The State of the State's Running, 2025

The most popular other distances were the 10K with 15 races and the half-marathon with 14, along with seven marathons. The popularity of ultrarunning continued to grow in Kansas in 2025, as eight events with a total of 22 races longer than the standard marathon were held. In total, there were 106 separate races on certified courses at 59 events.

For 2026, we have tightened the standards required to qualify for the state honor roll at ultrarunning distances. The standards are still substantially lower than for the marathon and shorter races, but we are confident that many runners will find the new standards challenging, but achievable.

No races were held in 2025 at the standard distances of 12K, 15K, and 25K, and there were only two races at two miles and 10 miles. The Octagon of Doom 8K in Manhattan, new in 2024, was not held in 2025, but the Fleet Feet Spring Fling 5-Mile in Lawrence was added in 2025. Two age-group records were set and 14 runners qualified for the state honor roll at that race.

There were 15 race events on certified courses in Wichita in 2025, followed by Lawrence with six and Manhattan, Olathe, Overland Park, and Topeka with three each.

The largest race was the Say Grace Thanksgiving Day 5K in Wichita with 2,022 finishers. Two other Thanksgiving races also had more than 1,000 finishers, the Manhattan MHK Turkey Trot and the Lawrence Thanksgiving Day 5K.

Other races with more than 1,000 finishers were the Wichita Turkey Trot 2-mile and three half-marathons: Salina Crossroads, Wichita Prairie Fire, and Garmin Olathe.
Salina Crossroads was the largest marathon, with 547 finishers.

We encourage runners to seek out and support races held on USATF-certified courses. Course certification is an indication that the race director has made an effort to provide a safe, accurate course that serves runners’ interests