To prioritize the health and safety of all athletes, volunteers, and staff  we are taking preventative measures and implementing the following guidelines and protocols for all in-person events:

PARTICIPATION

  • Do not participate if
    • you are feeling sick or ill,
    • have a fever or experiencing flu-like symptoms, or
    • you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
  • Individuals from high risk groups for COVID-19 complications should consult their physician before participating.
  • Participants are encouraged to defer, not attend, or switch to a virtual event if they’re experiencing any symptoms.

GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS

  • Participant limits will be reduced according the state and CDC guidelines.
  • No race day registration.
  • No race day packet pick up.
  • All participants and spectators will be screened and have their temperature checked before entering a race or event site.
  • All individuals are required to wear a mask or face covering except while actively participating in the event.
  • Fewer volunteers and staff are being utilized to lessen the potential spread of the virus.
  • Practice social distancing – ensure appropriate spacing between athletes, volunteers, and staff at all times.
  • Do not engage in traditional forms of physical contact (handshakes, high-fives, hugs, partner stretching) or close group pictures/selfies, unless from the same household. Please respect other’s personal space. If they seem uncomfortable, add more distance between if possible.
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after using a port-a-john.
  • Do not touch your face.
  • Do not share personal items, such as towels, food, hydration, energy gels, etc.
  • Do not spit. If you must, please do so away from people and areas that will have foot traffic.
  • No snot rockets. Please blow your nose in a tissue or a small towel; store, then dispose of properly.
  • To minimize large groups, all participants will start the race in a corral. This reduces the number of participants in proximity of each other, as well as the number of people in the start and finish areas at a given time.
    • Each corral will hold 50 participants.
    • Corral assignments are based upon the estimated finish time given at registration.
    • Corral assignments cannot be changed after a specified date.  For contact tracing purposes we must know who is where.  Please see the website for details.
    • Each corral will start 30 seconds (approximately) after the corral before.
  • Participants will be responsible for their own personal hydration (bottles/packs) and nutrition before, during, and after an event.
  • If there is an aid station where hydration is offered on the course, it will be to supplement what the participant has. Volunteers will not hand the participant a cup.  Cups will be placed on a table approximately 8-10 inches apart. The participant will be responsible for taking a cup and discarding it in a trash can.
  • Please practice course etiquette.
    • Announce when passing another athlete to allow for maximum space.
    • Run/walk single-file, not two or three abreast unless there is ample public space to do so.
    • Dispose of waste in proper receptacles.
    • Lower volume in earbuds or use just one to maintain ability to hear other participants, volunteers or race officials.
  • Do not linger. Finishers will not be permitted to “wait for someone” in the finish area.  Please keep moving forward when you finish so participants behind you have the same opportunity to finish that you did.  If you must wait for someone, please plan to meet up at the vehicle you came to the race in.
  • No awards ceremonies on race day. Please see the website for details.

COVID-19 REGISTRATION POLICY

If the 2021 Little Rock Marathon is cancelled due to COVID-19, athletes will have the option to defer their race entry until the 2022 event. Specific policies regarding deferrals will be set around the date of any cancellation.  Athletes will be advised of our deferral policy if the event is postponed, at the time a postponement is announced. 

If the Marathon is cancelled due to COVID-19, we are NOT considering a virtual race option. While circumstances are ever-changing, we believe that is not a desired option for the athletes nor would it do justice to an event that offers one of the world’s greatest finisher’s medals.

CHANGES TO GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS

As guidelines and protocols updated and/or revised, participants will be notified by the email given at registration.  Updates will also be added to this page.