It's July. That means heat. That means humidity. That means any outdoor activity above and beyond floating in a pool with an ice-cold beverage in hand seems inconceivable.
And yet there are still opportunities to get out and get moving. It helps to move the running to times when the temperatures are a little more bearable -- morning or evening.
The new kid on the block in the field of nighttime summer racing is the Nike 5K and Kids 1-Mile Fun Run on Friday. This footrace is presented by radio station 103.7 The Buzz, the Nike Factory Store and the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arkansas.
It starts with the kids race at 7 p.m. Children 7 to 14 will run along a course within The Promenade at Chenal shopping center, and the first 50 finishers will get a pair of Nike Elite socks and a free shake at Big Orange.
At 7:30 p.m., the 5K race for all ages is an out-and-back that starts at the Tavern Sports Grill, continues along Rahling Road to Chenal Valley with water stations at every mile marker, and then turns around. The course will be marked by volunteers and cones. While it's not certified this year, the organizers plan to have that done for next year.
Results will be timed by hand.
"It's a really nice run," says Nike store manager Dustin Neff. "I think people will really enjoy the route."
Registration costs $25 for the 5K, $20 for the fun run; both prices increase $5 on race day. Packet pickup begins at 4 p.m. at the Nike store.
After the racing, Tavern Sports Grill will host a party for runners and spectators with free admission for runners and one guest. Spectators can buy party tickets for $15 in advance, $20 the day of the race.
Call (501) 821-5276 or visit 1037thebuzz.com.
Over the river
When it comes to the Twilight 5K, the keyword is "chill."
At 7 p.m. July 19, runners will start in Murray Park, cross the Big Dam Bridge, turn around and come back for an after-race cookout.
The evening run is an awareness-raising event for the Arkansas Foundation for Skin Cancer. "The idea is to run out of the sun, not in the sun," organizer Bill Torrey explains.
Of course, there's the added bonus that it's usually a little cooler in the evening along the river.
It's hard to get all worked up in the heat and humidity and the race itself, while it is chip-timed, is a laid-back affair. Says Torrey, "You always have the serious runners, but people realize it's not 60 degrees at night in July."
All ages and abilities are welcome. Children and people pushing strollers are all common for this race.
Then, when they're through racing, runners and their friends and family can unwind and chow down back at Murray Park with pizza, hot dogs grilled by members of the Little Rock Roadrunners and music.
"It's a pretty fun atmosphere," Torrey says. "Once the sun goes down and everyone's just hanging out ... they kick back in lawn chairs and listen to music. They're out there for a couple of hours, and then everybody heads on home."
Registration is $25 in advance and packet pick-up and registration are available 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 18 at Rock City Running, 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road , Little Rock.
Race-day registration will be at Murray Park Pavilion 5 and costs $30.
Call (501) 231-3730 or visit arkansasrunner.com.
Full Moon 50K
It's a journey into darkness. Runners armed with headlamps, bug spray and water bottles disappear into the night for an experience in the woods -- the Ouachita National Forest, to be exact. This is the 22nd year for the Full Moon 50K and 25K, but faithful participants who've been running this ultra for years will find a few things are new Saturday at historic Camp Ouachita on Lake Sylvia near Perryville.
"It is a cult classic," says race director Susy Sturgeon. "It's actually kind of like a big all-night party where runners come and, yeah, they run a little bit, but for the most part they're there to socialize and tell stories and to cheer people as they come in."
"Little bit" of running might be an understatement. These are long-distance trail runs that require a good bit of training to complete. But otherwise, it's a laid-back environment. The race didn't even have registration or fees until last year; people just dropped $5 in a coffee can to offset the director's expenses.
Now, however, it's so big (350 runners in 2013 and more than 360 this year) that expenses, including the Forest Service permit, require formal registration and fees.
This year, for the first time, they're adding chip timing, which Sturgeon calls "a present to myself," that should help her know -- not merely when people finish, but that they have finished. Even with radio support on the course, sometimes runners drop out without telling race headquarters or bib numbers get confused in the wee hours.
Sturgeon says, "We're doing chips this year so we can spend more time having fun instead of freaking out about who might be lost in the woods."
The race is a fundraiser for World Services for the Blind, and for the first time, five blind or visually impaired runners are participating in the 25K. They'll run the gravel forest roads with a team of 13 guides.
"It's quite fatiguing to guide, especially at night," Sturgeon says. "You have to keep your attention alert all the time."
Despite the stress and responsibility, she says, she had overwhelming response from the running community when she asked for help. "To have so many people be like, 'Pick me!' That was wonderful. We'll have even more next year."
The race times will be slightly staggered, with the 50K and the blind runners (to give the guides an extra hour of daylight) starting at 7 p.m. The remaining 25K runners will begin at 8.
Spectators are welcome, although Sturgeon warns that "watching ultra running is like watching grass grow."
It takes several hours to complete the course, but even if there aren't any spectators, the last finishers won't end their run alone. It's become a race tradition that finishers wait at the finish line to congratulate their fellow runners.
"The crowds get bigger and bigger. It's always really cool to have 100 people standing there and yelling for you when you are finishing at 4 in the morning after a really long night."
Breakfast, cooked by Williams Junction Fire Department, will follow.
Finishers will leave with not only bragging rights and a sense of accomplishment, but also a special magnet that says "I'm awesome."
Registration has already closed for the race, but volunteers are always welcome, especially those who might want to scope things out for next year.
"It's a party all year," Sturgeon says. "People talk about going to it half the year and talk about having done it the other half."
Call (501) 837-3104 or visit fullmoon50k.com.
ActiveStyle on 07/07/2014