Patriots Run
Overland Park, KS
- 9 hr 11 min, 9 hr Relay, Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Patriots Run was founded in 2002 in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks on America. The purpose of this multi-race event is to thank and honor all who serve; our military, fire, police, first responders, and their families. It is a race created by patriots, for patriots, … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Sep 12):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 93 | 87 | 79 | 83 | 85 |
| L (°F) | 65 | 67 | 57 | 53 | 71 |
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Yes, it is FUN laps in a parking lot
Building up to the event, I only knew it was laps in a parking lot. I envisioned running mindless miles in a dull concrete wasteland. I was not looking forward … MORE
Building up to the event, I only knew it was laps in a parking lot. I envisioned running mindless miles in a dull concrete wasteland. I was not looking forward to the race, but I wanted to punch my card. Admittedly, I should have looked at the course route before the week of the event, but who does that? Oh yes, people who actually train and preparation. Maybe one day I will punch that card too.
It was a welcoming surprise to learn that the parking lot is actually one of my favorite 5k course – the Aspiria Campus. With gentle rolling hills over the course of 1.5 miles, the 9 laps required for the half marathon became a familiar challenge. Another running friend asked my running partner if we were going to take a cooler and/or chairs. We were both confused. We had never done such a thing for a half marathon, so it seemed like an odd question. As it turns out, we were the odd men out.
The Patriots Run Half is part of a bigger race. In honor of all the fallen, the longest race is a complete 9 hours and 11 minutes, running as many laps as you can. There is also a marathon, ruck runners and a 5k toward the end of the day. This is truly an all day event – complete with tents, grills, blaring music and yes, even chairs and coolers.
I am not a summer runner. The hot weather, muggy steam bath and direct sun affects my motivation and my paces tanks – but I finish. I really enjoyed never being alone on the course. I passed some runners, a lot more passed me, but we all were supportive of each other. Crossing the start/finish line was super motivating! As tired as I was, hearing all the cheers and pumping music was exhilarating and the motivating. Shout out to whoever played DJ or made the playlist. It NEVER lagged!!!
There were two water stations, shortly after the start line and about a mile after that. Both had some of the bet grape sports drink I had ever tasted. I hate that i can’t think of the name brand right now. The second aid station was a family – husband, wife and kid. Even with all the runners, the wife still look the time and effort to greet every runner with a smile. By the 5th lap, she knew I was only taking water at her station and was quick to give me the ice cold water cup.
As far as logistics, my running partner and I had a learning moment. We were approved to start the half at 7am along with the marathoners. However, the half marathon start was at a different point on the route. We were instructed to start at exactly 7am. We screwed up. We both thought our chipped bibs would trigger our start time. They did not. When the official results were post 3 days later, our time was based on gun start. It now made sense why we were instructed to start at exactly 7am. In the future, I will be sure to be at the half start line prior to gun time.
My running partner finished a whole lap before me. I loved the fact that I was able to pause and see him finish. He did an amazing job and seeing him finish gave me motivation to finish strong. In true fashion, he met me the last 100 yards, or so, and challenged me to the finish line. Technically, I won…a lap after he finished his race. I’ll take the victory.
I want to do this race again. Maybe I can bring a cooler and chairs, or maybe conquer the heat in a shadeless parking lot. Looking back at this race, the goal is not so much a perfect time or race, but to show up and support one another. This was perhaps one of the most supportive crowds I had ever witnessed. I punched my card on this race but it’s now going on the let’s do it again list.
Counter-NASCAR (right, right, right...)
This was a new one for me that it seemed like everyone has done here at least once, so I threw my name into the hat. Due to a series … MORE
This was a new one for me that it seemed like everyone has done here at least once, so I threw my name into the hat. Due to a series of heavy races coming up, recent PRs on 10k and Half, and coming off an injury, I didn’t want to do the ultra, and I had no interest in a full, but a few of us contacted the RD and got permission for an early start for the Half, so those with heat injury risk didn’t have to mess with that. This course is on a 1.6-ish mile loop through Aspiria Campus (aka Sprint Campus). It’s pretty, but after 7 laps it’s only so exciting. That aside, the aid station was smartly placed on the other side in a small dip on the course, so easy to run through if you wanted to save some seconds and still get water/gatorade substitute. With multiple events occuring simultaneously, including a ruck relay, there’s always somebody nearby to pace or reel in, and the lap/finish chute was lined with tents from the different teams/crews cheering everybody on, every lap, every time. The energy was really great here, and I hope to say I’ll be doing it again, but that’s going to largely be based on whether I get an official time, as I may have PR’ed on the course, due largely to the great support and multiple people who challenged me on the course to kick it up for a segment. Again, the energy on the course simply cannot be beat, and on a hot day we were all just kind of embracing the suck and digging deep.
The medal was very nicely designed (though I think it was the same for everyone, so if you’re one of those people who doesn’t like the 5k getting the same as the ultra, there’s that, and the tshirt was a nice black cotton T.
The ability to set up on the course and have a crew easily accessible cannot be overstated, as you’re going to pass them on every lap. I didn’t take advantage of that, but I will my next trip out. Hopefully for another PR next year.