When the Little Rock Marathon's Health and Fitness Expo opens at 10 a.m. Friday, Red Fox Wireless will be among at least 66 vendors proffering products or information.
In the list on the race website, Red Fox is identified in capital letters as "2015 OFFICIAL HEADPHONES."
The Little Rock Marathon has an official headphones vendor?
Does this mean headphones are now allowed on the race course?
"They're our official vendor," says Gina Marchese Pharis, the marathon's co-executive director, aka one of the two "chicks-in-charge." "So you can train and do whatever you want in your marathon, but we are not encouraging headphones because, as we say, if you can't hear what's going on around you, what good is that?"
Having an official vendor at the expo in no way undoes the instructions to racers contained on the website's "FAQs" page, to wit:
"Can I wear an iPod, MP3, Walkman or headphones during the race?"
"No. Parts of our course are open to vehicular traffic. Using devices like an iPod, MP3, Walk-man or headphones during the race is not only unsafe, but is also an issue of politeness. When wearing an electronic device like these, it is hard, if not impossible, to hear other participants as they approach or volunteers/police as they try to give you vital information."
BUSY WEEKEND
Part registration center, part shopping opportunity, the expo will attract about 13,000 runners and walkers who at the very least must walk through the Statehouse Convention Center between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to pick up their race packets.
Among the crowds will be out-of-towners who are hungry after training for months to participate in the weekend's athletic competitions. Restaurants in the Little Rock River Market District will be busy.
All these events have new courses, beginning at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Scott Street and ending on President Clinton Avenue west of Sherman Street. Starting times are:
5K: 8 a.m. Saturday
Little Rockers Kids Marathon: 10 a.m. Saturday
Marathon: early start at 6 a.m. Sunday, followed by wheelchair and hand cycle start at 7:58
and the general start at 8. The early start is only for people who definitely will take longer than six hours to go the distance.
Half marathon and 10K: 7:58 a.m. Sunday wheelchair and hand cycle; 8 general start
A traditional pasta will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Little Rock Marriott. The $25 fee (free for children younger than 3) includes a buffet of whole-grain pasta with several sauces, green salad, breads and dessert.
After their races, athletes will have access to a massage and beer; other food and beverages will be available to buy in the First Security Amphitheater area of Riverfront Park from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Other race-associated events include Raid the River Market from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Unlike earlier years' catered indoor dance parties, Raid will feature the band Canvas performing for street dancers at a free-to-the-public block party on President Clinton Avenue from Cumberland Street to River Market Avenue. Athletes will buy food on their own from area businesses.
Meanwhile, there will be performances at nearby businesses including Victoria Wells at Big Whiskey's, Big Dam Horns at Ernie Biggs' Dueling Piano Bar, the Greasy Greens at the Rev Room, and Darril Harp Steel Drums at Stickyz Rock 'n' Roll Chicken Shack.
More information is at littlerockmarathon.com.
ActiveStyle on 02/23/2015