[RACE BRIEF] Ugh, Missouri: The Rivalry Run 5k

The event's official website can be found HERE.
Photos from 2014's run are courtesy of Ben McCall Photography HERE.
Results form 2014's run can be found HERE.

The Rivalry Run 5k is one of my favorite events all year. It comes with an aire of heated competition and camaraderie alike, and always is an absolute blast. Whether you're a KU, KSU, MU, Pitt State, WSU, Washburn, NWMS, etc. etc. fan or alumni, you likely have partiality to just one state on either side of the Kansas City Metropolitan area. If you are runner or walker, such is the perfect venue to exercise those biases. Enter the Rivalry Run 5k.

And of course, I will be running for Kansas (although given our suits' political shenanigans this year, I can sympathize to the point of near-jealousy).

The run itself provides an incredible challenge, actually, with just a spot over 300 feet in climbing over the route, all within only two climbs. With that, let's take a look on-course...

Course Preview (CORRECTION: Race route was previously posted incorrectly and has since been re-reviewed)
          Packet Pick-Up & Race-Day Parking
Bank of the West has long been primary sponsor for the Rivalry Run. As such, they invite you to packet pick-up at any of three of their many KC-Area locations: Overland Park at 9400 Antioch Road, Lee's Summit at 740 NW Blue Parkway, or the Northland at 5245 NW 64th Street. Packet pick-up at these locations is on the Friday before race day from 9am to 6pm. Expect non-existent lines, as three different pick-up locations along with long pick-up hours spread out picker-uppers quite a bit. Pick-up is also available on race day onsite.

Anyone familiar with the Power & Lights District will know exactly where to park, as offerings are all the same, given the start/finish at Sprint Center. Three main garages are the parking spots of choice, with one between Walnut and Grand Streets and 13th and 14th Streets, one on the Northeast corner of 13th Street and Grand Boulevard, and one on Walnut Street between 12th and 13th. Though downtown can always get a little nuts, I've never had a problem with getting in or out on race day.

          Run Course
As mentioned, this course is surprisingly difficult. The route itself is a nearly-straight-North-straight-South route in to and out of the well-known Grand/Main Street Hill, which also provides the main climb on route. From the Sprint Center, the route travels South and downhill along Grand all the way through Crown Center, before beginning its climb across Union Station and heading up the Main Street Hill at the turnaround on to Main Street. The route usually takes a right and meets back up with Grand at 20th, but with bridge construction, this year's route will turn back on to Grand as early as Pershing, just in front of Crown Center. Though the fall from the wall is as much descent as the main climb, the road picks back up about 1k before the finish, on the approach in to the Power & Lights District, which provides another 65-foot slow ascent all the way to the finish line. The two only significant climbs are the only climbs on route (no mini-ascents), and are as such...

*Main Street Hill, 0.57-1.52mi (0.95mi), 781-944ft (+180ft), 5.5%avg/>15%max grade
*Grand to PnL, 2.55-3.12mi (0.58mi), 796-861ft (+65.4ft), 2.8%avg/4.7%max grade

This year's route, including the new turn back to Grand via Pershing. (Image courtesy of Google Earth)

Race Day, In-Brief
As noted, race-day parking is simple and open, although if you plan on using the garages, bring $5 in cash. This year the city smarted-up and decided to start charging for garage access. On-street parking is free (I believe).

Remembering last year's run, the competition is a bit stiff for this event, and the start indicated that this year would be no difference. Runners were very fast off the line, with myself settling in to about 25th or so.

The start-line crowd. I'm down there...front row, right side, dark blue shirt, black shorts.
(Photo courtesy of Ben McCall Photography)

The start is fast -- with an even down-hill trot until the Grand Street bridge over the train tracks, parallel to Union Station. Then things go from pitch-down to pitch-up, with the only flat portion being the bridge itself (and even that has a bit of a bulge in it). At the turnaround at the corner of Grand and Main, things drop again -- fast -- and though speeds should pick up, for me, my quads were toasted. You need quads for running downhill.

My first mile was slower than normal first-miles, and mile 2 and 3 were much slower than normal 2- and 3-miles. I would like to say I was "saving myself for tomorrow morning's duathlon," but that would be a lie. At the same Grand Street bridge, the drop from the start became the climb to the finish. I was able to pull out a few pushes, but ultimately gave up on placing tops.

Crossing just ahead in 26th overall, first in-category. (Photo courtesy of Ben McCall Photography)

Much to my surprise, I actually finished 1st in my age group, something I attribute more to "lucky that everyone in front of me was either older or younger." And as estimated, I was 25 back, in 26th place.

The upside? An surprise first-place and some points for Kansas. The downside? Missouri won anyways.

2014 Rivalry Run 5k Metrics
Distance: 3.14mi                      Time: 21:40
Avg. Pace: 6:54/mi                   Max. Pace: 6:15/mi
Avg. HR: 175bpm                    Max. HR: 184bpm
Calories: 371kcal                    Elev. Gain: 194ft
Avg. Cad.: 166spm                 Max. Cad.: 184spm
Avg. VO: 11.4cm                    Avg. GCT: 238cm
Splits (1mi): 6:15, 7:10, 7:14, (1:00)
TrainingPeaks Profile: HERE

Keep R/B/S-ing. -tds

~~__o

  _-/<,_

@/   @