The Kansas Ultrarunners’ Society (KUS) was founded on March 1, 1995, as a non-profit ultrarunning organization with the following mission statement.
The sole mission of our society is to organize, sponsor, staff and support ultrarunning events/competition in Kansas and the surrounding region. Our vision is to create an atmosphere that fosters not only the enlightenment of the novice ultrarunner, but nurtures the needs of the veteran ultrarunner as well.
The original founding members, Eric Steele, President; Scott Demaree, Vice President; Randy Albrecht, Secretary; and Marc Friesen, Treasurer, recruited members and by the organizations first event that fall had a small membership of around 15.
KUS first official event, the Flatrock Trail 50K was held on September 30, 1995. With 28 paid entrants and 24 starting the event, KUS as an organization was also on the starting line early that morning. As the last finisher crossed the finish line, so did the small band of KUS members and plans started for the next event.