William & Nate Travel

Gobbler Grind 10K: Pre-Thanksgiving Miles in Overland Park, KS

Nate Chamberlain

Nate helps people leverage their existing technology to be more productive, collaborative, and communicative. He also blogs at NateChamberlain.com

The Gobbler Grind Marathon is one of Kansas’ longest-running traditions, held every year the Sunday before Thanksgiving in Overland Park. With marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K options, it draws runners from across the region to the paved trails around Corporate Woods and Indian Creek. With having just completed our first-ever half marathon the week prior, we opted for a comparatively leisurely 10K (6.2 miles) for this event.

Race Morning

It was a chilly November morning, perfect for running but brisk enough to keep us moving. We joined 226 runners in the 10K, while the total field across all distances reached 1,415 participants.

One unique aspect of this race: all events started at the same time. That meant marathoners, half marathoners, 10K runners, and 5K runners all surged forward together. On narrow trail segments, especially the out-and-back portions, it created some congestion – two-way traffic, different paces, and the occasional challenge of passing without breaking stride.

William among the starting crowd of runners

Results & Reflections

My race: I placed 11th out of 31 in my age group, finishing with a pace of 8:51/mi and a time of 54:57. This was my third-best 10K pace of the year, following the Plaza 10K (8:13/mi) and the Yeti Endurance 10K (8:42/mi) just a week earlier.
William’s race: He finished in 1:04:12, with a pace of 10:20/mi – his best 10K of the year! Watching him continue to improve has been one of the most rewarding parts of these races.

The route shared segments with the Hangover 10K we ran back on January 1, so parts of it felt familiar. But familiarity didn’t make it easy – there were sharp inclines that tested our legs and slow-burn hills that demanded patience and pacing.

Despite the crowded start and challenging terrain, we had a great experience. The Gobbler Grind gave us a chance to explore a new (to us) route, push ourselves just a bit harder, and burn some pre-Thanksgiving calories to kick off the holiday week.

Nate and William after the finish of the Gobbler Grind 10K

Running these events continues to be one of the best ways we stay healthy and allows us to celebrate milestones together. From the Hangover 10K back in January to 20+ running events later at the Gobbler Grind, each race adds another chapter to our wellness story.