Anyone who has ever pursued the pastime of running with even the least bit of enthusiasm has almost certainly dreamed of the ultimate run. While this running fantasy would surely involve an ease of movement, with the grace of a gazelle and the swiftness of a cheetah, it would undoubtedly take place in an environment of plush terrain, ideal climate, and breathtaking scenery. To some, such a perfect environment might seemingly already exist just beyond their backyard. For example, those who live in the Pacific Northwest—where pleasant year-round conditions, majestic mountains, verdant forests and ocean views combine—a solid argument could be advanced in favor of just such a running paradise. Yet to those who live amidst the Rocky Mountain splendors of Colorado, or the high Sierras of California, a similar claim could be made.
Still, not every running enthusiast requires peaks and valleys, or rivers and seascapes in order to make the most of the experience. Certainly, in even the best of locations, there are going to be obstacles and barriers that prevent a runner from experiencing complete elation. While myriads flock to places like Eugene, Boulder, and Squaw Valley in search of the ultimate running mecca, none of these locations can fulfill the total bill. So, if one accepts the premise that there truly is no such thing as the absolute running experience, perhaps true running contentment can still be realized in one of the least expected places on earth, Wichita, Kansas.
At first glimpse, what could arguably be called the flattest city in the flattest part of the flattest state in the U.S. hardly seems to be the sort of place that runners would be attracted to. Runners typically seek at least a modicum of challenges in their runs. The occasional uphill grind and the out-of-control downhill plunge are very often what runners consider the spice of life. While a generally flat topography might be desirable for the weekend race or long training run, it isn’t something that normally entices one to venture out day after day with enduring lust and fervor for the sport. Surely, the lung-searing scramble to the top of a winding quarter-mile stretch of country road trumps the simplistic same ol’ same ol’ drudgery of alternating one foot flatly in front of the other and repeating… and repeating… and repeating… until point A imperceptibly becomes point B. After all, runners in nearly every other state have variety to choose from. But a runner in Wichita, Kansas desiring to complete a hill workout must drive a minimum of forty-five minutes from the city to find a worthy course on which to run. What’s more, although flat pavement is abundant, there are few nature trails to choose from, and the scenery, while being less than a complete urban jungle, still offers very little in the way of variety and breathtaking vistas. Even the existing rivers amount to little more than ditches filled with rainwater runoff, so long as the frequent summer droughts don’t turn them into weed-filled depressions and hedgerows. And speaking of summer, the oppressive heat and typically torrid humidity of a Kansas summer can have the effect of reducing an otherwise opportunistic season of outdoor running to one of complete indoor retreat.
Yet mile for mile, there truly is no place like Kansas, and Wichita in particular. But not so much for what it offers in the way of running as much as what it does not offer. For while the Rockys, the Cascades, the Sierra Nevadas, even the Appalachians, feature an abundance of scenery and variety, they also support a habitat for wildlife that poses considerable risks to runners. Yet the same cannot be said for Wichita. For the record, there has never been one reported incident of a runner in the Wichita area being mauled by a bear or a mountain lion. Snake sightings are few and rarely involve anything more threatening than your run-of-the-mill perfectly harmless garter or grass snake. Dogs are generally kept on leashes or enclosed in fenced yards, and the cats are all of the domestic Tom and alley variety. Truly, there are no lions, tigers, or bears to be found in Kansas, and while it does support its own fair share of wildlife, the average runner has little to fear from the likes of the occasional deer, opossum, or raccoon. In fact, except in the unlikely event of a mass escape from the Sedgwick County Zoo, nothing more imposing than the average polecat (read: skunk) is likely to ever cross a runner’s path. And since skunks are nocturnal, the daytime runner has virtually nothing to fear.
What Wichita does have to offer, rather than beautiful panoramas and rolling terrain, is considerable safety. Ample traffic lights and generous street lighting help make the largest city in Kansas an oasis of security when compared to other major metropolitan areas. Most streets and major thoroughfares in Wichita are laid out in simple geometric patterns and mile-long grids which, thanks to the consistently flat topography, make for safe maneuverability and high visibility for both motorists and pedestrians alike. An efficient city maintenance department diligently removes snow and ice from the streets in winter and keeps the multiple miles of pathways that network throughout the city accessible year-round. And where so many other metropolitan areas are dissected by rivers that make foot traffic a challenge, Wichita’s bridges are pedestrian friendly and—thanks to the aforementioned frequent summer droughts—often unnecessary.
So what separates Wichita from so many other cities? What can be said for this Peerless Princess of the Plains that cannot be said for other running communities across the U.S.? Where the snarling and congestion in other major cities reduces any well-intended run to little more than a mere jog, Wichita’s free-flowing traffic means that the runner may train at any hour without frustration or restriction. And with this lack of congestion there come remarkably low levels of exhaust fumes to choke the runner. But should a runner desire even cleaner air, such considerable ease of movement means that a runner can traverse from an urban to suburban setting in no time, and just as easily to a rural setting. Yet the squeamish need not fear the wilds of rural Wichita any more than the urban wilds. The livestock are tame and add a picturesque quality to the quaint countryside. The coyotes could be considered more docile than wily. And the roadrunners are all warmhearted and all human.
Yes, hill training will continue to be an issue for the Wichita runner, but the overall flatness of the area is actually one of the city’s greatest assets. Whereas runners in other cities might struggle to find a suitably long stretch of roadway on which to train, the Wichita runner will never experience such a problem. For this very reason the Prairie Fire Marathon (October 14, 2012), Wichita’s premier marathon experience, might just be the ticket for anyone seeking a flat and fast Boston Marathon qualifier. But perhaps the best thing Wichita has to offer is a vibrant and welcoming running community that eagerly awaits any and all who venture to the fair city in search of running competition and companionship.
Clearly, there are pros and cons associated with even the most inviting of running communities. While some might offer breathtaking scenery, the tradeoffs can often be downright scary. But for all of its relative sameness and plainness, Wichita might possibly be the safest and most practical place of them all for consistent and enjoyable year-round running. Since Kansas is located smack dab in the heart of the nation, literally all roads lead to Wichita. Add convenience and location to the list of assets and a strong argument can be made to include Wichita amongst America’s ultimate running environments.
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