Press & News

January 9, 2023

Hospital Hill Run to Celebrate its 50th Anniversary Event on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023

Kansas City, MO

The Hospital Hill Run, The Grandfather of all Kansas City Road Races, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary event on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Running Tradition will bring together thousands to celebrate the history, tradition, and challenge of the Hospital Hill Run – a staple of the Kansas City Running Community. The event features a Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k distance, which starts and ends in the iconic Crown Center Square. 

To commemorate this 50th anniversary milestone, each participant will receive a unique 50th Anniversary Commemorative Hospital Hill Run jacket and medal and enjoy a great post-race party!

Race weekend launches with a Health and Wellness Expo on Friday, June 2nd, from 9am-7pm, while  packet pickup is open until 8pm. Participants are invited to a cocktail hour to come together Friday, June 2nd, from 6pm-8pm. Each race distance starts at 7 am, Saturday, June 3rd, 2023.

Participants run through decades of music as they make their way through the 2023 race course. Runners experience a view of The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Kauffman Gardens, an excursion through the UMKC campus, beautiful Brookside and the iconic finish downhill to Crown Center Square, and much more. 

The featured event, the Half Marathon, has been a part of Kansas City culture since 1974. The event has hosted notable runners from across the nation, such as Billy Mills, Jim Ryun, Joe Falcon, Greg Meyer, Joe Henderson, Frank Shorter, Bill Rogers, George Sheehan, Joe Falcon, Jeff Galloway, Ryan Shay, Charlie Gray, and hometown hero and former World Record holder Mark Curp. Also, such notable females as Joan Ulloyt, Annie Bersagel, Lisa Weidenbach, and Olympians, Janis Klecker, and Julie Isphording.

The traditional course male record holder is Gert Thys of South Africa, with a time of 1:03:31 in 1997. The female traditional course record holder is Belainesh Gebre, with a time of 1:12:40.The Hospital Hill Run has held 3 Men’s USATF Half Marathon National Championships and a Women’s USATF Half Marathon National Championship.

2023 sets the stage to once again partner with Children’s Mercy as the Official Hospital Hill Run Charity Partner, focusing on the “I Love Children’s Mercy Fund,” making a difference for so many children and their families. Within two years of partnering with Children’s Mercy, our wonderful participants and donors have raised nearly $50,000 to provide hope and healing to the kids of our region through Children’s Mercy. 

The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center and The Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center are named the Official Host Hotels of the 50th Anniversary Hospital Hill Run. Race participants are invited to spend the weekend in beautiful Kansas City and wake up near the start/finish line on race day. Both host hotels offer special rates on room blocks reserved specifically for runners participating in the 2023 event. 


To learn more about booking hotels for the event, participants may visit: https://hospitalhillrun.com/athlete-info/#hotels

For more information, contact: lisa@hospitalhillrun.com or visit hospitalhillrun.com

 

About Hospital Hill Run

 

What began in 1974 with 99 athletes paying a $1 fee to run a 6.8-mile course starting and ending in Crown Center has evolved into an annual Kansas City running Tradition that regularly hosts thousands of athletes from all over the country. Hospital Hill Run was recognized in 2020 & 2021 by the Pitch Magazine as the Reader’s Choice Award Winner for best-organized footrace in Kansas City, MO. The 50th Anniversary Hospital is set for June 3, 2023, featuring 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon distances. 

For more information regarding Hospital Hill Run, go to www.hospitalhillrun.com.

 

About Children’s Mercy Kansas City

Founded in 1897, Children’s Mercy is a leading independent children’s health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, educating caregivers and breakthrough innovation to create a world of well-being for all children. With not-for-profit hospitals in Missouri and Kansas, and numerous specialty clinics in both states, Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children’s Mercy as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.” For the fifth consecutive time in a row, Children’s Mercy has achieved Magnet nursing designation, awarded to only about 8% of all hospitals nationally, for excellence in quality care. More than 850 pediatric subspecialists, researchers and faculty across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research and education of the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. Thanks to generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s Mercy provides hope, comfort and the prospect of brighter tomorrows to every child who passes through its doors. Visit Children’s Mercy and the Children’s Mercy Research Institute to learn more, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest news and videos.

