This fall we joined the Kansas City Running Club (KCRC), and one of the highlights of membership was getting to participate in their annual Cliffhanger Run. On the last Saturday morning of October, we lined up for the 8K and 5K events, taking in a course that wound through tree‑lined roads at a higher elevation in Kansas City, overlooking the northland.
It was our first time running Cliffhanger, and the experience didn’t disappoint. The weather was perfect – crisp, cool, and full of fall color. Between the rolling inclines and the views, it was a beautiful way to close out October’s racing calendar.
Despite a challenging course, we both did very well. Our results:
- Nate (8K / 4.97 miles): Finished in 40:16, averaging an 8:06 pace. On a hillier course, that pace felt especially rewarding. It was my second‑fastest pace of the year, just one second per mile slower than my Zoo Run earlier this fall. I placed 28th overall out of 125, and 5th in my age group.
- William (5K / 3.1 miles): Finished in 29:53, averaging a 9:37 pace. This was his fastest race of the year, edging out his Zoo Run pace by one second per mile. He placed 82nd overall out of 205, and 8th in his age group.
Cliffhanger was a great reminder of why we love running in Kansas City: challenging courses, supportive communities, and events that give back. The race supports Healing House KC, a nonprofit that provides substance use disorder treatment and supportive recovery housing. It felt good to know that every step we took was helping to support their mission of hope and healing.
We’re already looking forward to running Cliffhanger again next year – if the date works out, it’s definitely one we’ll want to keep on the calendar.
Why We Run
We’re currently running in support of KC Pet Project, and we’d love for you to join us in that effort.
Current fundraising focus
Support us in our runs by donating to our fundraiser for Kansas City’s Starlight Theatre.
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