The Little Rock Marathon unveiled the five medals runners will receive for completing the various footraces Little Rock Parks and Recreation will conduct March 2-4 in downtown Little Rock.
The 16th annual marathon weekend, presented by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, includes a 26.2-mile marathon, a 13.1-mile half marathon, a 10K, a 5K and the Little Rockers Kids Marathon (a race for children). There's also a Health & Fitness Expo, but you don't get a medal for shopping.
The theme is "medieval," and the medal designs allude to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Marathon finishers will take home an 8 ½-inch, more-than-21/4-pound bottle opener graced by a purple dragon and a chalice stuffed with a rampant rabbit, two French knights, a cow and a horn; the 4 1/2-inch half-marathon medal weighs more than 11 ounces and also has a built-in bottle opener.
Currently race fees are $110 for the marathon, $85 for the half, $45 for the 10K, and $30 for the 5K. Fees rise Feb. 23.
For more information, visit littlerockmarathon.com. For a good laugh, search Youtube.com for "Little Rock Marathon -- 2018 Quest for a Medal."
-- Celia Storey
Team Loco Marathon
The fifth annual Team Loco Marathon and Half Marathon will take place at 8 a.m. Jan. 20 using a new course that begins at Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center, 700 Salem Road in Conway.
These are out-and-back footraces on the Tucker Creek Trail, or rather, out-and-back, out-and-back, out-and-back ... out-and-back .... Half-marathoners will run an out-and-back course five times, with the turnaround in Gatlin Park. Marathoners will run the same route back and forth 10 times.
As in the past, the course gives everyone the chance to see all the other runners, but unlike the past route, there is no need to run a little bit extra after all that out-and-back-ing.
Entries are limited to 75 in the half marathon and 50 in the marathon.
Racers will be chip-timed, and finishers will receive a medal designed by Daniella Napolitano. Volunteers also have a shot at the medal and T-shirt. They can register as virtual runners and do the distance later.
Registration, available at racesonline.com under "2018 Team Loco Marathon and Half Marathon," costs $40 for the marathon, $30 for the half, with the souvenir T-shirt. Without a shirt the cost is $25 for the marathon and $20 for the half.
Racers are invited to donate to Community Connections, a nonprofit that provides extra-curricular activities for more than 600 children with special needs in central Arkansas.
The annual races began after an ice storm canceled the St. Jude Marathon at Memphis. Runners who had traveled there to qualify for the Marathon Maniacs or Half Fanatics sat down over pancakes and decided they would put on their own race. They held their first event in January 2014.
"As far as weather, we only cancel if it is dangerous, (ice, thunderstorm, etc.)," organizer David Edwards says.
The email for more information is [email protected].
-- Celia Storey
Frozen Toes 15K
The Frozen Toes 15K Trail Run will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Kessler Mountain Regional Park, 2600 W. Judge Cummings Road in Fayetteville.
For the metrically challenged, 15K translates to about 9.3 miles. New this year is a 15K mountain bike race that will begin at noon.
A short section will be on gravel road, but the majority of the route will use single-track trail. The website describes some of the trail as "technical" -- shorthand for, rocks and roots, a trail where skill determines speed.
Organizers say the course is very similar to past years', but the start and finish area are much improved due to completion of phase one of the park -- work that included a concession building and restrooms.
Runners and riders will be chip-timed. Awards will be given to the fastest male and female overall and by age group. All finishers will receive a medal. Custom event socks will also be given to the first 175 registrants (registration was at 120 runners last week).
Finishers will find hot soup and chili at the finish line.
Online registration is open until noon Thursday for $35 plus a $3 handling fee (do the run and bike race for $55).
Packet pickup will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, location pending. Race-day registration will be open from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. at the concession building.
Visit fayetteville-ar.gov and search for "Frozen Toes."
-- Conley Byrd III
Camden Chilly Cheeks 10K
The Camden Rotary Club Chilly Cheeks 10K will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. The race will start at Camden Municipal Airport, U.S. 79/167. Runners and walkers are welcome. The overall male and female runners will win $100.
Entry forms can be found on arkansasrunner.com. Entry costs $35, and race-day registration (cash or check only) and packet pickup begin at 7:15 a.m.
For more information, call (870) 836-6462 during the day, or email [email protected].
-- Conley Byrd III
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ActiveStyle on 01/08/2018