2014 Cliff Hanger 8k -- Sunday, November 2nd, 9:00am
A 5k option is also offered, and begins at 8:00am
This event's official webpage can be found HERE.
Another autumn run race means another gorgeous route. One of the prettiest (I believe) is the Cliff Hanger 8k & 5k, a 5-ish-mile (unless you're a 5k-er) trek along Cliff Drive north of downtown Kansas City. Let there be no doubt: this one is worth doing for the scenery alone. However, on this course preview, you won't notice too many on-course (Virtual Run) photos -- most all of the route is...well...Cliff Drive. If you've been there before, you know what I mean. If not, you'll soon see for yourself.
Packet Pick-Up
For this race, packet pick-up IS ALLOWED on race day, although, like most races, organizers encourage packet pick-up beforehand (this opens up the volunteers to focus on more race-day-oriented tasks). Ahead of race day, there is one packet pick-up time, on Saturday (November 1st) from 12:00pm (noon) to 5:00pm at Gary Gribble's Running Sports in the Ward Parkway Mall. Like always, packet pick-up is always busiest at the start and end of the times offered, so plan accordingly if you're expecting a quick-in-quick-out.
A 5k option is also offered, and begins at 8:00am
This event's official webpage can be found HERE.
Another autumn run race means another gorgeous route. One of the prettiest (I believe) is the Cliff Hanger 8k & 5k, a 5-ish-mile (unless you're a 5k-er) trek along Cliff Drive north of downtown Kansas City. Let there be no doubt: this one is worth doing for the scenery alone. However, on this course preview, you won't notice too many on-course (Virtual Run) photos -- most all of the route is...well...Cliff Drive. If you've been there before, you know what I mean. If not, you'll soon see for yourself.
Packet Pick-Up
For this race, packet pick-up IS ALLOWED on race day, although, like most races, organizers encourage packet pick-up beforehand (this opens up the volunteers to focus on more race-day-oriented tasks). Ahead of race day, there is one packet pick-up time, on Saturday (November 1st) from 12:00pm (noon) to 5:00pm at Gary Gribble's Running Sports in the Ward Parkway Mall. Like always, packet pick-up is always busiest at the start and end of the times offered, so plan accordingly if you're expecting a quick-in-quick-out.
Race-Day Parking
Given the location of the race itself, parking is a bit sketchy. Much of the parking is done along the roadways in the surrounding area, although there are two lots that are offered up for participant/spectator parking. The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences is a sponsor of this event, and just so happens to live next door to the start line. On race day, a couple of their lots are the two mentioned previous, right off Highland Avenue. But do note: they are small. So early arrival is recommended.
Given the location of the race itself, parking is a bit sketchy. Much of the parking is done along the roadways in the surrounding area, although there are two lots that are offered up for participant/spectator parking. The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences is a sponsor of this event, and just so happens to live next door to the start line. On race day, a couple of their lots are the two mentioned previous, right off Highland Avenue. But do note: they are small. So early arrival is recommended.
Course Preview (with Virtual Run)
Intro
If you are familiar with the 2013 route, I would assume nothing has changed. The event's website never posts the race route maps for either the 5k or 8k, so I'm left relying on my GPS information from last year. However, it's fairly straight-forward: 4k down Cliff Drive, turn around, 4k back. So really, it's only the start/finish line that would presumably change.
Route Basics/Metrics
If you are familiar with the 2013 route, I would assume nothing has changed. The event's website never posts the race route maps for either the 5k or 8k, so I'm left relying on my GPS information from last year. However, it's fairly straight-forward: 4k down Cliff Drive, turn around, 4k back. So really, it's only the start/finish line that would presumably change.
Route Basics/Metrics
The 2013, and presumably, 2014 race route. The only real climb is highlighted on the course profile. However, it should be noted that a lot of these elevation changes could be affected by the surrounding trees (much of the course is covered by trees). (Image credit: Google Earth)
Here are the basics for the 2014 route...
Climbs
Only one climb on-route here. Here's what that one looks like...
Virtual Run (all image credited to Google Earth Street View)
Cliff Drive is actually The Paseo past Lexington Avenue (just north of Hwy-24/Independence Avenue). At the intersection of The Paseo and Lexington, gates mark the start of Cliff Drive. The Start/Finish line is right beyond these gates.
Climbs
Only one climb on-route here. Here's what that one looks like...
Virtual Run (all image credited to Google Earth Street View)
Cliff Drive is actually The Paseo past Lexington Avenue (just north of Hwy-24/Independence Avenue). At the intersection of The Paseo and Lexington, gates mark the start of Cliff Drive. The Start/Finish line is right beyond these gates.
0.00mi: The start of Cliff Drive. The start/finish line is just beyond the gateway (about where that red line starts).
