Runners from 5 states sign up for Zero K race

Less than a month after it was first announced, the First Ever First Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Zero K foot race has already drawn 52 runners from five states.

Proceeds from the race will benefit Tri-Lakes CASA.

“In less than a month since we announced the event we’ve gotten 52 people to sign up,” Desternie Sullivan, executive director of Tri-Lakes CASA, said Friday. “It’s been mind-blowing. I get daily emails of registrations and that’s become the first thing I do when I wake up, I check my phone for registrations.”

What’s more surprising, she said, is how far the race has reached.

“The first out-of-state registration came from

Houston and that blew our minds, so we made a Facebook post saying we would give a prize to the person who travels the farthest,” she said, noting that since that post CASA has received registrations from Texas, Tennessee, Missouri and Florida.

The race is hosted by Visit Hot Springs through a partnership that started in 2018, Sullivan said.

“This partnership started last year when Visit Hot Springs was so gracious to allow us to have our Superhero fun run as the kickoff for Spa-Con,” she said. “Even though it rained that day, we had a great turnout and people ran in the rain.”

The idea for the Zero K came later, she said, as the brainchild of Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, who while in Key West, Fla., learned about Key West’s Wacky Florida Keys Cow Key Channel Bridge Run.

“The idea for the Zero K is really all Steve; it’s his brainchild. We are just so grateful he thought of us for it,” Sullivan said. “He got the idea while down in Florida where the granddaddy Zero K race has runners going 300 feet over a bridge. It’s ironic that all of our St. Patrick’s Day festivities happen on Bridge Street. Of course, our race is 299 feet because everything to do with our parade has to be the shortest.

“Bill (Solleder) pitched the idea to us and it was just a no-brainer for us. My team and my board all immediately said this is our kind of race. ‘You mean I can run and not break a sweat? Sign me up.’”

Registration deadline is Feb. 28. The entry fee will increase from $20 to $25 at midnight Jan. 31.

“The reason we’re doing that is because everyone gets a race medal — and these are really cool race medals that have a St. Patrick’s Day theme — a shirt, and a race bib,” she said. “It’s all about fun and we want the race to be fun for everyone.”

There will be three separate heats for the race, offering something for any skill level. All races are self-timed, according to Visit Hot Springs.

The first heat will be for first place contenders. Runners should bring their fastest run and try to set the world record.

The second heat — the Leprechaun Dash — encourages runners to dress up in their best St. Patrick’s Day gear, or as their favorite leprechaun, and run.

The final heat is the Last Place Shootout for the slowest racer to cross the finish line while maintaining a forward motion. According to the release, “this one is great for younger kids, pets and the laziest of runners.”

In a news release, Arrison said while organizers expected the Zero K would be a big hit with the public, “we didn’t expect that word about the race would spread so quickly to states outside Arkansas. This is shaping up to be one of our great events for the city of Hot Springs.

“Since the whole racecourse is only 299 feet long, runners should get signed up soon because we can only fit a certain number of runners onto Bridge Street.”

Sullivan said it’s important to note that there will be a hydration station at the halfway point in the race route, “so for anyone who is getting a little tired and can’t finish the race, we have you covered.”

The race is sponsored by Michelob Ultra and Arkansas Beverage Sales of Hot Springs.

“I absolutely share the organizers’ vision of making the Zero K footrace a must-do event for all athletes in the Natural State, no different than the Little Rock Marathon, Summit2Summit Half Marathon, and The Running of the Tubs,” Jay Castillo, of Arkansas Beverage Sales, said in the release.

“No beer in the industry connects with these athletes more than Michelob Ultra. It has 95 calories, 2.6 carbs, and has a tremendous history of partnering with world-class events like the New York City Marathon, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, the Atlanta Peachtree Road Race and many others.”