Little Rock Marathon

The Little Rock Marathon, started in 2003, is an annual marathon held in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event is intended to encourage better health and fitness and to raise funds for Little Rock Parks & Recreation. The goal of the event is to hold a community supported and nationally recognized marathon that promotes tourism in Arkansas and showcases the superior organizational efforts of its staff, sponsors and volunteers, while attracting athletes of all ages and abilities. Participants come from all 50 states and 10 different countries (Canada, Mexico, Argentina, United Kingdom, Kenya, Brazil, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Germany, Morocco). The Little Rock Marathon is a USATF sanctioned event on a certified convert|26.2|mi|km|sing=on single loop course. The course is scenic and includes many of Little Rock’s landmarks, it is the first race in the state to be transponder chip timed, and also a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon.

Course

The Little Rock Marathon Course is described as relatively hilly. Running great Bill Rodgers once said "any marathon worth its salt has a few hills. Little Rock is a little salty." The largest hill is found early in the race with a number of smaller hills throughout. In 2008 The Little Rock Marathon moved the Start/Finish area from the Arkansas State Capital to Riverfront Park. The course shifted just slightly, but was sure to keep all of the old familiar hills...

The elevation change for the entire course is as follows:

*Start = convert|270|ft|m above sea level
*Finish = convert|260|ft|m above sea level
*Highest point = convert|519|ft|m above sea level
*Lowest point = convert|246|ft|m above sea level

Landmarks

Landmarks along the course include the Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock River Market District, the Clinton Presidential Center, Governor's Mansion, MacArthur Birthplace/Military Museum, and Historic Little Rock Central High School.

Little Rock Marathon Events

*Full Marathon
*Half Marathon
*Relay Half Marathon
*5K Race
*Little Rockers Kids Marathon
*Classic Rockers Marathon

Full Marathon Winners

Male Winners

*2003, Anatolie Vartosu, 2:36:53, Stamford, CT
*2004, Glen Mays, 2:34:30, Washington, DC
*2005, John Weru, 2:24:10, Mountain View, CA
*2006, Charles Kamindo, 2:19:48, Superior, CO
*2007, Przemek Bobrowski, 2:27:09, Poland
*2008, Tamrat Ayalew, 2:24:46, Marietta, GA

Female Winners

*2003, Joyce Florance, 3:20:25, Bossier City, LA
*2004, Patricia Langum, 3:17:40, Brooklyn Park, MN
*2005, Christy Nielsen, 2:58:45, Council Bluffs, IA
*2006, Claudia Camargo, 2:56:48, Danbury, CT
*2007, Maria Cleofe' Portilla, 2:47:12, Albuquerque, NM
*2008, Hellen Rotich, 2:50:33, Manor, TX

Deaths

2008 - Adam Nickel, 27, Madison Wisconsin

External links

* [http://www.littlerockmarathon.com Little Rock Marathon]
* [http://www.littlerock.org/ParksRecreation Little Rock Parks & Recreation]
* [http://www.runhigh.com/2007%20Results/2007%20Results%20A/R030407AB.html 2007 Results]