Opportunities

Jennifer Nixon checks out coming events of special interest to marathoners.

The Little Rock Marathon is less than a month away, and runners are gearing up for it with competitive runs of varying lengths, pushing themselves, gauging their pace and time. But there’s one long-distance length that doesn’t get a lot of attention.

“You don’t see 15K races around a lot,” says Erik Heller of Gearhead Outfitters Inc. “Most folks choose 5K, 10K, half marathon and dance around the 15K distance.”

The River Trail 15K, part of the Arkansas Grand Prix series, gives runners a chance to test themselves at that middle distance between the 10K and the half marathon.

It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at North Little Rock’s Burns Park Soccer Complex.

“It’s strategically placed in February, and then you’ve got four weeks until the marathon,” Heller, the race director, says. “It works well with people wanting to get in that last long run with a big group of people. It’s a little more fun than just going out and trudging on a run by yourself.”

The course is primarily flat, starting at and rambling around the soccer complex before following the River Trail out and back.

There’s a small bump at the park’s golf course, but otherwise, it’s a fast, flat run that promises good times.

It is a competitive race and a 9.3mile exertion is nothing to sneeze at, but Heller stresses that this race is not solely the domain of serious runners. Some longer races may make the more casual runner feel intimidated or unwelcome or that they are expected to jump through hoops to join the pack. But at the River Trail 15K, walkers, strollers and walk-runners are encouraged to participate.

The Arkansas Road Runners Club of America’s Grand Prix events do have a few rules but they’re designed to make the races more fun for everybody, not just the elites.

“I don’t get too rules-y with things as far as strollers go, as long as you keep to the back,” Heller says. “I want runners to be involved in RRCA. I want people to be casual runners because casual runners turn into competitive runners. The bigger the community for running gets, the better.”

Awards will be given five deep in five-year age categories and three deep for top finishers. For the first time this year, special prizes (Moscow Mule mugs) will go to those who qualify for “The Sub Club.” That’s men who finish the run in less than 60 minutes and women who finish in less than 70.

But whether participants qualify for that or not, the point is for people to just get out and give it a try.

“Usually it’s good weather,” Heller says. “You’ve got plenty of aid and encouragement. You’d have to try to get lost on the course. We want you to have fun, take your time, don’t hurt yourself but be as competitive as you want to be.” Registration is $20. “With $20, you’d think it’s a nofrills race, but we’ve got aid stations supplied with water and stuff at the end as well.”

Call (501) 786-1293 or visit rivertrail15k.com.

By a hair

There’s another opportunity to prepare for the big marathon and also perhaps show off impressive facial hair at the annual Van Davis Memorial 5K Heart and Sole in downtown Hot Springs.

The race, named after the late runner, social sciences chairman and founding faculty member at the National Park Community College, starts at 9 a.m. Feb. 14 in Whittington Park.

This is the third year for the 5K, which generally draws around 400 people. This year they hope to hit the 500-runner mark.

For the first year, the course, which is described as “flat and fast” and “a perfect course for the firsttimer,” has been USA Track & Field certified.

Awards will be given for overall winners, male and female, and three deep in age divisions.

The adult competitive race is followed by a Kids Fun Run for children ages 7 and under.

There’s also the Battle of the Beards contest. And since Davis was a history teacher, the theme for the year is Civil War. That means hirsute hopefuls can compete in categories like the Frederick Douglass, the Abe Lincoln and the James Longstreet.

Registration is $25 in advance, $30 on race day, $10 for the Kids Fun Run. Proceeds benefit the Van Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Call (501) 760-4206 or visit npcc.edu/vandavis5k.

Long haul

Arkansas marathon running isn’t confined to the central portion of the state. There are two marathon opportunities coming up in the next two weeks at opposite sides of the state.

This Sunday, a frontier town embraces its adventurous past with the Fort Smith Marathon and Half-Marathon, starting at 9 a.m. at 100 N. B St. It has been nicknamed “Hell on the Border” for its challenging course, and the medals are designed to resemble U.S. Marshals badges.

For those who can’t make it the whole way, there are relay options.

Registration is $60 for the half, $80 for the full, $40 per person for relays.

Call (479) 650-6894, email fortsmithmarathon@gmail.com or visit fortsmithmarathon.com.

Then there’s the Delta region, where the Mississippi River Marathon & Half Marathon straddles the Mississippi River for multiple running opportunities, 8 a.m. Feb. 14.

The race includes the marathon and half as well as a 5K and two 1-mile community runs. The two longer races and one community run start on the Arkansas side of the river at Lake Village while the 5K and the other community run start and end in Greenville, Miss.

Registration is $110 for the half marathon, $130 for the marathon. There’s also a charity option for each race for $200 and $250 respectively. The 5K is $40, and the community runs are free. Online registration continues through Feb. 11.

The race is closely connected to Teach for America, and funds raised go to support that organization.

Call (662) 721-7779 or visit msrivermarathon.com.