About Us
The KANSAS ULTRARUNNERS' SOCIETY (KUS) is an RRCA affiliated, non-profit ultrarunning organization.
The sole mission of our society is to organize, sponsor, staff, and support ultrarunning events/competition in Kansas and the surrounding region. Our vision is to create an atmosphere that fosters not only the enlightenment of the novice ultrarunner, but nurtures the needs of the veteran ultrarunner as well. Our organization was founded in 1995 and since that time we have attracted ultrarunners from all over the United States and internationally to our events.
Membership is $15 per year (US funds) for an individual and $20 for a family. This entitles you to $5 off the entry fee at all of our events as well as event results, newsletters, and entry forms mailed periodically. Join KUS today!
2025 Races & Dates
Rockin' K Trail Run — 4Mi up to 50K on rugged terrain in central KS!!
Sat April 5, 2025 — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=121366
Heartland 50 — 10th Anniversary!! 25K, 50K, 50Mi distances in KS' heartland
Sat May 3, 2025 — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=119417
Heatwave 6/12/24 — USATF Course Certified!!
Thurs-Fri June 12-13, 2025 — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=121868
Horsethief Canyon Trail Run — The toughest 10K you will find in these parts!!
Sat September 13, 2025 — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=123255
Heartland 100 — 25th Anniversary!! 1/2 Marathon up to 125Mi through the heart of KS
Fri-Sun October 10-12, 2025 — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=120907
KUS 6/12/24 Hour Run — The OG KS timed event!!
Fri-Sat November 7-8, 2025 — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=122070
Sunflower Awards Series
NEW in 2025!!! Kansas Ultrarunners' Society is thrilled to announce an awards series featuring KUS races.
**KUS Sunflower Series, Sunflower Smackdown, and Sunflower TKO**
How to qualify/participate:
1. KUS Sunflower Series recognizes participants who start AND finish any distance in all 6 KUS races consecutively (meaning complete any one race, then all 5 thereafter to receive the award -- we will keep track!). The 6 races are:
-Rockin' K -- 4Mi, 21Mi, Marathon, or 50K
-Heartland 50 -- Heavy 25K, 50K, or 50Mi
-Heat Wave 6/12/24 -- 6, 12, or 24Hrs
-Horsethief Canyon -- 10K only
-Heartland 100 -- 1/2 Marathon, Marathon, 50Mi, 100K, 100Mi, or 125Mi
-KUS 6/12/24 -- 6, 12, or 24Hrs
A custom sunflower themed buckle will be awarded to those hearty competitors!
2. KUS Sunflower Smackdown is a top mileage competition open to all participants with 1 Male and 1 Female acknowledged at the year's end. A personalized award will be given to the 2 who achieve the most miles in KUS races during the calendar year. It is not required to compete in all 6 KUS races for this award, but the chances are better if you do!
3. KUS Sunflower TKO (Total [Kansas] Knockout) will be the top achievement to strive for -- this awards any participant who reaches 411Mi in KUS race finishes in a calendar year. Why 411Mi, you ask? Well, it is simply serendipity ...via Google search, there are varying distances for the total miles East-to-West across Kansas. One result yields "411Mi east to west" ...the highest distances of the KUS races added together: Rockin' K 50K + Heartland 50Mi + Horsethief Canyon 10K + Heartland 125Mi = 212.4Mi -- then throw in the "wild cards" Heat Wave & KUS 24Hr events where a runner would need to achieve 100Mi in each = 412.4Mi (and yes we realize there is a very small amount of leeway, about 1.25Mi). Thus, the Sunflower TKO was born and a special prize will be presented to any participant who reaches the equivalent of running across Kansas!
*KUS will keep track of participants and their mileage. You are welcome to do so also for yourself, but keep in mind the specific race distance that you finish is what is counted, or in the case of the timed events the chip-timed distance -- not your Garmin (etc.) distance.
*For each award, only race FINISHES will be counted. KUS does not allow dropdowns during races, so what you start you must finish for it to be included toward any award category.
*Each category is unique and designed to offer multiple participants a chance to achieve an award!
*In the event of a tie for the Sunflower Smackdown top mileage award (either between 2 or more males or 2 or more females), the participant's times of all races competed in to achieve the mileage will be calculated and the competitor with the lowest elapsed time will receive the top mileage award.
Newsletter & Webstore
A newsletter is published quarterly - visit https://kusnewsletter.wordpress.com/ to read all about KUS things! (Be sure to subscribe to receive this automatically!)
KUS branded apparel and accessories may be purchased at https://kus.boldstores.com/ (If you are an active KUS member, you would have received a discount code in your welcome email; or send an email via the Ask a Question link to receive this code!)
Event's current local time: 10:24 PM CT
