UMKC School of Medicine and its hospital affiliate Truman Medical Centers are gold sponsors of the Million Mile Challenge, KC Marathon’s running alternative for 2020. All UMKC students, staff and faculty who register can receive a discounted entry fee.

“It was a tough call, but canceling the race was best for the safety of race participants, partners, staff and volunteers,” said Dave Borchardt, director of corporate and community relationships at the Kansas City Sports Commission, the non-profit organization that organizes the Garmin Kansas City Marathon. “Now, we are excited about the Million Mile Challenge and encouraged by the interest it’s received.”

The Million Mile Challenge is a fun and engaging way to support your local community while staying fit through training and running. Between now and Oct. 17, participants can track and log miles anytime and anywhere they walk or run, both as they train and complete their race miles (5k, 10K, half marathon or full marathon). The goal is to reach one million cumulative miles among all registered in the challenge, with key mileage benchmarks celebrated with randomly selected gift winners announced along the way.

As an added incentive, if the one million mile goal is reached, Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. will make a sizable donation to the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation to support efforts promoting the lifetime benefits of sports for the residents of Greater Kansas City.   

The event concludes with a two-day, drive-through Finishers Fest Oct. 16-17 with fun photo opportunities, sponsor booths and other activities. There, participants can pick up their participant items in person, including race-branded shirt, finisher’s medal, commemorative race bib and finisher’s certificate, Million Mile Challenger finisher item and the ultimate KC swag bag. Registrants may also have their race packets mailed directly to them (additional fees apply).

Registration is open through Oct. 15, and the cost is $40. UMKC students, staff and faculty save 10% when using the discount code UMKCMED10.

To sign up to start logging your miles today, click here.