Little Rock Marathon

Information on this page pertains to course information for all races. If you need information about a specific race, please refer to that page.

WONDERFUL MARATHON EXPERIENCE!!!
Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 5
This is going to be the easiest marathon review I have ever written because I will NOT have to come up with a list of “CONS”.

First things first: I would like to issue a sincere “THANK YOU” to the all of the people associated with this race… and I mean “EVERYONE” – the race staff, the volunteers, the good people of Little Rock, and anyone else I might have interacted with during my trip.

How about those volunteers?! They were plentiful in number, well-trained, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, kind, outgoing, and overall the most helpful and organized volunteers I have encountered since the Marine Corps Marathon in 2007. All of them were great! From the groups calling your name on the course, to the ones helping you find your way around before and after the race, to the folks at the well-stocked water/aid stations, these volunteers knew what they were doing!

Now let’s talk about the course:
Great course!!! There were excellent uses of elevation changes throughout the course. I really felt like the course gave me a fantastic guided tour through the city of Little Rock. This tour was accompanied by the occasional history lesson as well. Within minutes of waving to the governor of Arkansas in front of the governor’s mansion, I passed a large school. As I passed, a nice gentleman stated, Little Rock Central High School, founded in 1929. At least, I think that’s what I heard. This was capped off with a high-five from Bart Yasso as I crossed the finish line as he called out my name and city of origin over the loudspeaker.

Good lord, you people set the bar so high that I’m not sure how you’ll be able to top it next time around! Serious runners, running enthusiasts and newbies alike: Please take note that the group that organizes this event could write the book on how to do it correctly! I have nothing but fond memories of my marathon experience in Little Rock and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a positive marathon experience. Now I’m scratching “AR” off my list of states but I would have no qualms about running this one a second time.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I PR’d by 5 minutes. BOO-YAH!!!

~ Tim Molony from Cincinnati, OH

MAPS

Marathon
Half Marathon
10K
5K Fun Run/Walk
2013 Course Turn by Turn
Start Area Map
Finish Area Map
Parking Map

MILE SPONSORS

Make sure to look for these companies on the course:

Mile 5 – Michelob Ultra
Mile 6 (10K course) – Governor’s Council on Fitness
Mile 9 – First United Methodist Church
Mile 12 – RX Catering
Mile 15 – Michelob Ultra

COURSE DETAILS

The Little Rock Marathon and companion races are running and walking tours of Arkansas’ capitol city. When asked if there are hills in Little Rock, we love to affectionately say “What Hills? It depends on your perspective.” There are some bumps in the road, but life is full of bumps in the road.

The start line for all races (except the Little Rockers Final Mile on Saturday) is at the intersection of President Clinton Blvd. & Sherman St.
The finish line for all races is in Riverfront Park (202 E LaHarpe), behind the River Market.
Visible mile markers will be positioned along the course at every mile.
Digital clocks at the Finish Line will display your unofficial time.
Unofficial results will be posted to the website on race day.
Results will not be official until they are certified by race officials.
Please limit the use of cell phones during the race.
If it is determined that a participant has left the prescribed race course, that participant will be disqualified. Race officials will be stationed along the course to monitor the participants to ensure that each finisher has completed the race they are registered for. DO NOT CROSS THE FINISH LINE IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE ENTIRE COURSE.
Absolutely NO “coaches”, bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, baby joggers, or animals will be allowed on the racecourse at any time. Everyone on the course must have on an official race number. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Assistance received from any other source than an official of the Little Rock Marathon may result in disqualification.
In some areas, only one side of the road is closed to vehicular traffic. As such, it is imperative that you stay within the cones marking the course. Any deviations from the marked course can result in a disqualification and serious injury.

The Little Rock Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifying event. Please see their website for specifics on qualifying.

COURSE SUPPORT/AID STATIONS

GU Energy Gels and GU Chomps will be available at the later stage of the marathon and half marathon course.
Gatorade (lemon lime flavor) and will be available at each aid station on the course.
Water from Premium Refreshment Service will also be available at each aid station on the course.To avoid bottlenecks, all hydration stations will have Gatorade tables’ set-up first, then water. Please keep moving even after you pick up your drink. If you wish to slow down to drink, do so after you have passed all tables. For your safety, take fluids only at the official stations. They will be protected by race security.
Both water and Gatorade will be available at the start line and the finish line.
17 Course Aid Stations (one approximately every 2 ½ miles), then one every mile from 20-25.
Paramedic Bike Patrols will be all along the course.
Medical aid stations, sponsored by Heart Clinic Arkansas, are located at miles 6.2, 13.1, 20.9, 23.5 and at the finish line. Medical tents are marked by a large red flag that bears a white cross.
Porta Potties are located at each aid station, the start line and in athlete’s village.

COURSE ENTERTAINMENT

The Little Rock Marathon is looking for individuals and/or groups to volunteer their time and enthusiasm on race day by providing entertainment along the course for athletes. Musicians and entertainers of all talent levels, sizes and artistic backgrounds are invited to join in the fun and celebration.

