Garmin Olathe Marathon in the Land of Oz
Olathe, KS
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Join us for a marathon, half marathon, 10k or kids run through the beautiful streets and trails of Olathe. The event began in 2003 as the Olathe Marathon, and is now hosted by Garmin at their world headquarters. The city of Olathe is just 20 minutes southwest of downtown Kansas … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Apr 25):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 75 | 65 | 61 | 66 | 60 |
| L (°F) | 53 | 57 | 52 | 41 | 41 |
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It was fine, but won't do this one again
I was surprised by how little swag we got, but the parking was in a parking garage which was nice. The expo was average but had little merch other than … MORE
I was surprised by how little swag we got, but the parking was in a parking garage which was nice. The expo was average but had little merch other than shirts and hoodies.
Good race poor performance
Enjoyed checking off Kansas in Olathe. It's a good modest marathon experience. No complaints about course, production, support etc. It was actually a much hillier course than I expected (with … MORE
Enjoyed checking off Kansas in Olathe. It’s a good modest marathon experience. No complaints about course, production, support etc. It was actually a much hillier course than I expected (with no research) at +1100 ft elevation gain and nearly 40% of the race run uphill. Wow!
Pretty disappointed by my performance but again indicative of a lack of training. First 16 miles at a rock-steady 7:40 pace, then completely fell apart in the back half, probably avg pace >9:00. Need to train further at goal pace.
At least the medal is nice...
I liked the medal....and it pretty much ended there. I hate downing a race, because I know a lot of time and effort goes into putting on a race, however, … MORE
I liked the medal….and it pretty much ended there.
I hate downing a race, because I know a lot of time and effort goes into putting on a race, however, this race was draining rather than invigorating.
First the good, the medal was a Dorothy-theme with red glitter and a double-spinner. The medals are specific to the distance, which I always appreciate. The soft cotton t-shirt is perfectly fine. I’ll have to check the stats for elevation gain, but the race was a rough one. Any runner will get a good workout of the of the race and will continuously wind through the neighborhoods.
Now for the not so pleasant. First aid station had ZERO cups 30 minutes into the race. The 10k runners did not get any water stations. When water stations were available, some were same plastics cups, others had small water bottles and others paper cups. Those details matter to a runner. The sports drink was a watered down version or what you find at regular races. I didn’t see any energy gel, so if there were any, they were closely guarded. One of the aid stations did have some bananas, and I only saw them because the little girl actively held out her tray. If you were a back of the pack marathon, aid stations were quickly picked up.
The crowd support is pretty much non-existent. The only real cheerleader was a local lady who made her way from the beginning of the race to the end. She was a genuine supporter happily cheering on runners. The high school cheerleaders were about two miles from the finish line, and they were friendly. The majority of the other volunteers seemed like they were out there to check the boxes either for work or school, but not so much for the runners. Fanfare was nice at the finish line, but most runners will tell you that on-the-course support makes a WORLD of difference.
While the t-shirt was soft, it is more on the thin side. Nearly 10 years ago, I did my first 10k here. The only think I remember about the race was I received a really nice, medium-weight, technical shirt. I held on to the shirt for a long time (it’s probably still stuck in closet somewhere). So, I was disappointed that the quality of the shirt went down – kinda like the race itself.
What happened?
So I had a unique perspective on this event. I ran the half with my vest on, like I normally do, but since my running partner and I needed extra … MORE
So I had a unique perspective on this event. I ran the half with my vest on, like I normally do, but since my running partner and I needed extra miles for our 50M/25k combo weekend, we decided to then run the full marathon course in reverse, so we could cheer in the back-of-the-packers for the full marathon, then knock out a little bit more for a nice round 40. That turned into around 45, but there were extenuating circumstances.
