Tale of Two Trails

Tale of Two Trails is a trail running event in Shawnee, Kansas, held on October 3, 2026, by Team Sparkle KC. Four distances are available on the same day: a 50-mile race, a 40-mile race, a 20-mile race and a 10-mile race.

The mile-based distances make it easy to pick a target. The 10-mile race is a straightforward first trail event or a tune-up in the middle of a bigger build; the 20-mile option is a great long-run substitute for marathon and ultra hopefuls; and the 40-mile and 50-mile distances are proper ultras that suit runners with a 50K finish who want to stretch their range. Kansas City-area trails tend toward rolling singletrack with roots and rocks rather than big climbs, so consistent pacing and fueling matter most. For the two long races, a 16-to-20-week program with back-to-back weekend long runs and regular practice eating every 30 to 45 minutes will pay off. Early October in Kansas is generally comfortable, but a small pack with water is still a good idea for the longer distances.