The 2025 Garmin Kansas City Marathon was held on Saturday, Oct. 18, and hosted over 10,000 runners, the largest of the decade so far.
Among the crowd were Ezra Botts and Jack Sundermeier, president and vice president of the UMKC Running Club. Botts, a junior, took on the challenge of running the 5K after completing the half-marathon in a previous year.
“It was a little more of a fun run,” Botts said. “I’ve done the half in the past, which was insane, but this time I was going for more of a speed run. It was an enjoyable route. It had a lot of energy.”
Sundermeier, a sophomore, ran the half-marathon.
“At mile 12, I had to stop,” Sundermeier said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh god, I don’t know if I’m going to cross the line on this one.’ But we got through it.”
Despite the challenge, what pushed him through to the end was the atmosphere.
“It’s a great sense of community, really. I’m very proud of that,” Sundermeier said.
Both runners said their club has been a motivating way for students looking to build consistency and community.
“We meet twice a week. Tuesdays at 7 a.m. and Thursdays at 5 p.m. at Loose Park,” Botts said. “It’s a smaller group right now, but people come to jog, walk, or even do a faster run. It’s really just a time to get outside and pursue fitness and community.”
Other runners shared that same sense of belonging. Molly Hair, who ran the 10K, said she joined because it struck the right balance between challenge and enjoyment.
“I do 3 miles on average, so I wanted something where I’d have to push myself,” Hair said. “On mile five, there was a really big hill. Also, at the end, it was a big, long uphill. You are so close but so far away.”
The encouragement she found along the route kept her going.
“When there were two miles left, I saw my family,” Hair said. “It was perfect timing where I was like, ‘OK, I can do this.’”
Hair said that the shared feeling of positivity is what makes the marathon special.
“I feel like it brings people together,” Hair said. “I love seeing everyone get up early and be so positive. I love the community it creates.”
For more info about the marathon, click here.
