Marathon

START / FINISH

The race will begin at 7:05 AM with the Start and Finish at 22nd & Grand, across from Crown Center.

AMENITIES

2013 Event Technical T-Shirt

(NOTE: Shirts will be ordered in a men's and women's style.  Please select the appropriate size during online registration.)

A 4" Full Color Medal with a Custom 1.5" sublimated v-sewn neck ribbon

A deluxe Neck Ribbon

IPICO Chip Timing

Heat Sheets (post race)

Free Food and Beverages at the Finish Line Festival

Free Massages at the Finish Line

A Virtual Race Bag with many deals and coupons

Click here to register for the 2013 Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon with Ivy Funds.

AID STATIONS

Water, Gatorade, & Medical Kits are available at all Aid Stations

Fruit available at miles 14 and 22

GU available on course at mile 9 and 19.5

Medical and Emergency

Medical and Emergency Plan

AWARDS 

All finishers will receive a special Marathon Medal.

Overall

First Place- top male and female runner $1,500

Second Place- male and female runner $750 each

Third Place- male and female runner $500 each

Masters- top male and female runner $125 each

Wheelchair Overall- top male and female $150 each

Special prizes will be given to the top 3 finishers in each of the following age groups:

17 & Under, 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & Over

Athletes are eligible to win awards in multiple categories (excluding the overall male and female winners of each event).

All cash prizes are for overall winners and not by age category.

*Cash winners will be sent their earnings after the event.

REGISTRATION

If you would like to switch events, please contact us at register@kcmarathon.org by Wednesday, September 18. After this date, participants will still be able to switch events, but the process will have to be completed at Late Registration and Packet Pickup during the Health & Fitness Expo.

FAQ
Can I wear headphones, push strollers, or bring my dog?
No strollers of any kind are allowed.  For insurance and safety purposes, we do not allow headphones, earbuds, Ipods, radios, and other hearing devices or animals on the course.  Elite runners and prize winners are not allowed to wear them according to USAT&F rules.  Animals are not allowed on the course unless they are assisting visually impaired participants.

What is the minimum age requirement for the Full Marathon?
16 years old

For more information, check out our FAQs section

COURSE OVERVIEW

While the half marathon turn heads back on Troost, the marathon is a bigger loop that continues south to connect the scenic and popular areas of The Plaza, Brush Creek, Loose Park, Ward Parkway, Waldo, and Brookside. You’ll get all this with moderate rolling hills along with only one long gradual uphill on Sunset Dr.

Click here for the 2013 Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon course map.

Course Comments, by Coach Eladio Valdez III (Runner's Edge)

This year, we will have our best ever course!  The plan is to stick with this for at least the next couple of years. As the course designer, I wanted to offer a more detailed description of each race distance.  If you’re like me, the more you can learn about a race, the better.  It’s nearly impossible to come up with a quality flat half marathon or marathon course in our city, so I tried to minimize the hills whenever possible.  I just modeled what has worked in other large cities – design a course that takes participants through its best parts. 

There are other subtle perks such as making the hills more friendly by choosing the more gradual option or breaking a long hill into 2 doable ones, warming everyone up a little before the first big hill, changing the scenery enough to keep things interesting, making it more spectator friendly with loops, and providing a fast downhill to flat finish.  The half marathon is a smaller loop within the marathon meaning that participants will share the first 7.5 miles together and cover the same final 5.5 miles.  I hope you find this informative and enjoyable to read.  Good luck!

Start to Mile 4

The start is at 22^nd on Grand, near Crown Center.  It heads north to 11^th St. to provide a gradual downhill followed by a long, gentle uphill.  Check out the Sprint Center and Power & Light District.  Turn left on 11^th  to take in some of the historic downtown followed by a left on Main to head back by the Power & Light District and enjoy a long gradual downhill.  Continue heading down the hill followed by a small rise to Pershing. 

