Organizers of the annual CARTI Tour de Rock fundraising bike tour are watching the swollen Arkansas River with their fingers crossed, hoping they won't need to deploy Plan B for Saturday's bike tour.
What's Plan B? Organizer Sabrina Frazier declined to say last week. "The safety of our riders comes first," she said. "And decisions about Tour de Rock will be made with their safety in mind."
But other than needing the river to clear off the North Little Rock River Trail, the tour is ready for its 12th year. This is an event that all levels of cyclists dust off the saddle for.
CARTI (formerly the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institution) organizes this big ride to raise money to fight cancer and provide an opportunity for cycling enthusiasts of every level to enjoy a day on the bike.
Plan A is for the ride to stage from the Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock and head east. Riders will choose among four different mileages. Riders who wish to do a 100-mile tour will start at 7 a.m.; those selecting a 62-mile ride will start at 7:15 a.m.; and the 50- and 30-milers will start at 7:30 a.m.
Signs posted along the route will mark different turnarounds, depending upon the desired mileage.
The 100-mile route will take riders to England before they head back to the finish. This is an extremely flat course with six rest areas for riders to take a break beside the road and enjoy water and snacks.
It is not an entirely closed course, so riders will be exposed to traffic in eastern Pulaski County; however the course will be clearly marked with volunteers throughout to guide the riders in the correct direction.
Registration is $50 and can be placed online at carti.com or in person the morning of the race beginning at 6. The registration fee includes a T-shirt and a post-race lunch at the soccer complex.
Any riders who wish to donate an extra $100 to CARTI will receive a Tour de Rock jersey, which can be obtained at packet pickup or the day of the ride. Those who are not participating in the ride can also contribute as Spirit riders, who donate $20 online.
Packet pickup is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Thursday at Subaru of Little Rock's new facility at 12121 Colonel Glenn Road and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the CARTI/St. Vincent office at 4 St. Vincent Circle.
Music and barbecue will be provided for all riders after the race at the soccer complex. For more information about the ride, visit carti.com.
WAR EAGLE TRAIL RUN
The War Eagle Trail Run returns Saturday to Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area near Rogers.
The footrace, which began in 2011, has challenged hundreds of runners with its arduous terrain. Trail runners come from around the region and across the nation to suffer in the beauty of the forest.
The only trail running event permitted in the park includes a 50K, a 25K and a 10K.
The 50K run (about 31 miles) is composed of two loops that cross every trail of the park. There will be eight aid stations every three to seven miles along the way.
The 25K will have four aid stations, and the 10K will have two aid stations. In addition to the aid stations that will be stockpiled with food, energy bars and drinks, runners will be able to leave a drop bag at a designated aid station with personal items they might want or need at that point in their ordeal.
Except for a few parts of the 10K, the course is not flat. It is an up and down journey throughout, according to race director Jeff Genova. The trail is well marked with surveyor tape and arrows, so no guesswork should be needed.
The 50K and 25K runners have a mandatory meeting at 6 a.m., followed by a mass start at 6:30 a.m. from the park visitor center. The 10K racers will start at 7:15 a.m.
The cut-off time for the 25K and 50K runners is 2:30 p.m. There will be food and drinks at the finish line, along with an award ceremony. All runners who finish will receive a medal, and the top three male and female runners from the 25K and 50K categories will receive prizes.
Registration fees are $40 for the 10K, $50 for the 25K and $70 for the 50K. Registration can be placed online at wareagletrailraces.com or at packet pickup. Packet pickup will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at Rush Running Co., 226 S. First St. in Rogers. There will be no race-day registration.
For more information about the run, visit wareagletrailraces.com.
CHEETAH CHASE
The Little Rock Zoo's Cheetah Chase 5K on Saturday is the only 5K in central Arkansas where the roar of a lion might rattle your bones and lead you to your personal best.
The 3.1-mile route, which begins at the Little Rock Zoo, takes participants through War Memorial Park before finishing back at the zoo, but it is not "all business" out on the course. Participants are encouraged to wear family-friendly, animal-theme costumes. Prizes will be given to best big cat costume as well as best (any) animal costume.
In addition to the 5K, there will be a 1K for children at 9:30 a.m.
Registration can be placed online at cheetahchase.racesonline.com until midnight Thursday, during packet pickup and on the day of the race. Online registration fees are $25 for 5K, $15 for 12 and under and $15 for the 1K, 12 and under.
Race-day registration costs an extra $10. The fee includes zoo admission on the day of the race, a souvenir shirt, a discounted admission for an adult who did not participate and post-race drinks and snacks.
Packet pickup will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday at 1 Zoo Drive. Runners will also be able to register during this time. Runners also can collect their packets the morning of the race. Race-day registration will close at 7:45 a.m. with the race starting promptly at 8.
More information about race can be obtained by visiting cheetahchase.racesonline.com.
ActiveStyle on 06/01/2015