‘Great Amazing Race’ to do a short course with kids, adults in Wichita

An “adventure footrace” based on “The Amazing Race” television show is coming to Wichita on Sept. 27.

Teams consisting of two people — an adult and a child — will be able to compete in “The Great Amazing Race” from 3 to 5 p.m. that day at Chisholm Creek Park. The entry fee is $40 per team in advance or $50 at the race. Winners in each division receive a medal; the top 25 finishers qualify to take part in a national race, one of which is in Kansas City in May.

Kids from kindergarten through 12th grade can take part.

The Wichita race consists of a 1-mile course featuring eight challenges in which the teammates work together along the way. Teams can run, jog or walk the trail. Challenges at each station will be based on the age of the child and fitness levels, and success is based mainly on how well teammates work together, race founder Greg Benton said.

Challenges could include laundry-basket leap frog, face painting according to a guide, or a cross-country tandem course, Benton said. He said the challenges would be customized to the park, and he wasn’t sure which ones would be used in Wichita.

The course takes about an hour; those in the competitive course should expect to use the energy required for a 5K run. Participants will get a little wet and dirty along the way, Benton says.

Racers can receive a mulligan/time-saver token for the race by donating two pairs of used sneakers or running shoes for the pediatric-cancer Max Cure Foundation, or tokens can be purchased (one per team) for $10 in advance or $15 on race day.

Chisholm Creek Park is next door to the Great Plains nature Center at 6232 E. 29th St. North.

For more information or to register, go to the website www.GreatAmazingRace.com.

This story was originally published September 16, 2014 at 12:03 PM with the headline "‘Great Amazing Race’ to do a short course with kids, adults in Wichita."