Little Rock Marathon

Whether you’re an Olympic all-star or an absolute beginner, the Little Rock Marathon and its associated races offer a great experience for every runner.

Founded in 2003, and held annually the first weekend of March, the Little Rock Marathon includes its signature 26.2-mile race on Sunday, as well as a half marathon, a 10K, a 5K, and a race for kids. The Little Rock Marathon bills itself as “a race for every pace,” and features an eight-hour time limit for both the marathon and half marathon.

The marathon takes place on a USATF- approved single-loop course and is an official qualifying race for the Boston Marathon. Each race’s course takes runners (and walkers too) by some of Little Rock’s most iconic sights include the Arkansas State Capitol, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum, historic Robinson Center, the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, and Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.

Little Rock loves its marathon, and runners are treated to enthusiastic crowds and engaging entertainment throughout the course. Fair warning though, Little Rock is a hilly place, so expect those legs to burn as you run up and down the course’s biggest elevation gains.

Go Big:

The Little Rock Marathon is perhaps most famous for its large and extravagant medals; the biggest in the world, in fact. Race organizers make sure they get (slightly) bigger each year and they weigh almost three pounds, giving a whole new meaning to Medal Monday. The medals always correspond to a central theme which changes each year. Past themes have included outer space and aliens, board games, the totally tubular 1980s, pirates, and 1960s hippies.

The Little Rockers Kids Marathon

The Little Rockers Kids Marathon was launched in 2004 in response to the growing concern over our children’s health and the increasing childhood obesity rates. Since that time, more than 91,300 children across the country have taken part in the Little Rockers Kids Marathon Final Mile and free training program.

The Little Rockers Kids Marathon allows children – first through sixth grade – the opportunity to enhance their physical activity by following a fun, simple running and/or walking program while focusing on reaching a goal.

Kids are encouraged to run 25.2 miles on their own, at home, or at school, and then come to Little Rock to run their final mile as one large group.

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