BENTONVILLE -- Not even an earlier start will keep a record number of participants away from the Run Bentonville Half Marathon.
The race, formerly known as the Bentonville Running Festival, is now in its fifth year and was moved up a week this year to avoid being on Easter weekend. Race director Mike Rush, however, said he expects more than 2,000 runners to be at the start of today's 13.1-mile race, and the participants in the 5-kilometer race and the 1-mile fun run should give the event around 3,000 total participants
At A Glance
Run Bentonville Half Marathon
When: 7 a.m.
Where: The 13.1-mile race begins on East Central Avenue and runs throughout the streets of Bentonville, with the end located at the northwest corner of Bentonville Square. A number of aid stations and hydration stations will be placed along the course, and a gel zone station will be located just before the 10-mile mark.
"We're already at a record number, and we usually have 100-200 people to register on Expo Day," Rush said. "The 5K is a little down from last year, but we figured that would happen because of spring break.
"But as far as the half, we're crushing it. We were exceeding record numbers by Monday, which I'm happy about. We also have a record number of volunteers for this year's race."
The race not only continues to grow in numbers, but also in popularity and recognition. Runners from 28 states and one runner from Spain took part in last year's race, according to race coordinator Layne Moore, and the event received national recognition in a couple of major running publications over the last year.
Competitor magazine named the Run Bentonville Half Marathon the best half marathon for the South region in 2014, according to its website. Runners World columnist Adam Chase mentioned the Run Bentonville Half Marathon and its training program in a piece he wrote in March 2014 about the city's growing running community.
"The attention it's gotten is well deserved and a major reason why it continues to grow," said James Reeves, an employee at Rush Running who will run in today's half marathon.
Rush said he expects ideal weather conditions for the start of the race, which begins at 7 a.m. on the same course that has been used for the last two years. Runners will take off at East Central Avenue and run through the streets of Bentonville, with the end of the race set at the northwest corner of Bentonville Square.
Rush spent much of Thursday marking the course for today's meet and said runners shouldn't have any problems following the path.
"I think I marked the course absolutely awesome," Rush said. "It is so clearly marked, and I think there is so much spray chalk out there that you could actually feel your way through the course.
"It's perfect. The signs are out, and the mile markers will go out (Friday) night. All we'll have to do is put up the start and finish, and we're good to go."
Sports on 03/28/2015