Tortoise & Hare 5K Run, Walk & Roll

BIG CHANGES THIS YEAR!

Some big changes are in store for Excelsior Springs’ only 5K race. We are thrilled to announce that Other Trails Coffee & Goods is now the corporate sponsor of the Tortoise & Hare. Thanks to their generous support in underwriting the costs of the event, every dollar raised through registration fees will go directly to benefit The Good Samaritan Center in our mission to alleviate hunger and homelessness in our community. Be sure to say thanks when you stop by their cozy coffee shop in downtown Excelsior Springs for a coffee drink, tea, or one of their yummy baked goods.

Show your email registration confirmation when you visit Other Trails and they’ll treat you to a free cookie! Packet pick-up and late registration will be held at Other Trails on Friday evening and Saturday morning before the race, on April 14 and 15.

Runners and walkers will gather outside Other Trails’ back door, at the circle drive on the west side of the historic Hall of Waters (on S. Main Street). When the air horn blasts at 8 a.m., some will race along a scenic 5K course that includes chip timing and prizes for the winners. Some will stroll more casually and enjoy a two-mile walk. And the kids will take off on their own fun run to earn their own special prize.

Visit Other Trails Coffee & Goods

BRAND NEW COURSE!

We have a brand new out-and-back course this year, which runs primarily on the paved trail winding through five parks: Fishing River Linear Park, Paul Craig Park, Isley Park Woods, East Valley Park and Siloam Mountain Park. Both runners and walkers will head south on Marietta Street a short distance before turning onto the trail at Fishing River Linear Park. Along this scenic trail, which parallels Fishing River, participants will pass the historic Superior Well.

Walkers will turn around at the one-mile mark when the trail reaches Golf Hill Drive. Runners will cross Lover’s Lane and proceed up Siloam Mountain to the turnaround point in the cul-de-sac in Siloam Mountain Park. Most of the course is flat until this final quarter-mile to reach the turnaround point. Runners will then pick up speed as they return down the hill and follow the same route back to the finish line.

Aramark, the Excelsior Springs School District’s food service company, will provide finish line food for all the 5K runners.

Beyond the race and running, this year’s Tortoise & Hare will feature:

ARTISTIC SHIRTS!

Every participant (in each event) will receive a high-quality shirt that features the original work of local artist and avid runner Holly Spencer. (Registration deadline to receive shirts is March 31, 2023.) PLEASE NOTE: When you register, you will be asked to select a t-shirt size. Please be aware that women’s sizes may be smaller than the unisex sizes.

UNIQUE MEDALS!

Our medals are sure to become collector’s items each year! Every participant in the chip-timed 5K event will receive a unique medal that incorporates the design elements found in the historic Hall of Waters. The site of the first mineral water spring discovered in Excelsior Springs in the 1880s, the Hall of Waters features the world’s longest water bar inside a two-story solarium, where the famed waters from the city’s ten main springs were piped to be served to visitors from around the world. (Although portions of the building are open, the solarium and visitor center is currently closed for repairs.)

The Hall of Waters features Art Deco style architecture with motifs of Mayan tradition. Our 5K medals reflect these design elements and are sure to become collectors items each year. This year’s medal, the first in the new series, portrays the lighting fixtures that hang above the water bar.

We are grateful to ReeceNichols Realtors Excelsior Springs for sponsoring this year’s medals. Thanks to the support of our sponsors, 100 percent of the operating costs of the Tortoise & Hare have been subsidized. That means every dollar of your race registration will directly support the work of the Good Samaritan Center in our community.

Learn more about the historic Hall of Waters.

PRIZES!

First-place overall finishers in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 5K race will each receive a $100 gift card from our longtime sponsor, The Running Well Store. A $20 gift card from our longtime sponsor Dubious Claims Brewing Company will be awarded to the first place finisher in both men’s and women’s age group categories.

New this year! The first runner to reach the top of Siloam Mountain (in both the men’s and women’s division) will be proclaimed King/Queen of the Hill and earn a $20 gift card and mug from Other Trails Coffee & Goods.

STUDENT RATE of only $15 (half-price) is available for those 18 and under (just enter the coupon code STUDENT).

HOT CHOCOLATE FUN RUN

After the 5K run and walk gets started, there will be a short fun run for the kids. Every participant in the Kids Hot Chocolate Fun Run will receive a coupon for a free hot chocolate drink at Other Trails. (Registration fee for the fun run is automatically set at $15, no need to enter the coupon code.)

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Be sure to register before March 31, 2023, to guarantee a shirt (for all participants) and medal (for 5K participants). Late registrations after March 31 won’t be guaranteed to receive either a shirt or medal.

HAVE MORE FUN WITH A TEAM of your best friends or co-workers! Create a team of five, and each participant will receive a $6 discount (only $24 -- like signing up 4 and getting the 5th member free). You might even want to get artistic and design some team t-shirts for your group. Team leaders have the option to create a team and register all of the members together, or to allow team members to register individually after the team has been created. (Note: The discount is applied retroactively when the final team member registers.)

REFUND REWARDS

Earn refund rewards when you refer your friends. See more information below about how to earn a $5 refund by encouraging your friends to join you in the 5K race or the 2-mile walk.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN CENTER

This annual event supports the work of The Good Samaritan Center. For more than 30 years, the Good Samaritan Center has been dedicated to preventing homelessness and hunger by providing basic life needs and access to life skills for residents in northern Clay County (including Excelsior Springs, Lawson, Kearney and Smithville) and throughout Ray County.

Learn more about the Good Samaritan Center.

MORE TO COME

More information is coming! We'll update this page as we confirm sponsors and prizes. Watch for the unveiling of the custom artwork for our shirts and this year’s 5K medal. Stay tuned for our Facebook Live events on The Good Samaritan Center’s Facebook page!