Anyway, the shirt seemed really thin. Now for someone who runs several times a week, 52 weeks a year, I don’t mind having tshirts of different weights. There were a lot of complaints that this one felt cheap. I also cannot disagree with that. The medal seemed pretty polarizing, with everyone loving it or hating it. I thought it was less impressive than when I did it before, but with a sample size of 2, I’m not one to speak on where the trend lies.
Here are the issues I have. The 10k people started 10 or 15 minutes behind the half/full wave starts. I got to the first aid station in what I think would be the first half of the pack, despite starting in a late wave, because I passed a whole lot of people at the start and caught up to at least two prior waves, despite mine and ccruiz03’s battle plan of a nice slow steady performance today, since, you know, 40 miles. What can I say I am a creature of habit. When the first aid station arrived, they were out of cups. I doubt there were more than a handful of 10k runners that had even caught up at that point, which means they’d have nothing until around mile 4. How do you run out of cups THAT early in a race. Speaking of early in a race, after we completed the half and started on the reverse-course full, we noticed one runner who was very much still within the time window to finish in time. Unfortunately for him, all the aid stations were shut down at that point. I know, because remember, I’m doing the course backwards, so I’ve seen the end to the finsih line. I hate it when races close down when runners are out on the course and there is no reason to believe they won’t finish on time. Heck, for that matter, maybe they’re going to surge at the end. Can we give them the benefit of the doubt. My guy, if you’re reading this, I really hope you got your medal. You may have been last, but you were smiling, and you were staying strong, and you’re the runner I most enjoyed sharing the course with. Next to probably Jack. Jack was a great guy doing his first marathon. Made it to around 24.8 miles and cramped up hard. The police course marshal right there had nobody to call apparently, or the race organizers just didn’t think of that, but people go down on races and cramp up for different reasons. Some of them can be serious. I look at the races that have mobile aid stations of ice water and electrolytes in saddlebags on bicycles or golf carts who rush out to assist struggling racers (lookin’ at you Running With The Cows…) and the ones that just leave everybody to fend for themselves (and can’t even count on cups at aid stations, or aid stations being manned as I came to learn). After ccruiz03 gave up her electrolytes I had the esteemed honor of escorting Jack across the finish line. In that mile I learned that it was his very first full attempt, and I’ll be darned if I’m letting anybody get to nearly 25 and DNF. If you’re reading this buddy, you made my race, and all the suck that was to come was worth it.
For those looking to check off Kansas, THAT is the one to hit (RWTC), because that community cares, and is glad you’re there. Honestly, I felt like the local community is kind of sick of this race. Unlike my other year, and a great many of the stories I’ve heard, the crowd support was nonexistent this year. If you like big screaming throngs of fans or even friends and families in lawn chairs with card tables, this is going to be a disappointment. While this is not the least bit the RD’s fault, there was a weird particulate in the air that quite a number of us were coughing over, so it was just more a punch in the gut that the community didn’t seem to really want us there any longer. Garmin was present in name only, missing out on a great opportunity for them, and speaking of missed opportunities, once you left the starting arch, don’t expect to see anything Wizard of Oz related until you come back through it at the end. Nobody thought to pump that up and get a real theme going? This felt more like a Sunday run with ccruiz03 than a race, and while I love our training runs (running is my therapy), I could print up a shirt and/or there’s always a virtual to find and we could have the same overall effect.
This race used to be the last in a three-race series. The extra medal and swag (windbreaker) was handed out to those who had completed 3 half marathons in 5 weeks (every other weekend). That at least gave it some heft. As the now-middle child in the series, it’s just the race we do because we have to in order to get the series checked off. There is a great wine bar called Vintage ’78 that was the unofficial meeting place for a number of racers afterwards, and I cannot speak highly enough of them. There was more love and camaraderie in that wine bar than I’d seen on the entire course, and if anything gets me back to Oz in the future, it’ll be that. The full course has a nice out and back through the park that has some lovely wetlands and some decent hills to run, and honestly I could see myself going and just doing 20 or so on the trails to merge up with races I’ve run further north along the trail, but the curtain has been pulled back on this one, and the wizard has been found lacking. I do hope they recover though, as it pained me to rate them so lowly, but honestly some of it was generous.
