This November, William and I took on something we hadn’t originally planned: the full Yeti Endurance Weekend at Longview Lake in Kansas City. What started as a simple idea to run just Saturday’s races (choice of a 5K or 10K) turned into a two-day adventure that tested our endurance, patience, and pacing strategies.
Saturday: 5K + 10K
Saturday morning kicked off with crisp November air and a buzzing crowd. 478 runners lined up for the 5K, and William crushed it, placing 5th in his age group with a pace of 9:51/mi and a finish time of 30:37.
Meanwhile, I joined the 234 runners in the 10K, finishing 10th in my age group with a pace of 8:42/mi and a time of 54:04.
We had only planned to do Saturday’s races, but earlier this year one of our conversations drifted toward a bigger “what if”: Could we run both days? Could we finish our very first half marathon after already racing the day before?
Sunday: Our First Half Marathon
So we went for it. On Sunday, 473 runners lined up for the half marathon, and William and I decided to stick together the whole way – just like we did back in January when he ran his first 10K. Less than a year later, he was tackling his first half marathon, and I couldn’t be prouder.
We set a goal to finish under three hours, knowing we’d need to keep a steady, slow pace to conserve energy. The course wound through paved and unpaved trails, with rolling inclines that kept us honest.
We crossed the finish line side by side in 2:53:19, placing 408th and 409th. Not competitive, but that wasn’t the point. The goal was to finish standing upright, not injured, and we did exactly that.
We got to celebrate our first half marathon as well as my birthday and our friend Sharon’s birthday afterwards at a special birthday brunch with mutual friends. It was the perfect way to end an incredible weekend.
Lessons Learned & What’s Next
This weekend taught us a lot about pacing – how easy it is to start too fast, how important it is to save energy for the later miles, how nutrition and hydration during longer races is critical, and how much mental grit matters when your legs want to quit.
Now we’re looking ahead to our next half marathon challenges: the Garmin Olathe Half Marathon in the Land of Oz (April 2026) and the Great Ferry Race half marathon on Bainbridge Island in Seattle (June 2026). We’ll carry the lessons from Longview Lake with us, aiming not just to finish but to improve our time. And this time we have nearly half of a year to practice before we take on our next epic challenge.
This also wasn’t our last back-to-back challenge. Next August, we’ll take on the Great Smoky Mountains 5K back-to-back with the half marathon the following morning.
From William’s very first 10K in January to his first half marathon in November, it’s been incredible to share these milestones side by side. Running and growing together, cheering each other on, and exploring our hometown and its streets and trails on foot have been some of the most rewarding experiences of the year.
Here’s to more finish lines, more lessons learned, and more adventures ahead.
Current fundraising focus
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