Back of the Pack Podcast

This week, we head to Liberty, Missouri for a full recap of the 10th anniversary Run Liberty Half Marathon, a race that continues to carve out a special place in our running calendar. We talk about the community feel that makes this event more than just another stop on the race schedule, from the expo to race morning to the people behind it all. We break down the course mile by mile, including the sneaky climbs, the glorious downhills, and the hills that seem personally offended by our existence. We also get into the weather drama, after a freeze advisory tried to scare everyone silly before giving way to a much more runnable morning. Along the way, we share what it is about Run Liberty that keeps bringing us back, even when the course is out there throwing haymakers. We spend time talking about the little things that matter too, like indoor staging at William Jewell, familiar faces at the expo, and the heart that race leadership pours into the event. This episode is part race review, part love letter to a hometown event that keeps showing up for runners year after year. We also revisit the late-race battle to stay ahead of the 2:45 pacer and how that turned into one of the more satisfying finishes we have had on this course. And because sometimes the running gods have a sense of humor, we celebrate the wild coincidence of completing half marathon number 88 while wearing bib number 88. If you love race recaps, course talk, Midwest running culture, and the strange magic that keeps us lacing up, this one is for you.