On Saturday, May 31 we joined over 700 fellow runners to take on the legendary Hospital Hill Run 10K in downtown Kansas City. This iconic event offers a 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), and half marathon (13.1 miles), drawing nearly 3,000 participants this year across all three distances. In addition to the amazing running community that showed up, we’re always especially grateful for the countless staff and volunteers who make race day possible – and memorable.
This was our second of four races in a three week span during an especially packed spring race season. With three 5Ks and this 10K split between Kansas and Missouri, it’s safe to say our shoes have seen some serious miles lately!
This was our first time running Hospital Hill, a race known for its hills (no surprise there) and its deep roots in the city’s running community. Started in 1974 with just 99 runners, the race is the oldest road race in Kansas City and has grown into one of KC’s signature events, drawing thousands to Crown Center each year for its scenic and demanding routes. And yes – we felt every foot of the 325+ feet in elevation gain across those 6.2 miles.
The 10K route wound us through some of our favorite parts of downtown KCMO, passing landmarks like Crown Center, the Western Auto building, and Gillham Park. As a self-declared city boy, I loved every bit of the downtown atmosphere – pounding pavement on familiar streets alongside fellow running community members, cheering spectators, and an electric race-day buzz all around.
The course wasn’t easy, but the energy around us helped us push through. And we’re proud of how we did:
🏃♂️ I finished with a chip time of 0:57:58 (9:21/mi pace). This is my second-best 10k time of the year!
🏃♂️ William finished with a chip time of 1:11:39 (11:33/mi pace). This is his best 10k time of the year!
Not only did we earn Hospital Hill finishers’ medals, but we also came away with a new appreciation for the KC running scene. If you’ve never done this one before, we’d highly recommend it – just be ready for some climbs!
Up next? A bit of rest, maybe… or maybe not. This coming weekend we’re participating in the KC Pet Project 5K.
With summer plans starting to take shape, we’ll see you out there soon. To follow along with our running adventures or support us in upcoming events, head over to williamandnate.com/runs.
Current fundraising focus
Support us in our runs by donating to our fundraiser for KC Pet Project.
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