Hangover Half Marathon & 10K
Overland Park, KS
- Half Marathon, 10K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Get the new year started off right and join January 1 for the Hangover Half Marathon and 10K. This casual, fun event features a well marked, scenic course along the Indian Creek Parkway Trail and plenty of post race food and beverages. Who knows, there might even be a little … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jan 01):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 42 | 41 | 31 | 59 | 34 |
| L (°F) | 32 | 26 | 22 | 34 | 9 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
A swing, a miss and a hit
Running on New Year's Day? A few year's ago I would have balked at the idea. Now, I absolutely love it. The crisp air, later start time and literally kicking … MORE
Running on New Year’s Day? A few year’s ago I would have balked at the idea. Now, I absolutely love it. The crisp air, later start time and literally kicking off the new year with a new race is better than any mixed cocktail (okay, maybe not, but the sentiment is right).
This year’s goal is for consistent paces and sub 3:10 half marathons, as race conditions and injuries permit (summer time is a goal to finish alive). I was close on this race: 3:13. I will take that time any time of year and it was particularily motivating as the first race of the year on the first day of the year.
Last year, I did the Hangover 10k, but was roped-in with kicks to the ground to do the half marathon. The hill at the end of mile 1 is sure to kill any hangover for both the 10k and half runners. If I remember correctly, there were three aid stations, at the 10k/half split, mile 5 or so and then a mile or so from the half turn around. Due to the cool weather, I really didn’t need any more than the three stations. There may have been another, but I don’t recall. I enjoy out and back course, especially on smaller races, because you are never truly alone on the route. Whether it’s a high-five or chasing a rabbit, its a good source of motivation.
I’ve run Indian Creek Trail as part of Corporate Woods, and I actually really liked this route of the trail. We did NOT start at Corporate Woods, as with other races, and explored another portion of a very long trail. While it was in the park, we had a decent challenge of 3 or 4 hills and scenic residential views.
Now, the misses. There were three bibs designs. My friends received the cool “Hangover Half” designed bib, while I received a generic RoadID bib. They also ran out of medals. I finished and a volunteer was taking down our numbers to later mail our medals. I’m happy to report that I received mine on Jan. 10. Strike 3 was the lack of finish line mimosas. Jkelling KILLED the route (and not just a little death, but demolished and danced a victory dance while eating popcorn) with a 2:39 time, and did not get a famed mimosa shot. While three strikes would end the game, it doesn’t for Hangover Half.
Hangover Half (or 10k) was a great race to get the blood pumping, start the new year off right and truly be grateful for another year of racing. Plus, I love the different swag and this time around it was a blue pint glass. A bright yellow hoodie was available for an extra fee, but I opted out. I will probably opt-in next year, because I will definitely be back next year.
Mimosas MIA
Okay in prior years we got mimosas at the end and not going to lie, the absence of them this year was a real gut punch. There were quite the … MORE
Okay in prior years we got mimosas at the end and not going to lie, the absence of them this year was a real gut punch. There were quite the assortment of tasty treats at the end, including mini muffins and little chocolate oat balls, but I was running for that mimosa (and set a massive PR doing it). The swag is a great hoodie and stylish medal. Nothing over the top, classic style and nothing that really stands out and says “look at me”, but it is a nice medal. There were also pint glasses. I’m not sure if I bought those or they came with it to be honest though.
This course is an out and back with a whole lot of turns and mild rolling hills, along with 4 big hills that while blissfully short in length have a punishing incline to them. I consider myself a pretty good hill runner and these even slowed me down. There are one or two freeway underpasses, a small tunnel begging to be dueled in (ccruiz03…next year!…), and a whole lot of park time. There is more concrete than I remember, but there still is a lot that is asphalt, so that was nice. Sure did miss those mimosas though.
I’ve done this course in a brutal cold. This year was warm in comparison, but honestly we’re all just pushing so hard in various states of duress that the weather isn’t going to be what gets you here. It’s an immensely fun race and a great way to bring in the new year with your people, and there’s no other place I can see myself being January 1. I am hoping those mimosa shots come back though.
Great way to start the new year!
This race is always a rewarding way to start the new year. It’s challenging with a couple of large hills, but the course is fun and scenic. Today the temperature … MORE
This race is always a rewarding way to start the new year. It’s challenging with a couple of large hills, but the course is fun and scenic. Today the temperature wasn’t bad at 33 degrees, but some years it is very cold and there can be ice on the course so prepare accordingly!
New (for me) distance on a mixed course
I did the 10k here last year. Most of the hard work is front loaded on this out and back, so if you can do the 10k you've already seen … MORE
I did the 10k here last year. Most of the hard work is front loaded on this out and back, so if you can do the 10k you’ve already seen the two worst hills. Thankfully neither of them are long, but they are steep, and they will most certainly slow you down. I didn’t see anyone running up either of them.
It’s a pretty park with a few brief sections of sidewalk by the road and a long stretch beside a cemetery and residential area. I would have been happy with some more Gatorade on the course, but there was one Gatorade station near the turn around and 2 other water stations. Each of these you’ll hit twice. The course is basically the Corporate Woods/Indian Trail course in reverse, so largely reverse parts of Gobler Grind with a little different to keep you out of Corporate Woods this time. Lots of bars/chips at the end and sparkling cider (non-alcoholic) was available. I’ve never enjoyed it as much as I did after nearly PR’ing on this course, despite a leg cramp I was forcing back from mile 4 onwards.
Most of my group hit 13.3-13.4 on this one, so hug those corners whenever you can.
The swag I’m saying 4-shoes for. It was a nicely designed medal, but it was acrylic, and those just always feel so cheap. That said, it was a $35 half marathon, so I can only get so mad about that. That said, would have gladly paid $40 for a metal medal. The race comes with a beer glass and has a $20 hooded sweatshirt available to buy, which I did, and it’s absolutely one of the more comfortable ones I have. Even factoring that in, $55 for a half marathon is an extraordinary price, and I will absolutely be back next year to see if I can PR.
Great way to start off the year
Indian Creek, but a different section than most races do out there, though there was some overlap with the "regular" route. Two really steep hills made for some great hill … MORE
Indian Creek, but a different section than most races do out there, though there was some overlap with the “regular” route. Two really steep hills made for some great hill work but they weren’t long enough to be punishing. Very enjoyable course. No mile markers for the 10k on the course, maybe not for any of them. I have to take a point away there because looking at your watch/phone isn’t the same as seeing the flag/sign up the road and having a point to fixate on to keep your pace up. I’m never going to give full points without that, because I’ve noticed that every time but one that I PR’ed this year it was on a course with the miles marked.
There was another race going on for part of the race in the same stretch so that was a little confusing at times but quickly got sorted out. I also noticed that we were going head long into that race at some point (I wanted to shout, “Prepare to be boarded!” but refrained). That group (or someone) knocked over a couple of the orange cones that had pretty important directions marked for us. I put one back up the right way, the other one someone else beat me to it. One I actually wasn’t sure about, went the wrong way, then had to backtrack a few dozen meters to the right place. Maybe more volunteers on the course? I don’t know. How to you work someone else moving your stuff because they have a race there as well? That said, it costs a production point.
Great assortment of granola/fruit bars at the finish line. Gatorade at the turn around point which I always appreciate. Think the half would have been fun but this was my third day in a row of racing in the cold and I think 10k was the perfect length for this year. For the hills alone though, I’d love to be back for the half next time around.