The new Prairie Fire Wichita Marathon will take runners on a nice tour of Wichita. Here is a look at some of the features the course will take you on in the second portion of the marathon.
At 10.5 miles, the Northeast loop is complete and runners will start heading back West along Rockwood and 2nd street thru the Crown Heights Neighborhood. Here runners will find mature trees providing shade and friendly neighborhoods.
Heading into the second half of the marathon course, runners will be heading West along English where they will find approximately a half mile of cobblestone roads on a gentle decline going back thru the College Hill Neighborhood. Runners will encounter many turn-a-bouts and a fountain along this section.
Around mile 13.5, runners will find themselves back on familiar territory running back toward downtown Wichita along Douglas. This time, tired legs will get a slight boost from the small decline heading West. Runners will stay on Douglas until heading North on Mosely around mile 15.5 and into Wichita’s Old Town area where they will again encounter cobblestone streets.
Oldtown is nestled in the heart of Wichita and boasts historic lampposts and converted brick warehouses and native limestone accents. More than 100 restaurants, shops, clubs, theaters, galleries, museums, and businesses can be found here.
The new Prairie Fire marathon course loops up and around the finish area of the old Wichita marathon and past the Old Town Warren Theater before continuing West under the train bridge and North on Emporia towards Via Christi St. Francis Hospital. This hospital has 400 beds and is the site of Kansas’ first and largest level I trauma center.
Around mile 17, the runners will start heading toward the final loop of the course; the Riverside area. This loop will take runners over the Arkansas river three more times and past three different parks. It will take runners past Botanica, the Art Museum and right thru Main Street of Cowtown on dirt roads.
Runners will reach Botanica just before the 20 mile mark. Botanica was founded in 1987 to generate enthusiasm for horticulture and is open year round.
At mile 21.5 runners will turn into the Cowtown Museum. Cowtown is a living history museum where you can experience what life was like in the 1870's with wagon rides, blacksmiths, gunfights, and interactive learning.
Just after exiting Cowtown, at mile 22, runners will go past the largest Art museum in Kansas. Inside the museum you will find one of the countries finest American art collections, an interactive room where you can create your own art and a unique collection of glass sculptures that you can walk over.
Mile 24 will bring runners straight down Main street past City Hall and other public buildings before heading back to the Riverside area where they will enjoy scenic roads along the river.
Just before mile 25, runners will cross the pedestrian double suspension bridge. In the center of the suspension bridges, runners will enjoy a close-up view of the “Keeper of the Plains”. The large limestone pedal makes the 44 foot, 5 ton Indian Chief stand an extra 30 feet up making this a prominent landmark where the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers converge.
On the West side of the suspension bridge runners will pass closely by a 20 acre site called Exploration Place. This is a place to experience hands on exhibits, play in the kids area, or go to the CyberDome Theater.
After crossing the suspension bridge, runners will be happy to know they only have one mile left to go. This last homestretch will take runners down McClean Boulevard and past Lawrence Dumont Stadium, home of the Wichita Wingnuts and then across the Lewis Street Bridge to the finish line. The Wingnuts baseball team was recently voted the "Best Local Sports Team" in a Readers' Choice survey put on by the Wichita Eagle. The Wingnuts started in 2008 and average over 3300 fans per game.
Enjoy your tour of Wichita as you run the marathon course and enjoy your stay.
Click here for Part I
Comments