Weston Bluffs Trail 5K & 10K
Weston, MO
- 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
Here we go for The Weston Bluffs Trail 5K & 10K! Run along the scenic Missouri River bluffs and enjoy Weston’s natural beauty. The 5K is an out and back course on asphalt. The 10K is an out and back course on asphalt and pea gravel. Strollers allowed. This event … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 17):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 85 | 70 | 71 | 51 | 72 |
| L (°F) | 65 | 36 | 36 | 33 | 42 |
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Fall, Fun and Fast times
It’s not often that races are scheduled later afternoon, but with a early sunset, ideal weather and straight course route, Weston Bluffs 10k allowed me to soak in the scenic … MORE
It’s not often that races are scheduled later afternoon, but with a early sunset, ideal weather and straight course route, Weston Bluffs 10k allowed me to soak in the scenic sights and stay on course for fast(ish) finish time.
Weston Bluffs 10k was my 2nd race of the day and weekend. Being a small town, it was easy to locate the start/finish line. If you aren’t lucky enough to park in the lot next to the finish line, street parking is only a short block, or so, away. With 241 runners present, the 66 10k participants were reminded, and instructed, that we had until sunset to complete the race. The gentle rolling hills on the mostly straight course initially worried me, but they truly are gentle hills. The only turns on the course were leaving the parking lot and going up to the trail. Once on the path, the changing leaves hug the runners’ path. The wide path allowed for runners in both directions, without much of a traffic jam. On the way back, the sun’s golden hour hits shines upon the different shades of oranges, yellow and red. Many times I fail to take pictures on the course, but this time, I was sure to capture some of God’s beauty in nature. The course ends with a nice downhill and back into the parking lot. Be sure to get a running partner and sprint to the finish. The race announcers will encourage a faster race and light a fire to the finish.
My only compliment would be the first aid station. It was shortly before the 5k turnaround and quickly became a cluttered traffic stop. Since I had a good pace going into the stop, I was a bit bothered that I had to come to a stop for a water and then wiggle my way through the group of 5k runners. The 2nd aid station wasn’t nearly as congested, since there were less 10k runners.
This was my first time at Weston Bluffs, but saw plenty of past participants donning old race t-shirts, all of which were cleverly designed. Race directors continued the trend and swag was coordinated and on point. The small medal was for both 5k and 10k finishers. I like the design, so I can’t complain.
In the future, I will try to not schedule another race for the next day and enjoy the small-town charm Weston has to offer. Whether it’s the casual wine or underground bar, or independent boutique, I would like to take in the sights a bit more.
Third time is a charm
So I've done this race when it was brutally hot, when brutal rain blown at a 45-degree angle soaked everyone there and chilled you to the bone. This year was … MORE
So I’ve done this race when it was brutally hot, when brutal rain blown at a 45-degree angle soaked everyone there and chilled you to the bone. This year was a nice Goldilocks year that let me really focus on the course. It’s a great buddy race, and I was fortunate enough to have ccruiz03 there to keep the conversation going. With that, you really never even notice the constant rolling hills that take you up the bluff a couple of miles to the turnaround, then back how you came to finish on the blacktop by the train station downtown. There’s an aid station at the 5k turnaround which honestly is a pretty lousy location. It’s literally right at the turnaround, on both sides of the course, so it was simply a traffic jam that I ran right through the first time around, as we headed out to the 10k turnaround. The aid station volunteers are always hyped, motivated and motivating, and you’ll hit that 5k mark before you know it. Now all those rolling hills that carried you up will be coasting you down, but there are a few that will still have enough incline on the way back to sap your pace if you aren’t paying attention.
The medal is the same for the 5, and 10k, but the shirt is nice so I can let that slide. It’s in more of a classic style, so a lot smaller than some of the really hyped medals you see now a days, but for a city like Weston, that actually kind of works pretty well. Great coffee food truck at the end (for purchase), and there are some fun stops in Weston to enjoy like the underground bar that’s 6 stories underground according to one of the locals. I would have said closer to 4 if I had to guess, but what do I know.
Also, as an afternoon race, this one sets up the great opportunity for a 2-in-1-day setup, but however you decide to plan it, this is one not to miss.
