019)
"My favorite Kansas City race, hands down!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
If you live in the Kansas City area, or if you want to experience some of the prettiest areas of Kansas City from the road as a visiting runner, Rock The Parkway half marathon is THE race for you. I've done it for 5 years, and no matter what the weather or my finish time is, this race is my happy place.
KC Running Company is a great local business that truly cares about runners and runner experiences, and Rock The Parkway definitely showcases this. The race is big, so they do wave starts to decrease congestion on the course; they spend time on shirt and medal design, they place the water stations perfectly spaced apart. Because it's Rock the Parkway, there is also music in the course, which I love to see at a race. The start is at Burns & McDonnell where there is a ton of parking, but there is even MORE parking at a nearby high school (my pro tip is to park there). To me, having stress free parking at a race is huge.
The course is fantastic as it goes north on Ward Parkway, past the beautiful homes and churches and Meyer Circle fountain. It then goes through a gorgeous neighborhood that, for several years, has hosted an unofficial aid station called Rock the Belleview which, let me say, you do NOT want to miss. (If you like a beer or doughnut break during a race, you'll love it) It then heads to the famous Loose Park to loop around and head back to Ward Parkway.
Once you get to mile 2 or so of the race, it's pretty flat with a handful of rolling hills (or, to KC folks, "neighborhood inclines" lol). There is much opportunity in flat stretches to get speed for a PR if you're so inclined. And the last mile is a gentle downhill, so if you've got stuff left in the tank at the end, you can fly to the finish. Most KC runners' half marathon PRs are on this course.
Another thing I love about the course is that because it largely takes place up and down one large street, your loved ones can easily drive up and park on a side street to spectate, drive up to Loose Park to catch you again, and then hop to the other side and park to catch you again if they want. It's all very accessible for spectators, and it shows. There is a lot of fun to be seen while running-I've stopped a time or two to wave to a diva in an evening gown, hug a rescue dog seeking a family, and to take a dance break with some girls that I think may have had extra espresso shots :)
You will finish to the sounds of a band and announcers calling your name. Finish line festival area has lots of great goodies and backdrops for photo ops, which you will probably want because, like I said, you'll likely run a good time or PR on this course and want to remember the day. Or you'll be with a bunch of new friends acquired on the course and want photos with them to celebrate!
Because the race is so great, virtually all KC area runners end up being involved with it somehow, either as runners, volunteers, or spectators. I lovingly refer to it as the KC running community version of the high school party of the year: everybody you know is going, and you don't want to miss out! So come join the party!
Sydney S recommends this race
(2018)
"Beautiful and relatively easy course for a fall marathon"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
This race took place on November 11 in Overland Park, KS. It starts in Corproate Woods, a well known office park in the area. There is also a half marathon and 5K race on race day. The course is mostly on the Indian Creek trail, with the exception of doing the 5K course at the start of the race and a 4 mile stretch on road/paved trail parallel to road from mile 6 to 10. So if you're local to the KC area, you can practice stretches of the course and see that none of the hills on the course are too crazy. I haven't done the other fulls in the area, but I hear the hills in KC Marathon and Garmin full are worse, making this course a better choice if you want to PR. And the scenery on the trail is pretty and peaceful, especially with fall colors. The weather is a roll of the dice every year at this race, but we lucked out this year (chilly 30 degrees at start, but it warmed up quickly to 40s and sunny, pretty ideal for running- I took my gloves off by mile 9). Since the race is mostly on trail, if you have loved ones wanting to spectate, it's easy for them to drive to spots to see you on the course since no roads are closed for the race-big plus! Aid stations were well stocked with enthusiastic and helpful volunteers. The fleece finisher blanket at the end was a great touch. I had a great experience personally, but there were things about it that others with different "race personalities" may feel differently about that I will note. In spite of the marathon course being pretty and relatively easy, there are only about 200 or so full marathoners every year, with 3 times as many half marathoners. There was talk about different goodies available at the finish line, but by the time I finished (5:25), all the vendors were gone. There was talk on Facebook that some of them had left even as the 2:30 half pacers were coming in. My family had brought personalized goodies for me (motivation to get me to push through), so I didn't care, but if you're the type that likes a lot of food at the end of a marathon, a bigger participation race might be a better fit for you. Also, there were a couple hiccups, the race hoodie ran small (not a priority to me but it could matter to some) and the participant guide had an error that affected some people. That stuff can be easily fixed by organizers for future years, I know this race has been around for a long time and there are good people behind it. I'd still choose this race over the other fulls in KC, even the KC Marathon that has all the bells and whistles :)