My heart will always have a soft spot for this race because it was the first one my medical team let me do after my heart attack. The logistics of … MORE
My heart will always have a soft spot for this race because it was the first one my medical team let me do after my heart attack.
The logistics of this race are beautiful. Parking is a short distance away but busses are a plenty so the wait isn’t long. That works out well because you do NOT want to overdress for this race but it’s typically quite cold outside. The entire race is weaving around in a massive cave complex. Now personally I find the cave quite beautiful, but I can see how that may not appeal to everyone. The running course is wide, clearly marked and has only minor elevation changes, but there are turns of varying degrees and a switchback to keep you from getting bored. It’s so warm inside the caves that it feels like a spring run and you forget about the snow and ice which may be waiting for you upon exit. There’s a VIP room that I haven’t experienced with food and private bathrooms, but honestly I’ve never had much of a wait for the portapotties and with everyone so anxious to get out and race again the energy has always been great out in the crowd before the start. I race 12 months out of the year, but the Groundhog race seems to really be the turning point where the “real” race season starts again and due to the relative ease of the course, it would be a great race to ease back in if you’ve taken some time off for winter. I’ll be here every year for sure and while I’m a perpetual back-of-the-packer, I’m the guy in body armor…feel free to say hi when you pass me.
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Great return to warmer temperature runs
My heart will always have a soft spot for this race because it was the first one my medical team let me do after my heart attack. The logistics of … MORE
My heart will always have a soft spot for this race because it was the first one my medical team let me do after my heart attack.
The logistics of this race are beautiful. Parking is a short distance away but busses are a plenty so the wait isn’t long. That works out well because you do NOT want to overdress for this race but it’s typically quite cold outside. The entire race is weaving around in a massive cave complex. Now personally I find the cave quite beautiful, but I can see how that may not appeal to everyone. The running course is wide, clearly marked and has only minor elevation changes, but there are turns of varying degrees and a switchback to keep you from getting bored. It’s so warm inside the caves that it feels like a spring run and you forget about the snow and ice which may be waiting for you upon exit. There’s a VIP room that I haven’t experienced with food and private bathrooms, but honestly I’ve never had much of a wait for the portapotties and with everyone so anxious to get out and race again the energy has always been great out in the crowd before the start. I race 12 months out of the year, but the Groundhog race seems to really be the turning point where the “real” race season starts again and due to the relative ease of the course, it would be a great race to ease back in if you’ve taken some time off for winter. I’ll be here every year for sure and while I’m a perpetual back-of-the-packer, I’m the guy in body armor…feel free to say hi when you pass me.
Groundhog Run
This was an awesome event. I’d never been to Subtropolis so when I heard there was a race there, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to visit. My first impression … MORE
This was an awesome event. I’d never been to Subtropolis so when I heard there was a race there, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to visit.
My first impression was at packet pick up. Everything was super organized and flowed smoothly. The shirt is probably the best I’ve gotten so far… I’ll definitely be wearing it.
I was nervous about parking, because a shuttle was needed. My nervousness was unfounded. There were plenty of buses and not really any wait.
I’ll be honest, the scenery is kinda bland… You’re in an underground warehouse facility. Still it was kind of interesting to see the space. And a perk for a January race… the temperature inside the caves was comfortably in the 60’s.
The course is very flat and paved which is nice and made the course easier to navigate.
The medal was beautiful, but also ginormous. I know there is a trend toward bigger, blingier medals, but I’m not as much into that. I prefer a nice, standard sized, medal… but maybe I’m in the minority.
To my mind, the best part of the race was the cheerleaders. This event benefits AbilityKC and the kids were awesome. They stayed to the very end making sure everyone was cheered and applauded… not just those in the front. It brought more than one smile to my face.