The official KC marathon/Half Marathon thread for the Kansans

Patrick, time to HTFU and register. Why would you want to end your season with a 1st OA finish? You need a middle of the pack finish to motivate you through the off season. Make it the last big one of the year. As for pacing me, I don't think you want to use my 8:45 marathon pace for a HM. I assumed you would be 7:30 or so?

I just want to get through it.  I have been a distnace runner in my lifetime, but never a LONG-distance runner, if you know what I mean.  13 miles is possibly the longest I will have ever run in my life.  I did a few long runs in high school, but don't think I ever got to 13 miles at one time.  I have a few 8.5 mile runs under my belt in the last week each just under 1 hour.  But adding 5 more miles to that isn't checken feed.  I thought I might start with an 8:30/mi pace group and finish the last 4-5 miles strong depending on how I feel.  Or, I might try to hold with the 7:30 group to see how it goes.  I just want to get through it and have fun so that I know I can do it going into the off-season.  That way I can build miles over the winter and reach our goals for longer-distance triathlons next spring/summer.

1/2. Starting out with the 8:00 pace group, and will see how bad the hills kick my .

Anyone have any suggestions on where the best, and easiest, place to park is?

If Hospital Hill was any indication -- wherever they send you and hope it isn't too far away.  I ended up just south of the complex on one of the surface lots.  Just take what you can get.  Luckily I will have my wife with me if I have any gear to strip off before the race starts.  Otherwise, you will need to leave your car wearing your race gear.

I parked at Union Station in 2009.  Easy in, easy out.  I ran the 1/2M so parking will be plenty empty for you Marathoners as you head home.  I got there about 6:15 ish with race start around 7:00.  They had good parking attendants etc. to guide you in.  In 2009 they had a bag check so hopefully that's still available.  It's still a ways out but as it stands now weather looks good, low in the 50's high of 73.

Then I take it all back.  :-)  The huge Union Station lot would be the best idea.

I did read in the FAQs that there is a gear check. I will try for union station and see how it goes.

I am in for the half.  I have been having ankle/ tendon issues the last month I thought I could HTFU through, but they only seem to be getting worse.  I am too dumb to skip this event so I will just plan to make it an easy run and enjoy my 3 beers at then end.  Good luck to you fast guys!

I am dealing with a bit of soreness in my achilles myself.  I might have upped the mileage a bit too quickly the last couple of weeks.  Staying off of it today, and maybe tomorrow.  Should be fine for Saturday.  I'll just consider it an aggressive taper program.  :-)

Patrick, anyone buy those shorts yet? I am starting to get a little anxious. I haven't run this few miles in quite a while.

jon, are those 3 sentences related?  ;-)  You can buy my shorts, wear them in the race, and be less anxious.

When are you guys going to check in?

I'm off this week, so I might make it down there Friday around lunchtime or early afternoon to pick up my packet.

I was actually going to be down there tomorrow to have lunch with my wife at Hallmark, so I was going to head over there after lunch.  Would you want to do that since you are unemployed for another 2 days?

If I weren't located 60 miles to the west, I would.  As it is, it needs to be Friday for me.

I am going Friday about lunch time.  Even if I don't run- I plan on going down to watch and I will want my race # to get my free beers at the finish!

Sounds like you have your priorities straight. I like it.

Haha, free beers at 9:00am in the morning? Absolutely!  Anybody running with a pace group?  I'm heading out with the 1:45 pace group, and hoping to catch Reese and the 1:40 at the end...