February 28, 2022

Hospital Hill Run Launches New Hill Training Program for Runners

Kansas City, MO

The Hospital Hill Run has developed a free hill training program explicitly designed to help runners master each of the major hills on the historic racecourse. The Hospital Hill Run Hill Training program includes three in-person Hill Training clinics led by the official Hospital Hill Run Coach, Eladio Valdez. 

Each clinic includes:

  • Hill Training Techniques
  • Live Hill Practice
  • PDF breakdown of each major hills on the course.

“The Hospital Hill Run is known for the hills, the challenge, and the community. We believe our all-new Hill Training program will provide our runners with a training experience that best prepares them to conquer the hills on race day,” said Lisa Drake, Race Director of the Hospital Hill Run.

The Hospital Hill Run Hill Training Program is available to all registered runners. Upcoming clinic dates are March 21, April 28, and May 19, 2022. To learn more, visit: hospitalhillrun.com/training

For more information, contact: lisa@hospitalhillrun.com.

February 2, 2022

Hospital Hill Run Announces Charity Challenge, benefiting Children’s Mercy Hospital

Kansas City, MO

For 2022, The Hospital Hill Run is partnering with its Official Charity Partner, Children’s Mercy Hospital to provide a health-oriented program for area businesses and organizations to encourage health, wellness, and physical fitness, along with an avenue to fundraise for the “I Love Children’s Mercy Fund.”

The Hospital Hill Run Charity Challenge is a free friendly competition among area businesses and organizations. Employees choose to run or walk either the Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, or volunteer, and prizes are awarded to companies who earn the most points.

There are three ways that fundraising teams can win:

  • Top Fundraising Team (Most raised)
  • Highest participation rate
  • Highest total participants and volunteers

Participating companies will receive perks like special discount codes, custom collateral, and exclusive exposure through Hospital Hill Run social media, email marketing and on event weekend.

Winners receive even more: bragging rights, a trophy, and ten free entries to next year’s Hospital Hill Run, along with great exposure.

See how you can offer this health-oriented program to your employees, see what your dollars could do for Children’s Mercy Hospital, and sign up for free at https://hospitalhillrun.com/charitychallenge/

To learn more contact Cameron Aly at cameron@hospitalhillrun.com.

To follow the Hospital Hill Run on social media, follow @hospitalhillrun on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

For more information, contact Lisa Drake at lisa@hospitalhillrun.com

 

About Hospital Hill Run

What began in 1974 with 99 athletes paying a $1 fee to run a 6.8-mile course starting and ending in Crown Center has evolved into an annual Kansas City running Tradition that regularly hosts thousands of athletes from all over the country. Hospital Hill Run was recognized in 2020 & 2021 by the Pitch Magazine as the Reader’s Choice Award Winner for best-organized footrace in Kansas City, MO. The 49th annual Hospital is set for June 4, 2022, featuring 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon distances.

For more information regarding Hospital Hill Run, go to www.hospitalhillrun.com.

About Children’s Mercy Kansas City

Founded in 1897, Children’s Mercy is a leading independent children’s health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, educating caregivers and breakthrough innovation to create a world of well-being for all children. With not-for-profit hospitals in Missouri and Kansas, and numerous specialty clinics in both states, Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children’s Mercy as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.” For the fifth consecutive time in a row, Children’s Mercy has achieved Magnet nursing designation, awarded to only about 8% of all hospitals nationally, for excellence in quality care. More than 850 pediatric subspecialists, researchers and faculty across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research and education of the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. Thanks to generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s Mercy provides hope, comfort and the prospect of brighter tomorrows to every child who passes through its doors. Visit Children’s Mercy and the Children’s Mercy Research Institute to learn more, and follow us on FacebookLinkedInTwitterInstagram and YouTube for the latest news and videos.

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