How do I register for the Kansas City Marathon?

Registration is open to all runners through RunSignUp. The window typically opens in the summer before the October race. Online registration closes at 6pm CDT the Friday before race day, but on-site registration is available at the Health and Fitness Expo. There is no race-day registration.

Is the Kansas City Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, it is a certified Boston qualifier. The BQ rate is around 2.4%, which reflects a genuinely hilly course that does not hand out fast times easily.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course is a loop with about 1,200 feet of gain and an equal amount of loss, so there is no net elevation change. The course rolls throughout, with the high and low points differing by roughly 240 feet. Expect repeated climbs rather than one big hill.

What is the weather typically like on race day?

October in Kansas City is generally cool, with average highs around 72°F and lows near 50°F. Precipitation is unlikely, making for solid running conditions.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the Kansas City Marathon course is USATF certified.

How large is the field?

Recent editions have seen around 1,500 marathon finishers, making it a mid-sized race with enough crowd support without feeling overwhelming.

Sat, Oct 17 · 2026Kansas City, MOSince 1979

Kansas City Marathon

A loop through Kansas City that earns every finish with 1,200 feet of climbing, cool October air, and a course that rewards honest pacing over fast starts.

RollingOpen

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KANSAS CITY · US

Kansas City

SAT, OCT 17

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 1979

Kansas City runs a loop through the city in October, and the cool mornings make it feel more forgiving than it is. The course rolls. There is no long flat stretch to cruise through and bank time. The elevation gain and loss are equal, so what goes up does come down, but you will feel those climbs accumulate by mile 18 if you are not careful. Don't go out with the fast crowd. The first few miles feel easy in the cold air and you will pay for it later if you chase them.

This is a genuine Boston qualifier, though the BQ rate is low, which tells you the course does not hand them out. It rewards runners who respect the hills and stay patient through the middle miles. Registration is open, so getting in is straightforward. Sign up on RunSignUp once the summer window opens and you are in. The expo the day before is where you pick up your bib, and online registration closes Friday evening, so do not leave it late. If you are coming in from out of town, October in Kansas City is about as good as race weather gets in the Midwest.

Field size

~1.5k

1,538 finishers

BQ rate

2%

Below national average

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:24:08

Martin Erl

2019

Women

2:47:48

Mary Katherine Andrews

2024

The Course

1,200 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑1,200 ft

Total descent

↓1,200 ft

Net elevation

↑0 ft

Highest point

1,008 ft

Lowest point

766 ft

Course shape

Loop

Start and finish in one place

The Kansas City Marathon is a loop with equal gain and loss, so there is no net downhill to bank on. Roughly 1,200 feet of climbing is distributed across the course, and the 240-foot spread between the lowest and highest points means you will feel repeated rollers rather than one big climb. The loop format means the terrain hits you twice if you go out too fast. October conditions typically keep temperatures manageable, which helps on the climbs. This is not a flat PR course, but disciplined runners who treat the first half conservatively and bank energy for the back stretch can run well here. Confirm your pacing plan against the elevation profile before race day.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

50°F

High

72°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

October in Kansas City usually gives you a cool morning and a warm afternoon. You'll likely start in the low 50s, which feels great for the first few miles, but by the back half of a loop course the temperature climbs into the low 70s. That swing matters more than either number on its own. The course isn't shaded enough to ignore it, so hydrate from mile one and don't let the comfortable start push you out faster than you can sustain once the sun is up.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration on RunSignUp. Registration closes Friday evening before the race. Online registration closes 6pm on Friday before race day; on-site registration available at Health & Fitness Expo. No race-day registration.

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Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

MCI

16 mi

from the start

≈ 25 min transferEasy transfer

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into MCI, about 16 miles from the start, an easy transfer by rideshare or transit, roughly a 25-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Kansas City, MO so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.

Frequently Asked

7 questions

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