Ready to run? The 13th Annual Little Rock Marathon, which is presented by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, begins Saturday with a series of events and lasts throughout the weekend in downtown Little Rock. The event benefits Little Rock Parks and Recreation.
Approximately 14,000 people are registered to participate in the different races, says Geneva Lamm, co-executive director of the marathon. She says there will also be 20,000-30,000 spectators attending.
The 26.2-mile marathon is set for Sunday. The early start, which is for those needing more than six hours, begins at 6 a.m. The wheelchair and hand-cycle starting time is 7:58 a.m., followed by the general start at 8 a.m., according to the marathon’s website.
“Our 5K and the marathon are sold out,” Lamm says. Other races include the Little Rockers Kids Marathon on Saturday at 10 a.m., and Sunday’s half marathon and 10K, both at 8 a.m.
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All of that means restricted traffic along the marathon route. The marathon begins at East Capitol Avenue and Scott Street and ends at the Museum of Discovery at Clinton Presidential Avenue and Sherman Street.
Traffic will be restricted in the downtown area beginning at 6 a.m. This control lasts for eight hours, and those who haven’t finished by 2 p.m. may be asked to use the sidewalk but will still receive a finisher’s medal.
There is also entertainment for spectators, according to the marathon website. Musicians and other entertainers will be posted along the route, adding to festival atmosphere.
But the main reason people will be there is the race itself, Lamm says.
“There’s nothing like it in Arkansas,” she says. “Watching a marathon will make you want to [run] a marathon.”
The Little Rock Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifying race, meaning the time it takes runners to finish the race will be monitored to see if they qualify for the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon typically has more than 30,000 participants yearly and draws more than 1 million spectators, according to the Boston Athletic Association.
The weekend also includes a two-day health and fitness trade show. The expo will be held at the Statehouse Convention Center on Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will focus on the sport of running.
To learn more about the marathon, check out its website at littlerockmarathon.com/marathon.