BENTONVILLE — Hundreds of runners loaded up on carbohydrates in preparation for today’s Bentonville Running Festival at a pasta party hosted by the Bentonville Noon Rotary Club on Friday night.
The athletes listened to legendary marathoner Bill Rodgers talk about his experiences in 60 marathons and offer advice for race day.
“If you can make it to the starting line, you can make it to the finish line,” he said.
City officials expect about 3,000 people to turn out to the Bentonville square today for a half marathon, a 5K and a 1-mile fun run, said David Wright, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. All of the races kick off at 7 a.m.
Additional activities will be set up around the square for families while they watch the races.
The city department has put on the race for the past two years, starting with more than 1,200 people in 2011. Runners from 31 states have signed up for today’s race, including a large contingent from Pennsylvania, Wright said. Half of the participants are from outside of Washington and Benton counties.
That has helped fill more hotel rooms in Bentonville than in previous years, said Blair Cromwell, communications director for the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. Many people also come to the race and stay with family members, she said.
Parks staff started setting up for the 13.1-mile course Thursday and worked overnight to set up the downtown square after the First Friday event ended. The department is prepared for warm race temperatures, which Wright said are great for viewing but less so for running.
“We have 10 water stations set up along the course,” said Wright, who is running the half marathon. “I’m going to stop at every one of the them.”
About 30 nurses and doctors from Mercy Northwest Arkansas will be on hand to volunteer medical services if needed, he said.
Friday’s pasta party doubled as the Noon Rotary Club’s annual chicken tetrazinni fundraiser and was the first year the two events joined forces. Club member Chris Sooter said the group sold more than 2,000 tickets, and an additional 600 runners registered for the dinner. Those figures are higher than past events, Sooter said.
People could drive through to pick up their dinners at Bentonville High School and Sugar Creek Elementary, or dine in and listen to Rodgers at the high school.
“This is our first time to partner with Rotary,” Wright said. “Our hope is this helps them raise more money for graduating seniors from Bentonville High School.”
Mike Rush, owner of Rush Running, helped design and carry out a training program for people wanting to run the half marathon. He said loading up on carbohydrates before a race gives a big boost.
Web Watch
Street Closings
Several streets will temporarily close throughout the morning in downtown Bentonville as runners come through on the three Bentonville Running Festival races. A map of race courses is available at runbentonville.com.
“It’s a big day,” Rush said. “You have to be ready.”
Rush introduced Rodgers to the crowd, noting his four New York City and Boston marathon wins. Rodgers has run marathons in all 50 states and won marathons on five continents. He said he grew serious about running after someone stole his motorcycle and he was left with little money or direction.
“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Rodgers said.
He joined the Boston YMCA and tried to keep up with all “the older people who were faster,” he said.
“You have to give yourself time,” Rodgers said. “Don’t write the sport off just become you have sore legs. You have to expect you’re going to get sore. Our bodies — we’re great endurance athletes. We’re not very quick, human beings, but we have endurance.”
He told runners not to get frustrated if they don’t have the fastest time and said he has too many miles on his body to be truly competitive as a runner anymore.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I just like to get out the door. If you get out the door, you have it made.”