Turn right to run by the famous Bloch fountain in front of the Union Station and then head up Kessler for ½ mile before taking a left on Memorial drive and onto the loop leading to the Liberty Memorial. This gives everyone 2.5+ miles of a few turns and two long straight stretches of road to spread out a little and warm up before heading up the biggest hill to the Liberty Memorial.  Be careful not to go out too fast so you’ll be ready for it.  The flat, scenic ½ mile stretch on Liberty Memorial Drive provides everyone a much needed break before heading south on Wyandotte for a short, steep up and downhill to 31^st Street to Main.

Miles 4 to 8

The next 4 miles are flat to downhill with some rolling hills in between so you can really make some good time through here.  Head south on Main through Midtown, and turn right on Westport Rd. through the heart of Westport.  The only noticeable hill of this section will be encountered upon leaving the Westport area, but fortunately it’s a gradual incline.  Stay on this road until you see Roanoke Parkway and take a left on this tree shaded long gradual downhill - you’ll really be able to pick up the pace on this stretch if you’re after a time goal.  After turning left on 47^th going through the Plaza, you’ll pass several fountains including the JC Nichols fountain.   You’ll get to stay with the half marathoners for the first 7.8 miles before they turn left on Troost.  Lots of things to see on this portion while cruising right along!

Miles 8 to 13.1(halfway)

The next 5 miles will be among the most scenic you’ll find on any marathon course.  It’s also marked with a long flat section followed by a long gradual hill and rolling terrain through historic, stately homes.  Continue east on 47^th and cross Brush Creek on The Paseo before turning right on Volker to pass by the waterfalls and fountains of the Stowers Institute as well as several fountains along Brush Creek.  Cross the creek again on Main to head west on Ward Parkway and catch the Plaza again.  Continue heading west on Ward Parkway until you see the big hill ahead by Pembroke School where it intersects with Shawnee Mission Parkway.  Avoid the hill and cross Brush Creek, heading back east on Ward Parkway for a final view of the Plaza.  Turn right on Sunset Dr. for the next major hill, albeit a long gradual one split up into 2 parts.  Complete the hill by turning left on 54^th St., left on Belleview, and right on 52^nd St. to Loose Park.  Stay along Loose Park by going right on Summit to the halfway point.

Miles 13.1 to 20

You’ll enjoy another very scenic portion of the route while keeping up a strong pace on this gentle section with long flat and downhill stretches – this is another great stretch to make up for any lost time and bank a little for the final miles.  From 58^th St., turn right to Belleview and south to 57^th Terr. before heading west to the scenic Ward Parkway.  Turn left on the east side of Ward Parkway, and you’ll stay on this very scenic and gently rolling road for 2.5 miles before turning left on 75^th St.  75^th takes you into the Waldo district where you’ll then turn left on Wornall.  Head north on Wornall through some more very nice neighborhoods before turning right on Meyer and then a quick left on Brookside.  Take advantage of this nearly 2 mile gradual downhill before turning right on Volker.  Stay along the flat, scenic Brush Creek passing the churning waterfalls at The Stowers Institute once again. 

Miles 20 to 26.2

After a flat 1.5 miles, this is essentially a gradual uphill followed by a gradual downhill and a flat finish.  From Volker, turn left on The Paseo, left on 47^th and right on Troost followed by a quick left on Brush Creek Blvd. and right on Harrison St. followed by a gradual left on Gilham Rd.  The final major hill is noticed about 21.7 miles into the race on the scenic Harrison Pkwy through the historic Hyde Park area to Harrison St.  Things flatten out as you take a right on Armour before ascending another hill to take a left on The Paseo.  Continue north on The Paseo and take advantage of the 1.5 mile gentle downhill.   Turn left on 18^th St. to enjoy another long flat stretch to Grand.  Left on Grand to negotiate a final small gradual hill over a bridge.  From there, it’ll be easy to show off as you get a 250 yard pancake flat finish to Pershing at Crown Center.  Your treat for handling the first 23 miles is being able to finish strong with the last 3 miles being downhill to mostly flat.