Let us know your area of interest or talent and we’ll help you bring it all together. There are a variety of locations on the race course where we can give you some exposure to the athletes and community while you provide a great source of support for the athletes along the course on race day.

For details, please contact:

Hedi Hemenway, Entrainment Chair
hedih28@gmail.com
501-804-5311

COURSE TIME LIMIT

Marathon & Relay – 8 hours (beginning at 6 am – see rules on the early start)
Half Marathon – 4 hours
10K – 2 hours
5K – 1 hour

All race courses open back up to traffic on a rolling schedule with the finish line closing at 2:30 p.m. To complete the course in stated times, participants must be able to maintain a consistent pace of approximately 18:30 per mile. Under no circumstances may participants be on the course before the official start time. Beginning prior to the official start time will result in disqualification. If participants choose to continue after the course closes, they do so at their own risk and may be asked by the Little Rock Police Department to move up to the sidewalks.

TIMING
All 2013 Little Rock Marathon races (does not include Little Rockers Kids Marathon Final Mile) will be electronically timed using the IPICO timing system (pronounced eye-pee-co). The IPICO system utilizes the Sportag™ (aka Tag) rather than a timing “chip”. ChampionChip timing devices will not work on the IPICO system.

A participant’s time begins once the Tag (attached to his/her shoe) crosses the start line and will record time until it passes over the finish line. As a result, regardless of where a participant lines up in the start corrals, his/her official time will not begin until the Tag crosses the start line. This does not apply to those participants in the elite corral.

The IPICO Sports data capture system is very simple. The Sportag™ contains a microchip and two antenna loops, one to ‘wake up’ the Tag and the other to send its signal. When the Tag comes into contact with the antenna mat, it wakes up and starts sending its unique signal again and again to the reader, which stores volumes of data to be managed and communicated. Timing services are provided by the End Result Company, LLC of Bettendorf, IA.

A loaner Tag will be issued to each registrant at packet pick up.
A $30 replacement fee will be charged for all lost or unreturned tags. Volunteers will be at the finish line to collect all timing tags.
No tag. No time. No exceptions.
Cash awards will be based on gun time and all other awards will be based on Tag time.

EARLY START – 6 AM

Only marathoners needing more than 6 hours to complete the marathon course may utilize the early start.

You must register for the early start. There will be a special designation on your race number for an early start.
The early start is NOT an optional start. Participants who run/walk a pace faster than a 14-minute mile (6:04 marathon) will be removed from the course, banned permanently, disqualified, and/or will not receive an official finish time. The course at 6 am is NOT set up for a pace faster than a 14 minute mile.

START LINE/START CORRALS
The start line and start corrals are secure areas for participants only. The intent of the corral start is to ensure a positive race experience and provide all participants the same opportunity for a quick, smooth and safe start with sufficient room to run/walk along the race course.

To facilitate a smooth start race morning, the lettered Start Corrals A, B and C are for placement of the fastest 1,200 participants based on their recent finish times of a qualifying event (see details below). The Open Corral is self-seeded placement of participants by estimated net finish time. The estimated net finish times for the Open Corral range from 4:01 hours to 6:00 hours. As a reminder, a participant’s official time does not begin until he or she crosses the start line. The timing system provides each participant with an accurate time from the start line to finish line.

If you do not give an estimated finish time, you will automatically be assigned to the Open Corral.
You MUST qualify to be placed in Corral A and Corral B (see details below on how to be placed in Corral A or Corral B).
The deadline to be placed in Corral A or Corral B is January 15, 2013. After January 15th, you will be placed in Open Corral. NO EXCEPTIONS
Qualifying events must be within the previous 12 months.
Placement in Corral A & B is NOT automatic and is NOT guaranteed.
Placement in Corral A and Corral B is on a first come, first-severed basis.

To be placed in Corral A or Corral B you must do the following:

Submit qualifying times in the form of an official finisher’s certificate or race result page from an official marathon within the past 12 months.
Email messages or Web site links are not accepted as proof of qualifying.
Proof of qualifying times can be faxed to 501-399-3415 or a PDF may be emailed to littlerockmarathon_registration@yahoo.com.

Times standards are as follows:

Corrals	10K	Pace	Half	Pace	Marathon	Pace	Proof Required
Corral A	40:59	6:26:24	1:30:59	6:56:41	3:20:59	7:39:93	Yes
Corral B	45:59	7:14:52	1:45:59	8:05:07	3:45:59	8:37:14	Yes
Corral C	48:59	7:43:49	2:00:59	9:13:72	4:00:59	9:11:47	No
Open	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	No

COURSE CERTIFICATION

The Little Rock Marathon (AR08003DLP), Little Rock Half Marathon (AR08004DLP), and Little Rock 10K (AR11017DLP) courses are certified by the Road Running Technical Council of USA Track & Field. Course routes are subject to change.

QUESTIONS

For questions regarding what is or is not allowed on the course, please email Gina Pharis, gmarchese@littlerock.org.