About 800 registrations are available for Sunday's Little Rock Marathon, executive director Gina Marchese Pharis said.
Runners can register for the marathon, half-marathon and 10K at the Little Rock Marathon Health and Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday. Friday's expo is scheduled from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday's expo is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Runners who have already registered may pick up their registration packets at the expo
At a glance
Little Rock Marathon
WHAT 26.2-mile road race
WHEN Sunday
WHERE Downtown Little Rock. Race starts at Scott and Fourth streets. Finish line is at Main and Third streets.
START TIMES General start: 7 a.m. Wheelchair/hand cycle: 6:58 a.m. No early start this year.
OTHER RACES
HALF-MARATHON General start 7 a.m. Sunday
10K General start 7:30 a.m. Saturday
5K FUN RUN/WALK General start 7:30 a.m. Saturday
KIDS MARATHON General start 11 a.m. Saturday
MORE INFO littlerockmarathon.…
Pharis said 350 registrations are available for the 10K race, which will be run Saturday. The 5K is sold out, while Sunday's half-marathon has about 1,200 registrations available.
Among the four races, about 6,100 registrations have been sold. Pharis said the marathon expects to have 14,000 athletes and 40,000 spectators.
"We were down until the last two weeks," said Pharis, citing a big rush in online registrations late last week. "We'll catch up where we thought we would be."
Pharis said the marathon's perks pavillion, which will be held at the Little Rock Marriott this year, is also sold out.
The marathon has a new course this year. The starting line will be at Scott and Fourth streets, and the finish line will be at Main and Third streets.
The races will no longer have an early start, which has been the case in past years. The 5K and 10K will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, while the half-marathon and marathon will start at 7 a.m. Sunday. Pharis said safety was the main reason the early starts were eliminated.
According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for 7 a.m. Sunday is 46 degrees with a slight chance of rain. Pharis hopes the rain stays away.
"We've had two brutal years," Pharis said. "I'm hoping that we have a very nice day. If it's warm, I hope it's cloudy. If it's cool, I hope it's sunny."
Race officials announced road closures in a release Tuesday.
Parking spaces on Main Street between Second and Third streets will be closed from 8 a.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Monday. Also, parking spots on Main Street from Markham to Sixth streets will be closed from 11 p.m. Thursday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Main Street from Markham to Sixth streets will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. Friday and will reopen as the races progress Sunday. The street is expected to reopen at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Scott Street from Third to Seventh streets also will be closed at 8 a.m. Friday and is expected to reopen at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
For Saturday's 10K, 5K and Little Rockers Kids Marathon courses, road closures along the courses will be final at 7:30 a.m. Sunday's road closures along the marathon and half-marathon courses will be final at 6:30 a.m.
Sports on 03/02/2016