Alternate Chili Trail Run
Kansas City, KS
- 10 Miler
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Alternate Chili Run is a trail run that is “a taste of Psycho WyCo”, on the Psycho Wyco course. Fun Times! It will be a well-marked course on a hilly trail, with limited aid. Consider it a training run for the opulent and prestigious Psycho Wyco run. This race … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jan 18):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 38 | 33 | 34 | 39 | 56 |
| L (°F) | 8 | 16 | 14 | 36 | 37 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
PsychoWyco Lite (now with more chili!)
So this is the same course as the infamous Psycho Wyco, except only one lap. Thankfully this year was free of snow and ice, so that automatically made the course … MORE
So this is the same course as the infamous Psycho Wyco, except only one lap. Thankfully this year was free of snow and ice, so that automatically made the course easier than prior attempts. The first year I did Psycho Wyco the hills really got me. As someone who enjoys hills and does them a pretty decent amount, that was a shock to me. Since then, I vowed not to get my butt kicked by hills as badly again, and have done my best to run up them. The last three (The Three Sisters, being their PG name) are not hills I am running up yet. I was faster this year than prior years, on the nearly 1700 feet of elevation on this course, but the scenery is lovely, offering up top-down views of a dam, countless depressions and meadows, other peaks and a good stretch of lakeside view. It’s a course that offers something every time you turn one of the many corners. There are some really fast descents, there are some switchback descents, there are a great many different types of uphill, to include one hill that comes with a hand rope, which is infinitely useful in inclement weather. There are natural steps, there are a couple good stream crossings that switch up year by year depending on when and where the snowmelt or rain runoff is/has been/is trying to get.
It’s a good warmup for Psycho Wyco. It’s a good familiarization. It’s a good way to see that a scary course maybe isn’t as scary the second, fifth, seventh time you run the hills. Even if it’s your first, come out and give it a shot, it is the hardest course in the area you can get a medal on. This is a small race, and at the end there’s a giant pot of chili waiting on you with some adult beverages to wash it down. Trail runners are built differently, and it’s always humbling to get out there with them and watch them dance through the rocks like seasoned goats. In a good way. I like goats. Just sayin’.
The medal is a wooden medal, which I guess is par for the course at trail races. It’s a good size though. There was a nice beanie to go along with it but I haven’t actually worn it yet to know how warm it is.
TOUGH course, worth the challenge
The Alternate Chili 10-mile trail run is labeled as a “taste of PsychoWyco”. I expected the trail to be similar to the PW, not the same. It’s the same trail. … MORE
The Alternate Chili 10-mile trail run is labeled as a “taste of PsychoWyco”. I expected the trail to be similar to the PW, not the same. It’s the same trail. The big difference is PW either do 1, 2 or 3 laps. Thus, I understand labeling Alternate Chili as a “taste”, and not just for the tasty treats at the finish line. Additionally, Alternate Chili is the perfect run for those braving the PW and need a refresher of how to make bad decisions.
Being relatively new to trail races, I learn something new at every race. This time around I was surprised at the relatively low turnout. The race is limited to 100 participants, but with twenty-seven finishers, it was still lower than I expected. Yet, when I looked at past results, it is on par for this race. I arrived about 10 minutes prior to start time, because I was coming from Mass, but my running partner and I prepared for this. He got my swag, I arrived dressed to go and was able to start on time. The race director gave us some quick directions and off we went.
While the race is timed, it is not a chip time. Punctuality is important. I am sure time would be adjusted accordingly for any late arrivals, but I can’t guarantee it. The trail is decently marked, but familiarity helped a lot. The markings were place far apart enough that I questioned more than once if I was going the right place. Yet, the course sticks pretty close to the worn trail. It also helps that I was the back of the pack, so my running partner was sending me course directions and course clarifications. When I did fear getting lost, because of the gap between marking or the wind shifting markings, I would see a sign in the distance and knew I was still on track.
This is a tough course. With 1,900 feet of elevation, it is rough and tough. There are some flat parts, but be ready to climb, climb, turn a sharp corner to climb some more and then strategically climb big rocks to climb another hill, before enjoying slight downhills. I do love that the last mile or so of the course is a flat course and then straight downhill. I’ll have to remember that opening when I return to PyschoWyco next month.
Again, trail races are a different breed. There were no aid stations (we were forewarned), a beanie instead of a typical tshirt (no complaints there), a wooden finisher medal (I’ve come to accept wooden medal on trails) and an assortment of chip, soda, adult beverage and, of course, chili at the finish line. The chili smelled delicious but as part of final trio of runners, we went to celebrate afterwards – somewhere indoors and warm.
As the final runner to cross the line, the race director still cheered me on as if I was in the top 10. I felt a special amount of pride because I shaved 14 minutes off my PW time from last year. For months, I have carried a fear that I would not be able to avenge my defeat from last year, but the Alternate Chili run gave me that opportunity. Make no mistake, I am not going to go into PW with an inflated ego (my sister can attain to my hating life at mile six), but I will go in with the knowledge that I was one of the five women to complete the race.
I have no intention in trading in my road running shoes for trail boots, but the sense of accomplishment is extremely different. Trail runs push me to another level in a different sense. My time may look like I am picking clouds, but in relatively I am picking which rock to climb or hill to curse. With the first trail run of 2026 under my belt, I’m claiming the victory. I showed up, I finished and finished 14 minutes faster. Now, let’s hope I keep that momentum for PW next month.
Challenging and fun
The late start (10:00) was welcomed as an out of towner and first timer. The weather played nice other than crazy cold. I did have a moment of being in … MORE
The late start (10:00) was welcomed as an out of towner and first timer.
The weather played nice other than crazy cold.
I did have a moment of being in the zone when I hit a rare part of asphalt and totally missed a turn causing me to run an extra .44 miles. I guess I needed a bigger sign advising of the turn back into the trail.
The staff and other runners were rad and although I didn’t know anyone, there were handshakes and fist bumps afterwards.
The hot chili after the race was a welcome treat. The medal was unique (I mean that in a good way).
Would have been great to have a porta john near the start as the restrooms were closed for the winter.