KC SMART Runners is excited to present the 5th Annual Runner Recognition Program for 2026. This year will be free to enter for all members - no cost, no passwords, but also no trophies this year. The competition celebrates runners of all levels through a variety of divisions that factor in different types of performance. All you need to do In order to participate this year is submit your results for races in 2026. Please note that races which are significantly short of the advertised distance may be ineligible based on the decision of the Program Committee.

Divisions

The Runner of the Year division is a points based competition. Runner of the Year looks at the 12 highest scoring races for each contender, based on points for Distance, Overall/Masters or Age Group awards, and Partner Race bonuses.  Once again, all Partner Race Bonus Points will be counted even if that race is not included in your top 12. New for this year, a bonus point will be awarded for all races from our Partners, not just the Official Partner Races. The scoring may require manual adjustment which will be updated each week. Points will be awarded as follows:

• Races up to and including 4 miles = 2pts

• Races up to and including 8 miles = 3pts

• Races up to and including 16 miles = 4pts

• Races up to and including Marathon distance = 5pts

• Ultra Marathon = 6pts

• Overall/Masters or Age Group Award = 1pt bonus

• All Races from our Partners = 1pt bonus

KC SMART Runners Proudly announces the provisional 2026 Runner Recognition Program Partner Races. All Partner Races have (or will have) a KC SMART Runners discount code to use when you register for these races (with the exception of Salina Crossroads Marathon).  Please remember to use these codes as the race directors utilize these to see the value we bring to their races.

• Bodies Time Travel Half Marathon/10k/5k - Parkville 1/3/2026

• Bodies Time to Paddy 5k/10k & Lucky 13.1 – Longview 3/7/2026

• Run Liberty Half Marathon/10k/5k – Liberty 3/28/2026

• Rock The Parkway Half Marathon/5k – Kansas City 4/11/2026

• Garmin Olathe Marathon/Half/10k - Olathe, KS 4/25/2026

• Hospital Hill Run Half/10k/5k - Kansas City 5/16/2026

• Bodies Hometown Half Marathon/10k/5k - Parkville 5/23/2026

• Hearts For RMH 5K/10k – Parkville TBD

• Garmin Kansas City Marathon/Half/10k/5k – Kansas City 10/17/2026

• Bodies Spooky Sprint Half/10k/5K – Longview 10/25/2026

• Salina Crossroads Marathon/Half/10k/5k - Salina, KS 11/7/2026

• Gobbler Grind Marathon/Half/10k/5K – Overland Park, KS 11/22/2026

The 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra, Oddball, and Youth divisions are all scored based on total miles completed in all eligible races.

The Most Improved division is scored based on the number of PRs achieved over the course of the competition.  A PR in January which you beat in May and again in October will count each time.

Official Rules

Rules, Regulations & Terms 

1. The Runner of the Year division is a points based competition. This division looks at the 12 highest scoring races for each contender, based on points for distance, Overall/Masters or Age Group awards, and partner race bonuses.

2. At least half of your completed and recorded races must have started or finished within 50 miles of the Kansas City, MO city hall address with the exception of Half Marathon or greater distance races (these races will be counted regardless of where they are run).

3. Races must be open for public participation. School events (including collegiate level) will not count towards RRP.

4. The race must post official results that can be verified by the Program Committee as needed.

5. Time submitted by the competitor must be the official finish time posted by race officials (typically Chip Time). 

6. Overall/Masters and Age Group placing will be as defined by the race’s official results (some races only award 1st place in an Age Group or Overall/Masters, only the one recognized by the official results will get bonus points).

7. Race must meet or exceed, and only count for the advertised distance (i.e. 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, etc.) Races that are identified as short will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Program Committee and their decision is final (the idea here is to hold race directors accountable for accurate course length).

8. The Oddball category will be used for races that are advertised as non-standard distances and not one of the other listed divisions (e.g. 1 mi, 4 mi, 8k, 15k, etc.) Ultras are NOT in the oddball category. A 5k race that ends up being 3.25 miles is a 5k (as advertised) and not an Oddball division race. A marathon that ends up being 27.2 miles is still a Marathon and not an Ultra.

9.  Ultra Marathons (advertised distance longer than 26.2 miles) will only count in the Ultra division. Timed events (i.e. 6hr, 12hr, 24hr, etc.) will count as an Ultra if official distance covered is greater than 26.2 miles otherwise as an Oddball if official distance covered is less than 26.2 miles.

10. All race results must be entered within 90 days of completion and no later than Jan 31st, 2027. Races run more than 90 days before the competitor submitted results for the RRP program will not count. Make sure you submit your results in a timely manner.

11. Disputes regarding any race or any competitor will be reviewed by the Program Committee and their decision will be final.

12. VIRTUAL RACES (INCLUDING RACES THAT FINISH VIRTUALLY) WILL NOT COUNT FOR THE RRP.

There is no limit to how many divisions you can win. We will award the top three Male and top three Female participants in each division.

Tie breakers in any division will be decided in the following steps until the tie is broken:

1. Most Partner Races run

2. Most miles

3. Number of total races

4. Fastest combined time for all eligible races

5. Date of first race recorded

6. Date of program registration

7. At the decision of the Program Committee