Missed Opportunity
Overall, a decent race. Packet pickup went smoothly and every volunteer we encountered throughout the weekend was extraordinarily helpful and kind. The medal is nicer than I anticipated, though the … MORE
Overall, a decent race. Packet pickup went smoothly and every volunteer we encountered throughout the weekend was extraordinarily helpful and kind. The medal is nicer than I anticipated, though the shirt feels a bit thin.
The race itself was largely forgettable, if perfectly fine (it ran mostly through some lovely and quiet neighborhoods and alongside a creek/on a forest park path). It was also hillier than I expected and the lack of shade was no joke, so wear sunglasses and sunscreen! Disappointingly, the Wizard of Oz theme wasn’t very hyped throughout; the start/finish line had some decoration and there was a cardboard cutout of characters at packet pickup, but otherwise nothing. (Ok yes, the medal and t-shirt were themed too, but I don’t think of that as day-of hype.) Also, Garmin didn’t feel present at all — we started and ended at their headquarters, but otherwise you’d never know they sponsored this (at least on race day).
Finally: I didn’t verify this with anyone official, but my watch told me the course wasn’t properly marked and ended up being too long by 2/10ths of a mile. Another girl on the course said her watch read the same as mine, so if true — annoying!
So, tldr: this race was pleasant, but it felt like such a missed opportunity to capitalize on both the Garmin sponsorship and the Wizard of Oz theme. I’m glad I ran this (my dad was so excited for it!) but I wouldn’t repeat.
Decent race
For a Garmin marathon, I expected a lot more grandiose... Slightly low key. Other than that it was a good marathon. Finish line festival could have been better arranged. Weather … MORE
For a Garmin marathon, I expected a lot more grandiose… Slightly low key. Other than that it was a good marathon. Finish line festival could have been better arranged. Weather turned out to be perfect
Love the medal!!
Come for the swag! And the easy parking/start/finish line. Super easy race to navigate since it’s small. Love the medal and the t-shirt! Course was fine, mainly through neighborhoods, sidewalks, … MORE
Come for the swag! And the easy parking/start/finish line. Super easy race to navigate since it’s small. Love the medal and the t-shirt! Course was fine, mainly through neighborhoods, sidewalks, and pedestrian trails. Early start at 6:45 means early finish. Friendly people. Good little race for Kansas.
A low-frills marathon in the Land of Oz
To start, while the race begins and ends at Garmin HQ, Garmin itself is minimally involved to my knowledge. The race is hosted and organized by the city of Olathe, … MORE
To start, while the race begins and ends at Garmin HQ, Garmin itself is minimally involved to my knowledge. The race is hosted and organized by the city of Olathe, KS. I think it’s important to point this out, since people might see Garmin in the race name and think it’s a big-budget endeavor.
Pros:
* Packet pickup at the expo was quick and painless
* Pacer for the 4:30 did a great job announcing plans ahead of time for aid stations and different segments of the race
* Crowd support was surprisingly excellent, both from the community and the volunteers. The aid stations were well-staffed with people clearly communicating water/Gatorade and handing out plenty of each.
* Plenty of aid stations, roughly every 2-3 miles, at least 4 stations with fuel. I believe every station had water AND Gatorade.
* The medal is big and shiny and beautiful!
Cons:
* The route was not very exciting. About 1/3 of it was on a closed-off lane in the street, another 1/3 on a paved bike/walking path through the woods, and 1/3 on sidewalks.
* Post-run fuel as far as I saw was banana halves, bagel chunks, and chocolate milk. Since they were already sliced and tossed in a box for self-serve, the bananas and bagels were not very appealing.
* The hills on the back half are no joke. I trained on those hills, but hitting them on legs after >20 miles was a completely different beast from training at <20.
