Gobbler Grind Marathon
Overland Park, United States · November · Independent
Why people love it
- Boston-qualifying certified marathon on Indian Creek Trail, with fall colour
- Finisher blanket and a well-run volunteer team
- Two named climbs only: miles 6 to 8 (km 9.7 to 12.9) and near mile 20 (km 32)
- One runner reports a net downhill second half
- Runs the Sunday before Thanksgiving, easy from Kansas City
Watch out for
- Sparse crowds, lonely once shorter races finish
- Unclear trail turns and few start and finish toilets reported
- Packet pickup at the DoubleTree has poor signs and long lines
- Start can be near freezing 0 °C (32 °F); one 2022 race hit -7 °C (19 °F)
- Roads stay open so you share some paths with the public
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
RaceRaves 3.7 of 5 from 15 runners across all distances; marathon reports like the fall-colour trail and volunteers. Complaints: markings and sparse crowds. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
RaceRaves production 3.9 of 5, but runners report unclear trail turns, long signless packet pickup lines and too few toilets at the start. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
6.5 hour limit, paved and mostly gentle with two climbs. Lonely after the shorter races finish, and trail turns can confuse. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Paved trail with climbs at km 9.7 to 12.9 (miles 6 to 8) and km 32 (mile 20). Second half reported net downhill. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.6
RaceRaves scenery 3.5 of 5. Creekside paved trail with fall colour, parks and tree-lined office-park roads; some office-park sections are plain. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Loops and repeated sections on a trail that narrows in places; reviewers found parts confusing and the marking inadequate. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Organiser says no gravel or rough trail; runners describe a nice paved trail and city streets. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.3
One runner says no roads are closed; the course is mostly paved trail shared with the public. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.2
Gain not published; two named climbs and rolling trail. Described as milder than other Kansas City marathons. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.3
One runner calls the second half net downhill, but no total drop is published. Boston qualifier, not net downhill. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.2
Reviews report too few restrooms at start and finish and long, poorly signed packet pickup lines. A race-day concierge pickup is offered. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
The organiser has a Pace Team page; no pace group detail found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.5
Spectators are sparse, especially on the marathon route, which feels lonely after the 5K and half finish. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Water stations praised, one runner thought spacing long in places; run-walkers may find little food at the finish. Finisher blanket is a highlight. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.5
Tree-lined creek trail gives shelter; no complaints of wind found. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Starts 0 to 4 °C (32 to 39 °F), warming to 9 to 16 °C (48 to 61 °F); -7 °C (19 °F) in 2022. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Late November: starts from near freezing to -7 °C (19 °F) in 2022, highs of 9 to 16 °C (48 to 61 °F). · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.0
Few spectators, and the course is trail based; spectators can drive to some points since roads stay open. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.5
Overland Park is about 300 m (980 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Large Kansas City suburb with many hotels; DoubleTree hosts packet pickup. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
Suburban hotel prices near Corporate Woods; no specific rates found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Start at Indian Creek Parkway near Corporate Woods hotels; most visitors will drive. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Kansas City International about 56 km (35 mi) away; central US location. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Saturday packet pickup at the DoubleTree (11:00 to 17:00), with reports of poor signage and long lines. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Overland Park and Kansas City offer plenty of dining for a race weekend. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.3
Open registration. RunSignup showed 74 marathon spots left, so the marathon is capped but not near sell-out far ahead. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.3
Marathon fee $119 is mid to high for a small race; RaceRaves swag 3.6 of 5 and a finisher blanket. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Overland Park, Johnson County, United States
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 22 November 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 160 athletes
- First held
- 1994
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Start time
- 07:30
- Cutoff
- 6.5 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved trails (Indian Creek Trail), office-park roads and city streets; no gravel
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $119
- Air temperature
- 0–12 °C (32–54 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry late-autumn air
- Altitude
- 300 m (985 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Kansas City International (MCI), 56 km (35 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Overland Park, Corporate Woods
- Booking
- Packet pickup at the DoubleTree by Hilton Overland Park on Saturday; many suburban hotels nearby.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (Gobbler Grind)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Positive
Rated 3.7 of 5 from 15 runners with scenery 3.5, production 3.9, difficulty 3.2. Runners agree it is well run with great volunteers, but crowds are sparse and some turns confusing; packet pickup lines are long.
“This is a well-run race.”
- BibRave (Indian Creek Trail marathoner)Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
A November marathoner describes a mostly Indian Creek Trail course with a road stretch of 6.4 km (4 mi) from km 9.7 to 16.1 (mile 6 to 10), fall colour, manageable hills and a chilly start warming to 4 to 9 °C (40s F).
“especially with fall colors”
- BibRave (second-half-downhill reviewer)Raced 2018 · blog · Mixed
Says the last half is net downhill so you can finish strong if you survive the first half. Flagged missing signs to packet pickup at Scheels.
- BibRave (office-park start reviewer)Raced 2023 · blog · Positive
Describes the start in an office park before joining the Indian Creek Trail, a nice paved route.
- HalfMarathons.net (Gobbler Grind)Raced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
Runner comments praise scenic beauty and few hills, but note inadequate trail markings and too few restrooms at the start and finish. Only an excerpt of the page could be read.
Raced Gobbler Grind Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Gobbler Grind Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.