Not even a quarter-mile in to the race, the road will seemingly split. To the right lay Lookout Point Drive, a gorgeous yet quick drive up the side of the cliff back towards Lexington. For the race, the route will stay left, dropping a bit on to the lower Cliff Drive.
0.25mi: The split in the road, with Cliff Drive on the left, and Scenic Lookout Drive on the right. Stay left. It drops quite a bit here, as well.
After about an additional quarter-mile drop (steep in spots, shallow in others), you land on to Cliff Drive. The lure of Cliff Drive comes due to its scenic overlooks to the right, looking over the river and in to North Kansas City, and its large limestone wall cliffs to the right. This time of year, beautiful fall foliage also covers the route directly overhead. Along with it being a closed course for this event, you couldn't ask for a better run.
0.65mi: The first of many sharp turns on-route. Nothing that'll slow you down, though. You can see one of those limestone cliffs on the right side of the image. Looking left would give you a beautiful view of North KC.
There is one opening that comes about a mile in (or a mile from the finish). Just to the South of Cliff Drive there is a small lake. This opening offers some side-of-the-road parking for the trail that runs around the lake. No, runners don't get to run around the lake.
1.00mi: A brief opening in the landscape for lake parking. The lake (or really, the pond) is ahead and on the right (not visible in this image). Consequently, this is about where mile marker 1 hits.
Beyond the opening, scenery returns to normal.
2.00mi: About where mile marker 2 would be, but it's not really helpful...this is about what every mile looks like on-route.
Really, a 5-mile(-ish) run is the perfect distance for Cliff Drive, as nearing the end of Cliff Drive is about 2.5 miles. At the race route turn-around, the exit gate is clearly visible ahead only 250 meters or so.
2.45mi: About the location of the turn-around for the 8k. You can see Cliff Drive's other gate up ahead.
The, back to business-as-usual for 2.5 miles. If you're aim is competition for this one, you may reach a point where your psyche starts to mess with you, as everything looks the same (no matter how gorgeous it may be). For me, last year, I kept looking for that opening at 1 mile that told me it was 1 mile to go -- and it felt like forever for me to reach it. Eventually, you hit it, followed quickly by the only significant climb on-route, with about a half of a mile to go.
4.70mi: The final meters of the only climb on-route. Though the average grade is "only" 2.7%, the maximum grades come in the second half of the climb, nearing 7- and 8% (like here).
Once you reach the top of the climb, you'll notice the "split" in the road from the beginning of the race -- where Scenic Overlook Drive comes back in to contact with Cliff Drive. At this point, it's only a quarter-mile to go! Nearing the finish, you'll likely notice the finish line banner rather than the Cliff Drive gates. Congrats on your finish!
Strategy
In my humble opinion, runners versed in the 5k can get away with a 4-mile run -- just barely. It seems to me that right at 5 miles (for an 8k) is when a little extra training is needed if you intend to run competitively. One of my favorite training runs for 5k's is perfect tor training for an 8k: 1 mile warm-up, followed by 3x1-mile intervals at 5k-or-above effort, with a half-mile rest/jog between (So 1mi+1mi+.5mi+1mi+.5mi+1mi = 5mi). That, and of course, it's probably a good idea to test out an all-out 5mi effort. If you've trained for a recent 10k, you should be good to go.
On-route, competitive runners will be nearly flat-out the whole way. With a relatively flat course, the opening down-hill half-mile acts as a nice spring-board in to race-pace. Just watch out for that final climb! With only a quarter-mile to go, if you're battling with others, this is the perfect place to attack -- and attacks will only be successful for the adequately-trained.
Race report to follow.
Keep R/B/S-ing.
-tds
~~__o
_-/<,_
@/ @
Strategy
In my humble opinion, runners versed in the 5k can get away with a 4-mile run -- just barely. It seems to me that right at 5 miles (for an 8k) is when a little extra training is needed if you intend to run competitively. One of my favorite training runs for 5k's is perfect tor training for an 8k: 1 mile warm-up, followed by 3x1-mile intervals at 5k-or-above effort, with a half-mile rest/jog between (So 1mi+1mi+.5mi+1mi+.5mi+1mi = 5mi). That, and of course, it's probably a good idea to test out an all-out 5mi effort. If you've trained for a recent 10k, you should be good to go.
On-route, competitive runners will be nearly flat-out the whole way. With a relatively flat course, the opening down-hill half-mile acts as a nice spring-board in to race-pace. Just watch out for that final climb! With only a quarter-mile to go, if you're battling with others, this is the perfect place to attack -- and attacks will only be successful for the adequately-trained.
Race report to follow.
Keep R/B/S-ing.
-tds
~~__o
_-/<,_
@/ @
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