The point-to-point course was rolling hills in the middle of nowhere, making it a pretty boring run. The weather was cold and windy and this course left no protection from the elements. The race was well organized with plenty of water stops and porta-potties. The medals were nice and there were plenty of refreshments at the finish line.

The course: Pretty flat; a few small hills but nothing bad. If you're looking for scenery, go elsewhere. Most of the race is in the country, with some in industrial parks. Not that that's bad... just don't have high expectations. Was surprised there wasn't a clock at the halfway point. Wind was rough, but nothing can be done about that.

Spectators: Nonexistent, since much of the race in the country. I don't need fans to get through a race, but if you do, go elsewhere.

Supplies during race: Plentiful water and Gatorade. One Gu stop, which is basically not worth having in my opinion (if you're only going to have one).

Post-race refreshments: Horrible. Plain bagels and very green bananas. Sorry, but that's not acceptable for a marathon. A junior high cross-country race, maybe.

T-shirt: Horrible. A 100%-cotton t-shirt? Come on, people. For a $75 entry fee, I expect at least a 50/50 shirt, preferably CoolMax. I almost just handed them back the shirt to donate to charity because it was so lame.

Overall: If you want a fast time, your chances are pretty good here. If you want to mark Kansas off your list, this obviously works. If you want anything more than that, go somewhere else.

The course itself is okay, but there was a strong wind blowing from the east the entire race. Alas, we basically ran eastward for much of the course, including four miles due east on the highway, without any trees or buildings to shield us from the wind.

On the plus side, the police and course marshals were excellent in protecting us from traffic, the fluid stops were well stocked, and the people were generally friendly. I'd recommend this race for someone who needs to run in a Kansas marathon.

It was a cold, windy race, but very well organized; they had plenty of parking, warm pre-race restrooms (anything to be out of the cold wind)....

Volunteers get an A+. Races can't be done without them. I even had a KRISPY KREME DONUT ON THE COURSE. GREAT TIMING!

Thanks to police, race volunteers and running club.

This race really came down to three significant factors one should consider when choosing it:

1. The course is completely uninspiring. Much of it is on wide 2-lane or 4-lane state and county roads. It tends to be open and exposed - subject to the wind (of which there was a lot on this day) and the sun (of which, thankfully, there was little - it was overcast for the entire race). There is about a mile of pleasant residential running in the late miles, but that's about it.

2. The organization was flawless. I arrived late the night before the race and picked up my packet on race morning. No problems. The buses and the start were both on time. The finisher's medal is among the best I have seen.

3. Beyond the RD's control is the weather. The weather for this race was cold at the start, pleasantly cool throughout, and significantly windy (out of the east/southeast). Since much of the race was on exposed section roads and highways, you are exposed to whatever the weather throws at you. And remember, this is spring on the plains - it can be anything.

I was on pace to set a personal PR, but then the wind hit at mile 14 and we ran right into it until mile 18. Ouch! The weather said Olathe was supposed to be "breezy," but my husband and I were sure we saw Dorthy fly by. Good race otherwise. Not many spectators, but it was well organized and run. Ps. Aid stop #5 was the best! :)

I ran the half marathon. The course was one of the most uninspiring I have run (of the 59 marathons and over 60 half marathons I have completed). It was generally on flat rural roads with some long stretches and minimal crowd support. The weather conditions did not help as it was cold and very windy - and much of it a headwind.

While the overall organization was pretty good, some improvements could be made. At the half marathon start, there were only two porta-johns for over 640 runners. While busing worked well, runners had to wait an hour or more outside in the cold and wind. An indoor gathering area would have been helpful. With the increased number of runners, a chip start should be considered - not just a chip finish.

The finish line announcements were good but the food was below norm for most events. I was disappointed in the time it took for my results to be displayed (1-1/2 hours after I finished) and the lack of knowledge about where to pick up age group awards. I finally gave up.

As a past member of several race staffs and a frequent racer and volunteer, I appreciate all the effort the organizers and volunteers put in on this program.

Not a bad race overall, and although I expected wind, I was not disappointed to find it here in Olathe. It seemed to me it was in our face most of the time. So, the wind was a bummer but I can hardly blame the organizers for that! The race seemed to be very well organized and I don't think there were any orange cones anywhere else in the country. I felt very safe on this course, and although the wind was a major factor the course was well marshaled and had plenty of aid stations and toilets.

Medal was great, t-shirt left a little to be desired and finish area food ok.

A pasta party might have been nice before the race.
However I enjoyed the race and I hope it does well in the future.

As I continue to travel around this country one marathon at a time, the day had to come when I had to run in Kansas. I have been to Kansas twice before in my life - once traveling through to get somewhere worthwhile and the second time to see Kansas City. Kansas is not an exciting place, and if you want sites and excitement this is not the place to go. It is just simple, basic middle America, a little boring but generally nice.

The city of Olathe is just that. Nice, clean, friendly but lacking in excitement and things to do. As for the race itself, it was very well organized and had sufficient support except at the start. Couldn't anyone get the school to open the gym so we could have been inside instead of standing around and freezing for an hour? Not a good idea, and since you seem reasonable and willing to listen, get the school to open its facilities so the runners can stay warm waiting for the race start.

The course is - to say the least - boring, without many sites to distract you from the task at hand. Why run through industrial parks? There has got to be something more interesting to let runners see in Olathe. Do not come to Kansas expecting it to be flat. Yes, Kansas lacks hills and mountains and has a boring topography, but it is not flat - it has rolling mounds, which, if you add the wind, makes for a harder run then you would expect.

The race organization cannot be blamed for the winds or the weather, but if you add the famous Midwest winds blowing from the east at 20-plus miles per hour to a race run mostly going east, you have a very hard run. The support was not great but sufficed for this race. The finish was well manned and the volunteers were top rate.

In all, this was a decent small-town race - well run and well organized. Olathe is not a hot spot or a tourist place, and if you are going to run it, do not drag along family and friends because you really do not want to vacation in Olathe. But next to Kansas City, it is the best race in Kansas if you are trying to get your 50 states done.

Well organized race. Packet pickup, bag drop and pick up, traffic support, aid stations, food at finish. Course was OK. Wind was brutal! I would call the course flat. Spectators few and far between. The police and volunteers at the intersections were terrific. Thanks to the family that in 24th mile had a card table out with gummy bears on it. You were not there to say thanks to, but it was greatly appreciated!