Kansas Half Marathon recognizes those who finish last, too

Jim Moody, of Eudora, raises his arms in celebration as he crosses the finish line of the Kansas Half Marathon Sunday afternoon in downtown Lawrence. Despite being the last runner to cross the line, Moody won a 50 dollar gift certificate for Ad Astra Running.

The tents and yellow plastic barriers had been packed away, but the timer suspended over the finish line at the Kansas Half Marathon on Sunday was still counting the minutes. A group of fewer than a dozen people, looking west down Seventh Street, began cheering as Jim Moody approached, and as the red digits rolled toward 4:05, Moody gave the finish line a stomp as he crossed it.

Moody, of Eudora, had completed his first half marathon, and as he caught his breath, he was handed a prize for being one of its final finishers. Though the winner of first place had crossed the line almost three hours earlier, the presenters of the event said they wanted to recognize more than just the fastest runners.

“We have people running today for closer to four hours, and that shows a level of endurance, both physical and mental, that deserves to be celebrated,” said J. Jenkins, co-owner of Ad Astra Running, which presented the race.

After Moody received congratulations from a group of friends gathered at the finish line, his first reaction was forthright.

“It hurts,” he said, then added, “I made it.”

More than 1,500 runners participated in Sunday’s Kansas Half Marathon, which is the first in the three-part Harvest Half Series. Proceeds from the Lawrence race benefited Health Care Access, 330 Maine St., a clinic for low-income individuals without health insurance.

Ad Astra Running, 16 E. Eighth St., a locally owned store that opened four weeks ago, awarded gift certificates to seven runners throughout the pack wearing Ad Astra T-shirts, from the first to the final finisher in intervals of approximately 250. Jenkins said the awards were in line with the idea of the store, to serve runners of all levels, ranging from beginners to those who have been running for decades.

“There are a lot more people that are toward the middle or back of the pack,” Jenkins said. “We wanted to award the effort and courage they’re displaying to attempt a half marathon.”

The top finisher overall was Jared Fox, of Lawrence, with a time of 1:17. Moody was the last runner to win a gift certificate and said he thought the staggered awards were a great way to support the running community.

“Everybody gave the same effort,” he said, “from people who finished first to people who finished last.”

Photo gallery: Kansas Half Marathon

photo by: John Young

Runners race through east Lawrence at 9th and New Jersey as they participate in the Kansas half marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Runners race through east Lawrence at 9th and New Jersey as they participate in the Kansas half marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Kids take off in their own race, starting at the corner of 9th and New Hampshire, during the Kansas half marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Two-year-old Ophelia Meissner, Brooklyn, N.Y., runs with her grandfather, Al Mauler, Lawrence, in the kid's run while Ophelia's mother competes in the Kansas Half Marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Four-year-old Colby Becker sits with Marty, left, and Lloyd Becker along New Hampshire street near the finish line of the Kansas Half Marathon where they cheer on runners as they pass by Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Some runners wore items remembering the events of this past Monday's Boston Marathon as they participate in the Kansas half marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Runners race through east Lawrence at 9th and New Jersey as they participate in the Kansas half marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Mandi Dow, Shawnee, wears a shirt commemorating last Monday's Boston Marathon as she nears the finish line on New Hampshire street while participating in the Kansas Half Marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Mandi Dow, Shawnee, wears a shirt commemorating last Monday's Boston Marathon as she nears the finish line on New Hampshire street while participating in the Kansas Half Marathon Sunday morning.

photo by: John Young

Fans line up at the finish line on New Hampshire street to cheer on runners participating in the Kansas Half Marathon Sunday morning.