Night Flight 5K
Lee's Summit, MO
- 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The annual Night Flight 5K run route will begin and end at the Legacy Park Amphitheater. The course features a scenic route on the Legacy trail. Participants will be allowed to enjoy yard games and make smores in the Legacy Park Amphitheater venue after the race. The event is co-sponsored … MORE
Local Historical Weather (May 29):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 79 | 70 | 80 | 84 | 87 |
| L (°F) | 68 | 58 | 63 | 63 | 69 |
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It's hard not to like this race...
...they certainly try, since there's no medal, and I drove all the way out here, but I still find myself signing up for it the next year because it's night, … MORE
…they certainly try, since there’s no medal, and I drove all the way out here, but I still find myself signing up for it the next year because it’s night, it’s largely in the park, it’s quite beautiful to run to all the chem lights, and the energy never fails to disappoint. There are a lot of people who come here that I suspect have never done a 5k before, or maybe don’t do very many. I hope it’s a positive experience for them and I hope they do more of them. I also hope they find one with a medal. BRC shows up, and like always they keep the playlist pumping you up. There’s a dense pack at the front and the path is narrow, so pro-tip: clear as many people as you can in the opening parking lot section, it’ll be the easiest place to pass until the herd thins. With just the right mix of long and short hills, straightaways and turns, the course has something for everyone. I have that there’s no medal. With the ambiance and amphitheater at the end where everyone mingles, it wouldn’t be a bad place to hang out, but I always have a race the next day so I’m pretty in-and-out. However you want to play it though, congratulate your new running partner you met on this race, because it very much is a social event.
No medal, but tons of fun
You won't find your typical Kansas City runner at this race. If you are looking for the regular race runners, this is not your crew. What you will find, though, … MORE
You won’t find your typical Kansas City runner at this race. If you are looking for the regular race runners, this is not your crew. What you will find, though, is a large group of runners looking to have a fun time, families on a family-fun night, and couple trading in dinner and a movie for miles and an ice cream finish.
The Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Night Flight 5k is one of a handful of night races in the Kansas City area. Participants are only guaranteed a shirt if they register by the deadline, but late registrants are offered prior year’s shirts, until supplies last. Medals are only awarded to the top finishers, but all finishers cooldown with a vanilla frozen custard, oranges, water and uncrustable sandwiches.
As for the course itself, the 5k sticks to the Legacy Park trail path. I have only every been on this course for this night race, and it’s a nice stroll through the park. There were no street lights on the majority of the course, so runners are guided by glowsticks and moonlight. At the mile markers, volunteers held up an iPad with the running clock time, and I thought it was a cute touch. With a week out for my 55k ultra, the goal was miles, not PRs. The 151 feet elevation gain helped me achieve that goal while shaving five minutes from my time from last year. Jkelling suffered through some achilles heel issues, but that didn’t stop him from bringing it to a finish line sprint. I will never cease to thank him for being such an amazing running and training partner, but these finish line sprints? It’s not about the competition (maybe a little), rather being about to push ourselves, individually and together. It’s fun to dig in deep to see what I can do, especially at the finish line. I am deeply and truly grateful for the opportunity to push myself to new limits, and it is in great part thanks to jkelling’s support.
As I mentioned, this race truly is for everyone. When I finished, there was still a trail of people behind us and a large group of people enjoying the festivities. With 400 participants, it’s easy to see why Lee’s Summit continues to put on the race. It’s not the typical race, but it is definitely a community event. Next year, I’ll be sure to sign-up early to guarantee a t-shirt, because yes, even though there is no medal and it’s on the opposite of town – Night Flight is a fun race.
Go with low expectations
...and you'll have a great time. This figure eight through a park is a great way to get some miles in at night as the temperatures start to climb. There … MORE
…and you’ll have a great time.
This figure eight through a park is a great way to get some miles in at night as the temperatures start to climb. There are always tons of glowsticks marking the ground, Bodies brings the heat with their great DJs, and if you’ve got a running partner the tailgating beforehand can be a lot of fun. There’s a long gap between the official end of packet pickup and the race starting, but as always, Bodies is accommodating, and rules are more “guidelines” than anything. Aid stations are nicely spaced and staffed.
There is no medal to this race, which bothers me incessantly, but I keep coming back. The shirts are pretty mid. It’s just not a swag race. A pity, because it could be branded a lot more and get more traction.
Night race in a park
There aren't many night races. You have to go in with lower standards. There's no finisher medal for this one though, and I do kinda have high standards to the … MORE
There aren’t many night races. You have to go in with lower standards. There’s no finisher medal for this one though, and I do kinda have high standards to the point that I feel like there should be a medal. The tshirt was pretty basic cotton.
Seems like 3 shoes is pretty generous huh? Here’s the deal it’s a nice figure 8-shaped paved trail through a park with an awesome after party with local frozen custard. The trail is marked down the middle with chem lights, and I mean they are like every 5 feet. It’s the best-lit night race I’ve ever been on. The after party in the amphitheater has Cuties (Owaris), Uncrustables, Bananas, apples and custard. It’s pretty much eat as many as you want. There are tons of dogs there, which I always love on a race, and Bodies Race Company always has a motivating DJ who keeps the tunes cranking out high energy. The swag is super weak. There’s no way around that, but I said there was no reason to go back last year, then I didn’t sign up when this opened up, then I thought about it and was like “well….and it IS a night race…
And yeah I’l probably be there next year as well.
Great hidden gem
This night race was a wonderful suprise addition to my summer schedule. Nice night race through a park. A little dark in places but a peaceful race to connect with … MORE
This night race was a wonderful suprise addition to my summer schedule.
Nice night race through a park. A little dark in places but a peaceful race to connect with the night. My pace sucked, but I had just gotten out of the hospital the day before, so it is what it is. Great energy before the race and great post-race get together in the amphitheater with frozen custard and games to play. Medal was nice too for such a small race.
This was really peaceful. I’ll certainly do it again.