John Garrison almost became synonymous with Hospital Hill Run. That sort of happens when you have participated in all but the very first Hospital Hill Run. We lost John in 2022, just a couple of months after the 49th Annual Hospital Hill Run. John passed doing what he loved, running. 

John was a friend and mentor to hundreds of runners in the Kansas City area, along with his two daughters, Laura Marriott and Marty Garrison who would become accomplished runners in their own right. At his funeral, Marty would say that her dad would never say “Good Luck” before a race, but rather, “Run Well.”

John’s fastest Hospital Hill Half Marathon time was 1:12, so we will honor the 1120th finisher in the 2023 Hospital Hill Run Half Marathon.

The John Garrison Memorial Award will be presented at the Half Marathon Awards Ceremony race day. 

The winner will receive the following:

• A John Garrison Memorial Award
• A pair of Saucony Shoes, Compliments of Saucony
• A 50th Anniversary Commemorative shirt
• A pair of 50th Anniversary Commemorative Socks