Organizers Reset Fayetteville Half Marathon

Registration Fees Can Go Toward Next Year’s Race

Saturday, December 14, 2013

FAYETTEVILLE — Organizers announced Friday the Fayetteville Half Marathon has been rescheduled for Dec. 21.

The decision came after a flood of comments from runners upset the race, originally set for Sunday, had been canceled and no refunds would be issued.

“We had to re-evaluate everything about what we did,” said Bruce Dunn, owner of All Sports Productions, the company organizing the event. “We wanted to make it right.”

The rescheduled race will begin at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 21 at Lake Fayetteville. The route will circle the paved trail at the lake, rather than winding along various streets and trails. Anyone who registered for the half-marathon prior to Tuesday’s cancellation can participate at no additional charge, according to a company news release.

At A Glance

Race Sign-Ups

To register for the Fayetteville Half Marathon, go to fayettevillehalfmarathon.com. To register for the Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Reindeer Relays, go to register-wizard.com.

Source: Staff Report

Runners who can’t make it Dec. 21 may transfer their full registration fee to next year’s event. Initially, All Sports Productions offered a 20 percent discount for next year.

Justin Minkel, one of dozens of runners who left critical comments on the event’s Facebook page this week, said Friday he was euphoric to hear about organizers’ policy change.

“It takes a lot of strength and humility to change a decision and communicate it so constructively, and I’m impressed by the creative solution on many levels,” Minkel said.

The event also includes a 5K and fun run, and is now one of two races scheduled next weekend at Lake Fayetteville.

The Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Reindeer Relays is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Proceeds from the race, in its second year, will benefit the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Eleanor Townsley, race director and member of the garden's board, said Friday.

Having two events on one day is a potential conflict, Townsley said. But, she added, she and Dunn worked together to try to make both sets of runners happy.

“We’re hoping that we’ll still have a good turnout for our event,” Townsley said. “And we’re glad that their race will still go on.”

All Sports Productions opened registration Friday for the half-marathon. Dunn said fees from new registrants will be donated to the botanical garden.

“Even if the Fayetteville Half Marathon does not have any new registrations, we will still be making a donation to the BGO,” according to Friday’s news release.

Additionally, the company announced it would change its cancellation policy for other races, which include the Joe Martin Stage Race, Iron Pig Festival and Ozark Valley Triathlon.

“If an event must be canceled for reasons outside our control, we will transfer the participant’s registration to the event’s rescheduled date,” according to the news release.