Ready to race? Every month there is a smorgasbord of events for the avid racer to toe the line. Athlinks brings you a highlight of some of the next few weeks best races. What start lists have you joined for the next month? Let us know in the comments or give us a shout on Twitter at @Athlinks
6/2/2018 – Kansas City, MO
The Hospital Hill Run celebrates health and healthy living through a partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City Health Sciences District. This year’s race is scheduled for June 2, 2018 and takes runners through a course that showcases the various healthcare facilities and systems in Kansas City. This is the oldest running event in the city with this being its 45th year.
6/2/2018 – Baltimore, MD
The Baltimore 10-Miler is considered a kick off to summer race. Home base for the race is the Maryland Zoo, and each year, the race chooses an animal mascot. For this year’s race being held on June 2, 2018, the chosen animal is the polar bear. Through this partnership, the race and the zoo are able to create awareness about the featured animal. Those who finish the race will receive a medal with a portrait of a polar bear on it.
6/3/2018 – Emporia, KS
Dirty Kanza is a specialty cycling race known for its gravel-grinding endurance courses and started by cycling enthusiasts. The DK200 is a way for Dirty Kanza Promotions to give back to cycling communities around the country. Although it initially started out as a 200-mile race, the DK200 weekend features a variety of other races as well, including the 100-mile, 50-mile, and 25-mile rides, as well as parades and other festivities.
6/3/2018 – Chicago, IL
Do something good for the animals and yourself by participating in one of Chicago’s favorite running events that benefits the Lincoln Park Zoo. For the 40th annual Run for the Zoo, you can go into beast mode and finish strong. With both a 5K run/walk and at 10K, you and your fellow runners can run past the animals on a course that goes through and around the zoo grounds. The proceeds of this race help the zoo remain open 365 days a year and free for visitors.
6/9/2018
Washington Harbour in Georgetown is an area of the nation’s capital that’s used to be overrun with lawyers, so it makes sense that it is home to a 5K/10K race created by legal eagles who want to make a difference in their community. Lawyers Have Heart, or LHH, is in its 28th year and expects over 300 organizations and 6,000 runners this year.
6/9/2018
The Monterey Super is held each year in Toro Park. This year’s race is scheduled for June 9. It takes runners through a varied terrain that includes hills, wooded area, fields and prairies. It is considered a challenging race of trails with many twists and turns. Runners will get to take in the landscape of Northern California as they take on this Spartan Race.
Leadville Marathon & Heavy Half
6/16/2018
The Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half is more than just your traditional marathon. The course takes you through mining roads and up through Mosquito Pass at an elevation of 13,185 feet. If that doesn’t take your breath away, then the views certainly will. The Trail Marathon & Heavy Half is part of the Leadville Race Series. Finishing the races within the qualifying time may give racers the opportunity to also run later in the LT100 event. To learn more, you’ll want to research the Leadville Trail 100 Run Qualification System information.
6/23/2018
As the name suggests, the Lutsen 99er takes participants over 99 miles of terrain broken up as follows: 43 percent forest service road, 40 percent snowmobile/ski train, 10 percent pavement and seven percent single track. During the course, there is about 7,000 feet of climbing as well. This bike race begins at Lutsen Mountain on June 23, 2018 on Highway 61 in the town of Lutsen with a start time at 8:00 a.m. and an end time at 5:00 p.m.
6/23/18
Centered around the summer solstice, the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon celebrates the longest day of the year. Besides the marathon, race day also features a half marathon, a relay, a 5k and a team half marathon. The marathon is held by Anchorage Parks & Recreation and the University of Alaska Anchorage. The race is always held on the Saturday near the summer solstice. This year that is on June 23.
