White River 4M race ready to run Saturday

The 40th annual White River 4M Classic begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in Batesville.

The M stands for mile. The Classic is a 4-mile footrace.

Those 4 miles are a challenge when you’re in a hurry. The course begins on Main between Ninth and 10th streets and runs downhill for the first mile, but that’s followed by climbs to return to Main Street — where the last five city blocks slant downhill.

The 4-miler also is a championship event in the Arkansas Road Runners Club of America’s Arkansas Grand Prix series — meaning there will be more than the usual abundance of awards available in the most populous age divisions. More information about Grand Prix is at arkrrca. com.

Also, there’s a $400 prize if you break a course record: The male mark to beat is 19:45.07 set by Daniel Kirwa in 2011; Jordan Hamric set the female record— 22:39.58 in 2014.

For slower racers, a 15-minute early start option is possible for those who talk to Mac’s Race Timing Service before 7 a.m. race day.

Online registration costs $25 plus $2.50 at runsignup. com — search for “White River 4-Mile.” After 11:59 p.m. Thursday the price will be $30. Race-day registration and packet pickup will be open from 6 to 7 a.m. at the Batesville Municipal Building at 500 E. Main St.

After the 4 Mile race, about 8:30 a.m., kids 10 and younger can take part in a free fun run.

Race director Jonathan Dorris can answer questions about the race by email at jonathandorris@yahoo.com. The White River Roadrunners club website has other details. See wrroadrunners. org.

The running club is on Facebook, too. Search for “White River Roadrunners.”