TCS London Marathon: With four of the fastest women marathoners in the world competing at the TCS London Marathon, it didn't come as a big surprise that the current world record would be broken on Sunday.  Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya set a new record by winning in 2:16:16. (Faster marathons have been run, but official world records require that the women race separately. The faster marathons were run in mixed races.)

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The Garmin Olathe Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K had a big increase in turnout for this year's race.  There were 2,629 finishers on Saturday, up 41% from last year, and a surprising 75% more than two years ago.   Below are year-by-year totals, by distance since 2014.

One runner from the Lake area was among the competitors.  Callie McDonald of Eldon ran the 10K, finishing in 1:14:48 and placing 14th (of 27) in the women's 50-54 age group.

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GO GIRL RUN - SPRINGFIELD HALF MARATHON (posted April 15th)

It looks like Marlisa Nolan of Osage Beach was our only local runner to toe a starting line this past weekend. Marlisa, who ran the Polar Bear Strut 5K, the Whobilation 5K, and the Bridge & Dam 10K in recent months, ran the half marathon at GO Girl Run - Springfield on Saturday. (There's no word whether this was her first half.) Marlisa finished in 2:24:12, placing third (of four) in the women's 55-59 age group.

Total participation was down 18% from last year.  Last year's race was the first time it had been organized by Heartland Racing. They resurrected it after its original owner, Ultramax Sports, cancelled it due to a double whammy years of declining attendance and COVID.

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Other weekend races:

For years, Bridge & Dam has been used as a final training test of sorts for some Missouri runners running the Boston Marathon a few weeks later. That was the case year, as well, as Bridge & Dam's 25K winner, Tim Glavin of Jefferson City, finished Monday's Boston Marathon in 3:14:22.

The most popular race of the weekend was the Cardinals 5K in St. Louis. Just under 2,000 runners turned out for it, up from 1,853 last year.  I didn't have time to go through the 40 pages of race results looking for any Lake-area participants.  If you let me know that you raced, I'll pass on your results.

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LAKE OF THE OZARKS ENDURANCE RUNS  (posted April 19th)

The Trail of Four Winds 25K trail race, LOZ Traverse trail run/paddling race, and Wandering Bobcat 5-mile trail race will take place at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park on Saturday, May 4th.

Please visit the event's UltraSignup page for complete information, and to register. 

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LAKE REGIONAL FUN RUN & HONOR WALK (posted April 19th)

The 15th annual Lake Regional Fun Run & Honor Walk, will take place at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach on or Saturday, May 4th.

Race-day registration will open at 7:00 a.m.   The Honor Walk will start at 8:00 a.m., followed soon after by the 5K Fun Run.  The Fun Run will be timed.

The entry fee is $35.  T-shirts will be given to those who pre-register on or before April 19th.

The menu for the post-race breakfast has changed for this year.  Pancakes are being replaced with egg-and-cheese breakfast burritos, bacon and assorted fruits.  Breakfast will be free to all paid run/walk participants.   Others can enjoy breakfast for just $5.

Online registration is available.

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RUNSTOCK (posted April 19th)

RunStock will return to the Lake of the Ozarks State Park on May 17-19th.  The weekend's races start with a 5K on the evening of Friday, May 17th.  On Saturday, a 12-hour run starts at 6:00 a.m., followed by a 10K at 8:00 a.m., and a half marathon at 5:00 p.m.  Sunday starts off with a 6-hour run at 6:00 a.m., and a marathon at 7:00 a.m.

Meals, entertainment and other festivities are planned for the weekend.  Complete information and online registration are available at the RunSignup.com page.  Refer to the event's Facebook page for still more information.

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ROCK ISLAND ROAD RACE (updated March 17th)

Registration is open for the seventh annual Rock Island Road Race, 5K/10K/15K, taking place on Saturday, June 8th.

The race's Facebook page has a link to the registration page.

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