History of this Race

This race started in 2002 as the marathon course for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships!

In 2003, the NAIA allowed the public to run the course 30 minutes behind the student athletes and it officially became the Olathe Marathon with 183 participants.

In 2004, the Olathe Marathon started at the Olathe District Activity Center and finished at the Great Mall of the Great Plains in Olathe, KS.

From 2005-2008, the Olathe Marathon started at the Gardner-Edgerton High School and finished in downtown Olathe.

From 2009-2015, this race started and finished at Garmin Headquarters in Olathe, KS.

In 2011, the Wizard of Oz theme became the new force behind a top Kansas Marathon. The race was called the Oz Marathon with more than 1,800 participants.

In 2012, Garmin’s sponsorship increased to become the title name sponsor of the race to become the Garmin Marathon. The Wizard of Oz theme is still used.

In 2014, the Garmin Marathon became part of one of the three Heartland Series Half Marathons and registration swelled to nearly 4,000 runners.

In 2016, the Garmin Marathon found a new home for their start/finish line at the all new Embassy Suites Hotel & Olathe Conference Center and hosted more than 3,700 runners from five countries and 44 states.

In 2017, the Garmin Marathon repeated the 2016 course with participation over 4,100 from 43 states and 10 countries.

In 2018, the Garmin Marathon returned to Garmin World Headquarters for the 16th annual event in Olathe, KS. The race hosted over 4,300 participants from all 50 states and 10 countries in the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, Family Run and Virtual Race.

Races by the year

2003 – NAIA / Olathe Marathon (5-24-2003)

NAIA_CHAMBER_GARMIN Started at ODAC (Olathe District Activity Center) near 159th and Lone Elm and finished at the Great Mall of the Great Plains. Traveled through sights and locations like Cedar Lake and Indian Creek Trail. The NAIA allowed open runners to be a part of the course a few hours after the college athletes finished their races. 183 (Marathon Runners) / 178 (15K Runners)

2004 – Olathe Marathon (5-29-2004)

Started at ODAC (Olathe District Activity Center) near 159th and Lone Elm and finished at the Great Mall of the Great Plains. Traveled through sights and locations like Cedar Lake and Indian Creek Trail. 256 (Marathon Runners) / 173 (15K Runners) / 120 (Relay Runners)

2005 – Olathe Marathon (5-21-2005)

Started at Gardner-Edgerton Highschool and finished in Downtown Olathe, KS. Traveled through sights and locations like the New Century Airport and the Great Mall of the Great Plains. 381 (Marathon Runners) / 256 (15K Runners) / 84 (Relay Runners)

2006 – Olathe Marathon (5-20-2006)

Started at Gardner-Edgerton Highschool and finished in Downtown Olathe, KS. Traveled through sights and locations like the New Century Airport and the Great Mall of the Great Plains. 204 (Marathon Runners) / 158 (15K Runners) /68 (Relay Runners) / 34 (2.62 Bun Run)

2006-2008 Flyer Cover

2007 – Olathe Marathon (3-31-2007)

Started at Gardner-Edgerton Highschool and finished in Downtown Olathe, KS. Traveled through sights and locations like the New Century Airport and the Great Mall of the Great Plains. 395 (Marathon Runners) / 370 (Half Marathon Runners) 143 (15K Runners) / 229 (5K Runners)

2008 – Olathe Marathon (3-29-2008)

Started at Gardner-Edgerton Highschool and finished in Downtown Olathe, KS. Traveled through sights and locations like New Century Airport and the Great Mall of the Great Plains. 510 (Marathon Runners) / 696 (Half Marathon Runners) / 297 (5K Runners)

2009 – Olathe Marathon (4-4-2009)

Started at the Great Mall of the Great Plains and finished at the Garmin Headquarters. Traveled through sights and locations like MNU (Mid-America Nazarene University) and Indian Creek Trail. 354 (Marathon Runners) / 908 (Half Marathon Runners) / 429 (5K Runners)

2010 – Olathe Marathon (4-10-2010)

Started at Garmin Headquarters and finished at the Great Mall of America. Traveled through sights and locations like Indian Creek Trail. 300 (Marathon Runners) / 800 (Half Marathon Runners) / 350 (5K Runners)

2010 Flyer Cover

2011 – The Oz Marathon (4-16-2011)

2011 Full marathon Started and finished at Garmin Headquarters. Traveled through sights and locations like the Great Mall of the Great Plains and Indian Creek Trail. 471 (Marathon Runners) / 871 (Half Marathon Runners) / 469 (5K Runners)

2011 Medals

2012 – Garmin Marathon (4-21-2012)

Started and finished at Garmin Headquarters. Traveled through sights and locations like the Great Mall of the Great Plains and Indian Creek Trail. 646 (Marathon Runners) / 1053 (Half Marathon Runners) / 772 (5K Runners)

2012 Shirts & Medals

2012 Videos

2013 – Garmin Marathon (4-20-2013)

Started and finished at Garmin Headquarters. Traveled through sights and locations like Indian Creek Trail. 814 (Marathon Runners) / 1020 (Half Marathon Runners) / 607 (5K Runners)

2013 Shirts & Medals

2013 Videos

2014 – Garmin Marathon (4-26-2014)

Started and finished at Garmin Headquarters. Traveled through sights and locations like Indian Creek Trail. 782 (Marathon Runners) / 2432 (Half Marathon Runners) / 417 (6K Runners) / 44 (Team Relay Runners) / 231 (Kids Runners)

2014 Shirts & Medals

2015 – Garmin Marathon (4-18-2015)

Started and finished at Garmin Headquarters. Traveled through sights and locations like Indian Creek Trail. 661 (Marathon Runners) / 2136 (Half Marathon Runners) / 435 (10K Runners) / 56 (Team Relay Runners) / 194 (Kids Runners)

2015 Shirts & Medals

2016 – Garmin Marathon (4-16-2016)

Started and finished at Embassy Suites Hotel and Olathe Conference Center. Traveled through sights and locations like Millcreek Trail. 604 (Marathon Runners) / 2031 (Half Marathon Runners) / 624 (10K Runners) / 375 (Kids Runners)