Fayetteville plans half-marathon

FAYETTEVILLE — FAYETTEVILLE - Fayetteville is getting another big race.

Plans for an inaugural Fayetteville Half-Marathon were announced Thursday at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field.

Race director Bruce Dunn said the half-marathon will be run Dec. 12, and it will begin and end at McDonnell Field.

Dunn said the December date shouldn’t conflict with the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in October or the Hogeye Marathon in April. The Hogeye Marathon, which became a Fayetteville-based race in recent years, also has a halfmarathon.

Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan spoke at Thursday’s announcement, and the city’s advertising and promotions department is supporting the race with$18,000.

“This adds to the mix,” Dunn said. “Bigger communities have three or four great events. Fayetteville has one in the spring and one in the fall. It’s not an either/or, and it never will be.”

The race takes place Dec. 12, but organizers are planning for two days of races and festivities at McDonnell Field with booths, 5K and 10K races as well as fun runs for children.

“We’re all about festivals in this city,” Jordan said. “This is just another great festival coming to this city.”

Dunn said he doesn’tknow how popular the race will be in its first year, but he has received positive feedback. He said the second week of December should work well because of a lack of other things going on, since schools will be on vacation break and the Razorbacks football team isn’t scheduled to play.

“Dec. 12 is a very dead day,” Dunn said. “It works out for a lot of reasons.”

Dunn said he expects anywhere from 500 to 1,200 runners for the race.

Dunn said the half-marathon - 13.1 miles - has become the popular race among runners because it’s not as grueling as a marathon but is still challenging, and holding the half-marathon at McDonnell Field shouldonly add to its prominence.

“This has the potential to be a legacy event,” Dunn said. “We wanted to do things that are unique, and this facility is the hook.”Fayetteville Half-Marathon WHEN Dec. 12 WHERE Starts and ends at John McDonnell Field on the University of Arkansas campus REGISTRATION Early registration begins Saturday. Early entry fee $50 WEB SITE fayettevillehalf.com