FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville Half Marathon registrants weren't happy Wednesday to hear the event is canceled and refunds likely won’t be issued.

The race was scheduled for Sunday morning at John McDonnell Field on the University of Arkansas campus. The 13.1-mile route would have wound along city streets and trails.

After five days of ice, snow and below-freezing temperatures, race organizers decided to cancel.

“Race staff, along with municipal, state and federal emergency agencies, University of Arkansas athletic facilities and city of Fayetteville officials, have determined that we cannot provide a course or venues that will be safe for participants,” organizers said in a statement emailed to more than 600 runners registered for the event. “We regret that the race will not go on as planned, but are confident this decision is in the best interest of our runners, volunteers, spectators and the general public.”

City streets, sidewalks and trails were thawing Wednesday, but more wintry weather could be on its way. The National Weather Service on Wednesday forecast an 80 percent chance of rain or freezing rain Friday in Northwest Arkansas turning into light sleet or snow Friday night or Saturday morning. The weather service predicted an overnight low Saturday of 18 degrees.

Bruce Dunn, owner of All Sports Productions, the for-profit company that organized Sunday’s race, said Wednesday he wanted to give runners plenty of warning before canceling — especially for out-of-town participants.

“I didn’t want to cancel the race the day before,” Dunn said.

This year’s fees ranged from $50 to $95 depending on when people registered and if they ordered a T-shirt.

Dunn said not refunding registration fees is standard industry policy. His company’s website clearly states refunds will not be issued and free entries to future races will not be awarded. Instead, All Sports offered to discount fees by 20 percent for next year’s half marathon.

The offer did little to appease the dozens of people who posted comments on the Fayetteville Half Marathon’s Facebook page Tuesday night and Wednesday.

One of those people, Justin Minkel of Fayetteville, said he understood organizers’ safety concerns.

“I know they do want to keep everything safe,” Minkel said Wednesday. “I believe that. I think that’s sincere.

“It just seems like a failure of imagination to completely cancel it.”

Minkel suggested a range of alternatives: a makeup date; an alternative route; a partial refund; or a full discount for next year’s race.

“They’re not doing something illegal,” Minkel said. “I just think it’s unethical if anything else.”

Matt Srum of Bentonville said Wednesday he had been training for months for this, his first half-marathon. Srum said he weighed more than 300 pounds in January, but after exercise and dieting, he slimmed down to 197 pounds.

He said he was upset about not getting a refund and not being able to test his newfound running skills.

“They took my money, and didn’t give me anything for it,” Srum said. “But also I’m not going to get to run the half-marathon, which was kind of a milestone for me for my weight loss. It’s kind of a double whammy.”

Dunn announced Wednesday his company would revise its policy and offer additional options to runners after receiving a flood of phone calls and posts to social media networks.

“We heard from everyone, and we made a bad decision,” Dunn said. “We were probably a little too hasty in our refund, rollover and rescheduling policy.”

He declined to discuss what the options will be, saying his company would make an announcement next week.

The approach is similar to what organizers of the nonprofit MetroPCS Dallas Marathon did after deciding to cancel the event last week because of icy weather. According to the Dallas Marathon’s website, all participants will receive a T-shirt and be eligible for a “special opportunity” when registration opens for the 2014 race. Medals will be given to people who finish the 2014 race. Additionally, Dallas organizers announced Tuesday they would donate registration fees to two North Texas-based homeless organizations.

Organizers of the nonprofit St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, which was also canceled last week, gave registrants options for how to use their registration fees. According to the event’s website, fees can be applied to three upcoming races or donated directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Sunday would have been the fourth year for the Fayetteville Half Marathon, Dunn said. His company also organizes the Iron Pig Festival, the Joe Martin Stage Race and Ozark Valley Triathlon. The U.S. Forest Service canceled the triathlon in June because a Missouri man training for the event drowned in Lake Wedington the day before.

According to financial information provided to the city Advertising and Promotion Commission, the 2012 Fayetteville Half Marathon collected more than $48,000 in entry fees from 981 participants. Dunn reported $12,000 in income after expenses, which included advertising, insurance, facilities rental fees, tent rental and timing services.

He said Wednesday his company still has to cover many of those expenses regardless of the cancellation. Other costs, such as law enforcement support, won’t be incurred, Dunn said. He expected more than 1,000 participants in this year’s race and said 642 people had signed up by Wednesday. Usually, 30 percent of registration occurs in the 10 days leading up to an event, Dunn explained.

“Our final registrants are the ones who make it profitable,” he said.

A&P commissioners awarded organizers $38,000 in hotel, motel and restaurant tax money since 2010 for the half-marathon, according to Marilyn Heifner, executive director of the commission. That includes $4,000 for this year’s event.

Jessica Edwards Leonard, communications manager for the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau, said Wednesday the half-marathon will not be receiving this year’s money, because the event isn't being held. Commission money is typically not given until after an event.

The tax money is routinely doled out to events and groups that are expected to draw tourists to Fayetteville, thus replenishing the city’s 2 percent tax on hotel stays and food purchases in restaurants.

Web Watch

Registrant Options

For updates on options for Fayetteville Half Marathon registrants, go to fayettevillehalfmarathon.com.