4-Mile Course: Starting Northeast of the Starlight Office building inside the Meyer entrance of Swope Park on Starlight Road. The racecourse will head west up around the Parks and Recreation building and head down the hill on Mall drive, looping up toward Starlight and then head back into the Zoo. Once inside the Zoo, the course will turn RIGHT to go down into Africa. Returning out of Africa, the course will proceed onto the new promenade through to the International Festival area into Australia. Then it will head back through International Festival area to the finish line, which is a change due to construction.  The map will be updated soon.

The 4 Mile course has changed slightly, due to construction.  Coming back out of Australia, the course follows back toward the Carousel by the Sea Lions, into the finish line.  There is no change in the 1-Mile course.

View Course Map 

Non-competitive Stroller Wave:  Starts 10 minutes after the 4 Mile start for Walkers Only. The stroller wave will not be timed. No running or jogging with strollers/joggers allowed.

1-Mile Course:Strollers are allowed for WALKERS ONLY. No running or jogging with strollers/joggers allowed. The Mile course will start near the Elephant Overlook and proceed on the same course as in previous years. See map for details.

4-Mile Start: The 4-Mile Start will not change and will start northeast of the Starlight Office building inside the Meyer entrance of Swope Park on Starlight Road. Line up facing west. Stroller Wave to line up in the back and will start approximately 8:40 am.

1-Mile Start : Announcements will take place for lining up approximately, 9:20 a.m. Once entering into the Zoo, please proceed directly to the 4-Mile finish line area. All 1-Mile participants need to register. Strollers for WALKING PARTICIPANTS ONLY are allowed in the 1-Mile event. No running or jogging with strollers/joggers allowed. Any child who can walk on their own will need to register. All children who stay in the stroller will not need to register.

Warm Up: No warm up will be allowed inside the Zoo. All warm up and cool down should take place outside the Zoo in Swope Park.

Participant Safety : Please note if it has rained or there is dew from the night before, some of the wooden bridges and walkways could be slippery, so please take caution. For the safety of all participants, strollers, joggers, radio headsets, roller skates, roller blades, bicycles and dogs are NOT allowed on the course, with the exception of strollers allowed for walkers in the stroller heat in the 4 mile and the 1 mile event. If first aid is needed, contact Zoo Personnel. The Zoo Run course is like a trail run and has some narrow pathways and irregular pavement. Please make sure you stay to your right at all times, and please yield to runners who will be coming from behind.

Aid Stations: Water and sports drinks will be provided at 3 Aid Stations throughout the course. See map for specific locations.

Bibs: Please wear your bib on your front side for photos. Your bib is your Zoo ticket for the day of the event. Make sure you have it with you if you need to leave and come back.

Chip Timing : Chip timing will be used in the 4-Mile event. The stroller heat in the 4 Mile will not be timed. The 1-Mile event will not be timed.

Online registration will close Tuesday, September 14th at 7 pm.  If you would like to sign up after that time, here's the packet pickup information:

Walk-In Registration/Packet Pickup :

Garry Gribble's Running Sports (Ward Parkway Mall)
85th & State Line, KCMO
Friday, September 17th from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Race Day Registration/Packet Pickup:

Kansas City Zoo main entrance
Saturday, September 18th from 7a.m. to 8a.m.