* Lack of porta-potties on the bike path, which accounted for the middle 1/3 of the race. Not a big deal if you don’t mind ducking behind a tree, but worth mentioning.
* The expo itself was tiny, and the race shirt was generic for all distances. I bought a nice customized shirt from a vendor after the race that had all of the Marathon and Half Marathon participants listed on the back.
Bottom line, this was a low-cost, low-frills race with big crowd energy right in my backyard. I am glad I ran it once, but I do not expect to repeat it.
I was expecting more
As a race that starts and finishes at the Garmin headquarters I was expecting more from Garmin. I know we were at their building, but that was really the only … MORE
As a race that starts and finishes at the Garmin headquarters I was expecting more from Garmin. I know we were at their building, but that was really the only signage that said Garmin. Garmin definitely missed the mark on embedding themselves in the endurance community here.
The packet pickup had a few exhibitors, but again nothing from Garmin devices. I didn’t find anything useful at the pickup. I was in and out in a few minutes.
The pre race bus from the suggested hotel area did not leave enough time for gear check and bathroom break before getting to the start. We arrived only 15 minutes before the start of the race and had to walk from bus drop off to race area.
Little to no crowd support on course.
The course utilizes a bike path in some spots which included running on gravel for a short distance. The biggest issue here was just how narrow the course was in those spots. The course is also never flat. You are constantly either going up or down which prevents locking in to a pace. The last few miles are a gradual uphill.
The finish line festivities were in the Garmin parking garage which provided protection from the elements, but didn’t really offer much.
Post race buses were not very well marked and the bus drivers didn’t exactly know where they were going. Considering this was a Garmin sponsored event, they should have had a Garmin GPS to guide them.
Overall this race was just ok. If I had it to do over again, I would pick a different Kansas race.
Nice race, nothing fancy
I like smaller races, easy to navigate to and from the race. Great parking in the Garmin garage. Plenty of porta potties and aid stations were about every two miles. … MORE
I like smaller races, easy to navigate to and from the race. Great parking in the Garmin garage. Plenty of porta potties and aid stations were about every two miles. The hills were mostly at the end of race (miles 17, 18) and I didn’t like running on sidewalks. I would recommend this race if you want to run a marathon without all the bells and whistles.
Fun for Kansas
I’m working through all 50 states, and chose this one for Kansas. I traveled from TN for the weekend, and it was a fun race, though not especially spectacular. The … MORE
I’m working through all 50 states, and chose this one for Kansas. I traveled from TN for the weekend, and it was a fun race, though not especially spectacular. The course was through some nice neighborhoods and greenways, with more hills than I expected, but just enough to keep it interesting.
Swag was a cotton blend shirt and a nifty medal. The Oz theme was fun, and some people dressed up for the race (I ran as the Tin Man).
Parking and morning-of packet pick up were great. Weather as pretty ideal, mid 50s, low 60s and overcast.
Overall, not among the most amazing races I’ve done, but I’m satisfied with it for my Kansas race. 🌪️
Nice Kansas Race!
I thought this was a nice, fun, themed race. Swag was very nice! The only thing I felt could have been better was the post race food. It was only … MORE
I thought this was a nice, fun, themed race. Swag was very nice! The only thing I felt could have been better was the post race food. It was only bagels, chocolate milk, granola bars and bananas.
More porta potties!
I was so excited for this race and the medal! It was super cute medal I just wish it was bigger! I medal whore I admit it. Tshirt was an … MORE
I was so excited for this race and the medal! It was super cute medal I just wish it was bigger! I medal whore I admit it. Tshirt was an ugly color. The course was pretty easy not the most exciting visually. My biggest complaint was the lack of porto potties at different stages of the race. There was a long line at the first 2 stops and didn’t want to wait the 10-15 min.
