LITTLE ROCK — It's not hard to get the impression that "trail running" and "ultra running" mean the same thing.
But you don't have to run all day and all night just because you're running in the woods. Shorter trail runs are also rewarding.
Kyle Fann, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, wants to get that message across with his Fleet Feet Short Distance Trail Series.
Fann has organized the series' three events as a kind of hands-on thesis while working toward his master's degree in Recreation Management. The first race was a 5K at Withrow Springs State Park; the third race will be a nighttime eight-miler at Devil's Den State Park.
Event No. 2, the Fleet Feet SD Trail Half-Marathon, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday in Eureka Springs' Lake Leatherwood Park, which is off U.S. 62. The race will be a hilly and challenging 13.1 miles, but also scenic.
The course will include two aid stations, but racers should carry their own water and running snacks (such as gels).
Race-day registration costs $40 and will be accepted in the park beginning at 8:30 a.m. All racers must attend a 9:30 a.m. briefing. After the race, Pied Piper Pub will provide soups, salads and sandwiches.
More information is available at fannypackproductions.com and (479) 57 1-8786.
TAIL TWISTER
The Lions Club member assigned to keep Lions from nodding off during meetings is the tail twister. That explains the name of the Rogers Lions Club Tail Twister Trail Run. The second running of this off-road footrace will be 9 a.m. Saturday in Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area near Beaver Lake.
The run has two options: a 10-miler that crosses Van Winkle Hollow twice, and a hilly four-miler.
Race-day registration costs $25 for the 10-miler and $20 forthe four-miler and will open at 8 a.m. at the parking area on Townsend Ridge Road.
More information is at (479) 636-4767 and www.geocities.com/rogerslionsclub.
ZEBULON'S CALLING
Among many traditions of the Arkansas Pikes Peak Marathon Society is the annual "Call of Zebulon," an announcement that the runningfor-travel group will meet to plan its summer of training.
The society is devoted to training for the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent, two difficult off-road footraces that will be Aug. 18 and 19 in Manitou Springs, Colo. Zebulon is (or was) Zebulon Pike, a 19thcentury explorer who supposedly once remarked that no one would ever be able to scale the mountain.
To whip up some hill-running fervor and welcome newcomers, the society will meet at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Darragh Center Auditorium of the Central Arkansas Library System's Main Branch, 100 Rock St. in Little Rock. When it begins training, members will become intimately acquainted with many of the steepest hills in central Arkansas.
The Colorado races fill up soon after registration begins at www.pikespeakmarathon. org. Registration will open at 9 a.m. (Arkansas time) Thursday.
HEALTHY HEART 2 MILE
The St. Bernards Medical Center Healthy Heart 2M Run/ Walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, at the St. Bernards Auditorium, 505 E. Washington Ave. in Jonesboro.
Race-day registration costs $20 and will be accepted from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. More information is at www.ridgerider. org.
HIGHWAY 71 CLASSIC
This year's Highway 71 Classic is a road bike tour from Fayetteville to Mountainburg (or points in between) and back. For $12 and an old bike helmet, riders can join the mass start at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Mill District, 525 S. School Ave. (the intersection of U.S. 71 and Sixth Street), in Fayetteville. The fee includes membership in Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks, a nonprofit that works to improve cycling in Northwest Arkansas.
More information is at (479) 527-9375 and www.bikearkan sas.com.
ADVENTURE RACE
Racers who have signed up for Saturday's Assault on the Spa Adventure Race don't know exactly what they're in for.
They know the multisport race will take from six to eight hours to finish and will challenge them with about 40 milesof running, hiking, biking, paddling and orienteering.
The race will begin somewhere near Hot Springs. Racers will learn where tonight after team check-in, skills testing and the pre-race pasta dinner at Teen Challenge, 155 Walnut Valley Road in Hot Springs.
Solo racers and three-member teams (ages 18 and older) will compete.
Family and friends are allowed to come out to cheer, but registration has closed.
More information is at www.dltmultisport.com or (870) 246-6686.
GROUPS
St. James United Methodist walking group will meet to walk at 3 p.m. Sunday (unless it's raining) on the Arkansas River Trail's Little Rock side below the Interstate 430 bridge. Jenni Duncan is the contact at jenni@stjames-umc.org or (501) 225-7372, Extension 236.
Arkansas Bicycle Club's weekend rides are posted on the Web site www.arkansas bicycleclub.org.
Little Rock Marathon's free training team will meet at 6 a.m. Saturday in MacArthur Park for a final group workout before the big race March 4.
To alert Off the Couch to your active recreation opportunities, call (501) 918-4525 or e-mail: cstorey@arkansasonline.com
Weekend, Pages 78 on 02/23/2007