So every year this race benefits a different critter at the zoo and every year that critter is on the medal, so I guess, like pokemon, I'm going to have … MORE
So every year this race benefits a different critter at the zoo and every year that critter is on the medal, so I guess, like pokemon, I’m going to have to keep doing this race until they start repeating critters at least.
So here’s the deal, the setup before the race was so much more than a few tents essentially being a depressing excuse for an expo. Shatto was there, a great little espresso truck that I went to a couple times, great merch and great food (for after the race, but I could smell it), as well as art work created by the animals. I felt like I was at a block party. Unfortunately where I was, was actually the wrong location, the 4-mile start is NOT at the zoo entrance, but up the hill a ways. Some signage might have helped, or maybe I got there too early before they put it up. Whatever…I got there eventually and I had time to get espresso and talk to some great people.
The first mile(-ish) of the race is downhill to a side entrance of the zoo. The waves were nicely spread out. Being one of the last waves, it actually was 9 minutes before I got through the start arch, and I was glad to hear that once again they’d sold out. Register early for this one. The majority of the race is through the actual zoo, and the windy walkways proved narrow a couple of times to the point that navigating them resulted in my having to slow down while people in front of me figured out they weren’t as fast as they thought they were. I met some very interesting people on the race as well as got to orbit around some former race mates, and between the conversation and the constantly changing scenery the race flew by. The only reason I don’t rate this a 5 on scenery is that the elephant exhibit is so much smaller than what I’m used to, that was a little hard to see.
I didn’t get to stick around for the after party because I had some outside chores I’d wanted to accomplish that day and a t-storm was rolling in, but you also get free admission to the zoo, so normally I’d say budget extra time for that as well.
The Sweet 16 Race Series featured the four largest, 4-Mile events in the Midwest: The St Patrick’s Day Run, CCVI Trolley Run, Ward Parkway Four on the 4th, and The Kansas City Zoo Run. As the final leg of the former Sweet-16 Series, this was the one I PR’ed on. I do wish they’d bring that series back officially because I think it would motivate some people to check out parts of KC they otherwise might not. In the interim though, I’ll be securing my spot in the zoo run for 2024 early, as it hopefully will sell out as well.
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Great race AND great cause!
So every year this race benefits a different critter at the zoo and every year that critter is on the medal, so I guess, like pokemon, I'm going to have … MORE
So every year this race benefits a different critter at the zoo and every year that critter is on the medal, so I guess, like pokemon, I’m going to have to keep doing this race until they start repeating critters at least.
So here’s the deal, the setup before the race was so much more than a few tents essentially being a depressing excuse for an expo. Shatto was there, a great little espresso truck that I went to a couple times, great merch and great food (for after the race, but I could smell it), as well as art work created by the animals. I felt like I was at a block party. Unfortunately where I was, was actually the wrong location, the 4-mile start is NOT at the zoo entrance, but up the hill a ways. Some signage might have helped, or maybe I got there too early before they put it up. Whatever…I got there eventually and I had time to get espresso and talk to some great people.
The first mile(-ish) of the race is downhill to a side entrance of the zoo. The waves were nicely spread out. Being one of the last waves, it actually was 9 minutes before I got through the start arch, and I was glad to hear that once again they’d sold out. Register early for this one. The majority of the race is through the actual zoo, and the windy walkways proved narrow a couple of times to the point that navigating them resulted in my having to slow down while people in front of me figured out they weren’t as fast as they thought they were. I met some very interesting people on the race as well as got to orbit around some former race mates, and between the conversation and the constantly changing scenery the race flew by. The only reason I don’t rate this a 5 on scenery is that the elephant exhibit is so much smaller than what I’m used to, that was a little hard to see.
I didn’t get to stick around for the after party because I had some outside chores I’d wanted to accomplish that day and a t-storm was rolling in, but you also get free admission to the zoo, so normally I’d say budget extra time for that as well.
The Sweet 16 Race Series featured the four largest, 4-Mile events in the Midwest: The St Patrick’s Day Run, CCVI Trolley Run, Ward Parkway Four on the 4th, and The Kansas City Zoo Run. As the final leg of the former Sweet-16 Series, this was the one I PR’ed on. I do wish they’d bring that series back officially because I think it would motivate some people to check out parts of KC they otherwise might not. In the interim though, I’ll be securing my spot in the zoo run for 2024 early, as it hopefully will sell out as well.
Run for the Tree Kangaroos
We ran the 2019 Kansas City Zoo Run (Run for the Tree Kangaroos). It was awesome to support our zoo - and it was really cool running through the zoo. … MORE
We ran the 2019 Kansas City Zoo Run (Run for the Tree Kangaroos). It was awesome to support our zoo – and it was really cool running through the zoo. The course was hilly at points which made it a little harder than most races we’ve run, but it was definitely worth it.