Good solid redemption run
So I was injured last year and my time here was rough, and a freak heatwave put the temperatures at start in the low 90s. I had to do it … MORE
So I was injured last year and my time here was rough, and a freak heatwave put the temperatures at start in the low 90s. I had to do it again to get a better time. Still injured, but this time in 45 degree angle downpours, but still much better.
No finisher medal but a great mug. All the same, come on folks. We love our bling. Just tack on the cost or make it optional if you must, but what a great opportunity to highlight the nuances of your little community with the big hills and the wine and small town mainstreet…could really have been a great medal. Moving on…Hot cocoa for all and a nice tshirt. 0.1-0.15 Shorter than last year and inclined to believe that the last year was the correct length, but will give them the benefit of the doubt. Great course and great reason to spend and evening exploring Weston “downtown.” Great opportunity for hill work as it’s loosely described as 5km up a bluff, turn around and come back. Not a technical route, but there is small, packed gravel and some washout from place to place. Fast downhill to the finish gives a final opportunity to change places with your buddy. Or at least try. Make an evening out of it and stay and explore Weston. I had to head out to another race so I didn’t get to, but the energy was really high for a small town and I’m sure there was some great afterparty energy going on.
Punishing weather on a fabulous race
As the middle race in my 3-in-2 day weekend, the hot front that moved in coupled with the fact I was wearing body armor made this race punishing and slow, … MORE
As the middle race in my 3-in-2 day weekend, the hot front that moved in coupled with the fact I was wearing body armor made this race punishing and slow, and one I can’t wait to sign up for next year. Starting by the train station in the town of Weston this 10k bad boy goes up a short steep hill, around a corner then pretty much uphill for the next 4.5k. The shorter 5k is the same start with an earlier turn around point and remains all on asphalt, while the 10k extends on to hard packed pea gravel. If I remember correctly there was one water point at the 5k turn around and another at the 10k turn around. I don’t remember if there was a third. It was so muggy, I carry 3 liters of water and drank it all on the way out in addition to some gatorade, so I used the 10k turn around to refil my camelback. Did that significantly eat in to my time? Yeah. Would it have made a difference? Nope. I developed a blister at mile 3 because I forgot to powder my feet for some reason I still cannot comprehend considering the weather so my time was already shot. The water point volunteers were amazing though and really celebrated everyone who made it by. I was lucky enough to have met a guy at the end who was hating life as much as me at that point, and we took turns reeling the other in for a while. With a mile left I noticed 5 baby raccoons (late for this time of year) on the side of the road debating whether they should wait on me to pass so they could join their mama on the other side of the road. One ran out and stood watch while the others crossed and they reformed on the other side and watched me pass. Best. Cheering. Station. Ever.
Despite finishing third to last, the finish line cheered me in and hung a finisher medal around my neck like they weren’t waiting on me to finish so they could start packing up. I really appreciated that they were still motivated when the weather had sucked out so much of mine even before the blister.
It was my worst performance of the year on a 10k but I couldn’t even beat myself up about it with everyone in such a good mood. I waited on the last two to come in and the MC cheered them in just as well as the first. Truly a top notch production. I haven’t wanted to get body armor off that badly on this side of the Atlantic, and I was truly soaked when I dropped it. I would have registered for 2024 at the finish line if I could. I’ll be properly powdered and have better insoles, and well, this is the kind of hill training that will put 98% of other races in the area to shame. Any serious racer should be out here doing this one. I firmly believe it’s one of the reasons I did so well (for me) at Garmin KC. Any half serious racer should be out here doing this one because it’s a great town and a great energy. Any “well this is my first race” racer…well…God bless ya’…but you should be out there too because once you do that one you’ll blow through all the others knowing that you’ve already done harder! There’s no excuse to NOT be there, so wave and say hi when you’re passing me next year.
It's an afternoon race
Because of other events, they hold this race in the afternoon which can be very warm. it's easy to get to and park. there are a lot of walkers you … MORE
Because of other events, they hold this race in the afternoon which can be very warm. it’s easy to get to and park. there are a lot of walkers you have to dodge at first but once you get going it’s a beautiful course. not super hilly but pleanty of long inclines.