KARLIE SPEICHER

The Amy Thompson Run at 30: A Look Back … 2017 marks the 30th annual Amy Thompson Run for Brain Injury. To celebrate, we’re taking a monthly look back at some of the highlights, people and personalities who make this event a Kansas City-area classic.

Karlie Speicher – Karly T shirts
A Long-Time Amy Run “Superfan”

Karlie Speicher remembers her first time running in the Amy Thompson Run To Daylight. Memorial Day in Loose Park. Kansas City, 1990.

“It was just a beautiful run in a beautiful setting for a great cause,” Speicher said. “I loved it because it had such great energy and a family atmosphere.”

Little did she know it would become a big part of her adult life. As well as that of her children.

“I have always been a big runner, marathons, triathlons, all that. But the Amy Thompson Run is something I’ve always looked forward to as something special,” the Brookside mother of two said.

Speicher has run in 18 of the 29 events that benefit the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City.

“It’s just part of our Memorial Day weekend. Ever since my children were little, they’ve joined me and ran in the Kiddie Dash,” she said. “They loved when ‘Dr. Brain’ would do presentations for the kids. My favorites were always the military sky divers.”

Speicher said that over the years her son Mack and daughter Kelly ran in the main race … and that her son Mack eventually began finishing before her.

“The last three years or so Mack has beaten me! It’s something he takes a lot of pride in,” she said.

In 2017, Speicher said she hopes to be out there on Memorial Day with her kids to run in the 30th annual run.

“I plan to continue this great tradition that means so much to me and the rest of my family. The whole community comes together to celebrate a great cause.”