Jun 6

Jun 6 There's no place like the Heartland 50 to run an ultramarathon - Cassoday, Kansas

I formed my mental model of Kansas through many viewings of the Wizard of Oz and friends mentioning how flat it is when you drive through it. I was pleasantly surprised that my views of Kansas were not accurate and I have a better appreciation for what Kansas offers since my ultrarunning destination trip.

I landed a little before noon in Wichita, Kansas, so took the opportunity to see a few sites before going to my Airbnb in Towanda, Kansas. I opted to start with food, so headed to the Doo-Dah Diner, which according to a plaque in the restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Kansas. Since calories are not a factor the day before a 50k run, I chose a half order of Biscuits and Gravy and their Banana Bread French toast. They both were excellent, and also very filling, so I knew I wouldn’t need to eat much dinner that evening. After lunch I visited the Original Pizza Hut Museum since it is close by at Wichita State University where Pizza Hut began. I was super impressed with how modern the campus is, with many new buildings under construction. The museum is small, but fun to see where the restaurant began, given its expansion around the world.

I then drove across town to the Kansas Air Museum since the day was absolutely beautiful and I wanted to spend more time outside. The museum has some exhibits inside, but the high point is touring the airplanes outside and also going up in the old air tower with an expansive view of the surrounding area. You can stand inside of a B52 bomber bomb bay and get up close to several other large planes, including one unique plane, the Beechcraft Starship.There are very few left since they destroyed most of them when the plane was discontinued.

After all that touring, I drove to Cassoday, Kansas, to check-in for the race and then headed to my Airbnb in the small town of Towanda.

I traveled to Kansas for the Heartland 50 ultramarathon held by the Kansas Ultrarunners’ Society. They hold the race in an area known as the Flint Hills. The area is known for the densest tallgrass prairie in the country, and there are areas where the land has never been disturbed.

The race has two distance options, a 50k and a 50 miler, and I opted for the 50k. The course is an out and back on gravel roads that meander through the vast fields, and hills, around Cassoday, Kansas. Contrary to my notion of Kansas being flat, the course has many rolling, but very long hills. Off to the side of the road, there is a lot of terrain carved out by streams where trees have been able to grow. Despite that, most of what you see during the run is vast grassland all the way to the horizon. Fortunately, the weather was not too hot since this race is 100% exposed to the sun the entire time. The wind was also not a factor, but I can imagine how difficult this race could be if there are strong winds as there is nothing to hide behind or break the wind out there on the course. I met a few interesting people on the course, including someone who had attempted the same 100 miler that I completed many years ago, the Pinhoti 100. I’d never talked to someone who did the race, so it was fun to compare notes while I helped him through a low spot in his race. The race is very well run, has the friendliest aid stations, and has non-stop views. I really enjoyed the feeling of running through this massive prairie land.

After the race I rewarded myself with a burger and shake at the Thunderbird Grill in Towanda, Kansas. It’s an old-school burger joint with exactly what you’d expect, a great burger, fries, and a shake. I then toured the downtown and went to the Towanda Area Historical Museum. They’ve opened it up for events, but the second floor has a lot on display about the formation of the town and area, as well as the original furniture of the Masonic Lodge. I also learned that one of the largest horse auction houses from the early 1900s is located nearby, so I drove the short drive to the Whitewater Falls Stock Farm to see it. It’s an impressive structure from the outside, but I wasn’t able to go inside since it was closed. I also just read it was the home of the largest barn dance in Kansas with over 2000 attendees.

As you can see, there is a lot to see and do in Kansas. You can easily make this your own ultrarunning destination with the many, many miles of dirt roads through the Flint Hills. The small towns have a lot to offer with history, and Wichita is a modern city with many things to do as well. Whether you decide to visit for the Heartland 50 or make it your ultrarunning destination, I don’t think you will be disappointed.