Just heartbroken
I trained (and paid for) a full marathon. It was the most exciting moment the entire race until I crossed the half marathon finish line instead of marathon finish line. … MORE
I trained (and paid for) a full marathon. It was the most exciting moment the entire race until I crossed the half marathon finish line instead of marathon finish line. I didn’t know this immediately though. They still gave me a marathon medal so that was even more confusing. Then, some guy gave me a plaque saying I was 1st place in my age group. After I found out I ran off course and didn’t finish the 26.2 my heart was totally broken. I saw no signs, no warnings, nothing of a split from the two races. Now looking back I didn’t see many markers after awhile. Such a huge disappointment. The after party was ho hum and the swag was fine, but who wants a marathon medal and plaque they didn’t earn? I will run a marathon someday, but it won’t be here.
Not blown away
Selected this race as is the closest Kansas race to home, reviews and the Royals were in town this year. - Expo was small but had what you may need … MORE
Selected this race as is the closest Kansas race to home, reviews and the Royals were in town this year.
– Expo was small but had what you may need for gels, extra gear. I was there late day befor the race and had an easy time getting my number and shirt.
– Course was well marked and had some slight hills with the greatest elevation change around mile 15 but overall is relatively flat. Nothing overly scenic about the course.
– Swag: Cotton/polyester t-shirt, large medal of the logo for this year’s race.
– Typical post-race food: bagels, granola bars and I believe they had bananas. They did have an expansive selection of beer – six or seven varieties to choose from. No electrolyte drinks when I finished (around 4:30 for marathon) but I did receive a bottle of water immediately upon crossing finish line and that was appreciated.
– May want to roll dice on other options for a race in Kansas.
Nice race but slightly disappointing
Overall, this was a nice race for the area. However, I thought with the name and backing of Garmin there would significantly more to it. I was a bit disappointed … MORE
Overall, this was a nice race for the area. However, I thought with the name and backing of Garmin there would significantly more to it. I was a bit disappointed because of that. Otherwise the race was similar to mid-level races we run in Dallas all the time.
I was not able to make the health expo and early packet pickup due to travel complications, so I can’t speak to that part of the experience.
Race day, I arrived early since I had to do day of packet pickup. Arriving that early, parking was easy. There were volunteers flagging us into the parking structure, simple and easy. Early packet pickup was equally easy. They were ready to go ahead of the 6am on the website which was appreciated!
Weather was chilly the morning of. The wind is what made it a bit biting, I wore my normal winter race gear which included hat & gloves. It warmed up a bit as the race went along, but the wind was still biting, even in the last half mile! Otherwise, it was great weather, beautiful blue skies.
Again, race wasn’t that much. We lined up right next to the parking structure, not a lot of big fanfare. They did staggered wave stage, which was fine, didn’t really bother me much. Website said no music, but we all had our headphones, didn’t change anything.
Race course was mostly thru neighborhoods and wooded, paved trails. The paved trails were nice. There’s not much to see on the course otherwise, standard long run fare in my opinion. Finish was okay, nothing terribly special. Limited/Standard after race fare and some a couple vendor booths.
Regarding the swag, the finishers medal is very cool. Can’t complain about that. Shirt is a standard finishers shirt, again nothing to get too excited about.
In summary, I think I was more underwhelmed than anything for a race that has the backing of Garmin. I expected…more.
Fine race, nothing special
Overall a fun race but not one of my favorites. It's a smaller race so there are far fewer people running it. I was alone most of the race but … MORE
Overall a fun race but not one of my favorites. It’s a smaller race so there are far fewer people running it. I was alone most of the race but it was well marked (except for one place where I missed a turn but the 3:30 pace group quickly corrected me since they made the same mistake).
The course was kinda hilly but not too bad (I live/train in Chicago for reference). There weren’t a ton of spectators but the ones who were out (including cops and volunteers) were great and so encouraging and I loved the signs that Garmin made for the volunteers that were Wizard of Oz themed 🙂 It would have been cool to have a yellow brick road carpet at the finish line.
Running through the forest preserve and on the trail was pretty and I wish we could have run there more rather than through neighborhoods.
The weather was cold and windy at the start but I warmed up quickly with the sun out. The website says no headphones but a lot of people wore them no problem.
The medal is really pretty and sparkly which I love! The expo was small but had the essentials for a marathon.
Overall I wouldn’t do this marathon again but I did have fun despite running one of my slower times. I imagine it’s one of the better marathons in Kansas for anyone looking to do 50 marathons in 50 states. It was well run and I loved how the t-shirts (you had to buy though) had the name of everyone who ran the marathon and the half on the back!
Skip Olathe - course not marked properly
About the only positive to this race is the cool medal and easy parking. The first issue was a lack of communication from the race after signing up. After paying … MORE
About the only positive to this race is the cool medal and easy parking.
The first issue was a lack of communication from the race after signing up. After paying my entry fee, I never received another email from the race with any info.
The expo was incredibly small. One vendor selling shirts for the marathon, which admittedly were better then the race shirt given out. One vendor selling race accessories, like fuel, and fueling belts. Several local businesses were there, but also several water filtration companies with no business being there. Garmin was also there offering a small discount on their products, but it wasn’t any better then any other race I have been too. They were handing out lots of electrolyte samples, I think I walked out with different bottles. Very small.
Parking was easy as there was ample room in the lot right by the start line which was nice. They did a wave start which was not announced until start time. Not a big deal, but would have been nice to know about before hand.
The race through some urban areas to start and there were some people out supporting the runners, but not many. The race then connected onto several trails that run from Olathe out to Lenexa and back. Several times we had to switch to alternate sides of the road and it did not always seem clear which side of the cones we should be running on, especially in the neighborhoods. Aid stations were ok. The initial aid stations had several tables and more volunteers, however as we got further into the race, they shrunk drastically and there were only portajohn at each. At one aid station, no one was there to hand out liquid, you had to grab it off the table.
The last 8 miles of the course had significant uphill gain. The biggest error on the part of the race was failing to properly mark a turn which caused a significant number of runners to have to double back causing an additional .5 to 1 mile length on the overall route. Reading reviews, issues with course length seem to be a trend.
There was no afterparty. No music, no vendors. A small area set up to grab a granola bar, bagel, and milk.
Overall, not a great experience.
Welcome to Oz
This morning the weather was great at my house and 10 degrees cooler windchill upon arrival. There is nothing to block wind out there, so be prepared accordingly. Also be … MORE
This morning the weather was great at my house and 10 degrees cooler windchill upon arrival. There is nothing to block wind out there, so be prepared accordingly. Also be aware that parking backs up, so it’s going to be a slow crawl down the last mile to the parking lot.
My performance was possibly the worst of any half I’ve done, but a week after Boston Tough Ruck I wasn’t going to be PR’ing anyway. I do feel like this would have been a fast course for me on any other day, and the scenery through Olathe ran the gamut from downtown to residential areas. Every aid station I went by the volunteers were super motivated and it was well set up with gatorade up front then water and the volunteers were doing a great job of keeping the tables fully stocked as well as handing them to participants.
I will absolutely do this race again. The Tshirt has a nice weight to it and the Oz logo, but is nothing special if you’re not wed to the area. The medal was similarly the Garmin in the Land of Oz logo of the year, but it’s nicely made and decently weighted. This race is the third and final race in the Heartland 39.3 series, so if you also are doing that you get the extra award and swag for Heartland 39.3. That was exceptional this year with a heavy cutout medal with the names of the three races and a zip up windbreaker with drawstring hood and NO sponsors on the back, only a classy 39.3 logo with the race names on the front, just in case you need more incentive for the race.
Fun!
-lots of porta potties at start -well marked course -good pacers -fairly flat course (some hills, nothing major) -one thing they could improve on is the communication about shuttles MORE
-lots of porta potties at start
-well marked course
-good pacers
-fairly flat course (some hills, nothing major)
-one thing they could improve on is the communication about shuttles