What does Russellville have in common with Las Vegas? Not much. But Chris Olson and his friends thought about that fantasy land a lot when they were growing up in the much quieter Arkansas city.
He explains, "There was never anything to do. So it was just kind of a play on words, 'I guess we're just going to hang out in RussVegas today.'"
That rather sarcastic lament has an ironic twist now as Olson and others with the Arkansas Children's Hospital River Valley Circle of Friends have applied the name to an event-filled fitness party: the RussVegas Half Marathon.
This is only the second year for the RussVegas, but already it's popular enough to be expanding from a half-marathon footrace and relay to a two-day celebration. Last year's event drew in 1,100 participants; organizers hope to double that number.
RussVegas starts April 10 downtown at the train depot with a fitness expo (with vendors and packet pickup stations), music and a car show from 6 to 10 p.m. At 7, children age 10 and under can participate in the Kids Fun Mile, which includes finishers medals for all.
Starting at 8 p.m., runners will light up downtown with the RussVegas 5K Glow Run. This chip-timed run through downtown will include three black-light tents, a glowing-paint station and smoke to run through, providing an extra dose of atmosphere to make it more than just the average 5K.
Also Friday night, downtown restaurants will offer special prerace meals. Half-marathon participants can buy "food bracelets" for $6 that will entitle them to an entree and a drink at Stoby's, Opal Mae's Cafe, Fat Daddy's Downtown or Italian Gardens Cafe.
Saturday, the main event half-marathon begins at 7:30 a.m.
Race director Olson describes the course through downtown as "very flat."
"It features some of the highlighted areas in Russellville like Main Street, the lake [Lake Dardanelle], Arkansas Tech, the roundabout."
To keep everyone pumped up and moving along, more than 20 spirit stations scattered along the course will be manned by local organizations and businesses, cheering and playing music to fit this year's "Generations of Music" theme. There will also be bands playing as the runners make their way along the course.
"We're excited about it," Olson says. "The community really gets out and supports it."
Olson also says feedback from runners has inspired new efforts to improve the race, whether it's enlisting the police to block off traffic or making the course as flat as possible.
There is no race day packet pickup, but out-of-towners will have opportunities:
• 5-7 p.m. April 6 at Fleet Feet Sports, 1020 E. Harold St., Fayetteville.
• 5-7 p.m. April 7 at The Sporty Runner, 1016 Van Ronkle St., Conway; and Go! Running, 1819 N. Grant St., Little Rock.
• 1-7 p.m. April 8 and 9, 1-6 p.m. April 10 at Feltner's Athlete's Corner, 2320 W. Main St., Russellville.
The pickup policy is relatively loose, so runners can ask someone else to collect their packet for them. Just be sure the friend has your ID.
Registration is $10 for the fun mile, $35 for the 5K, $70 for the half-marathon and $85 per two-person team for the relay. Half-marathon registration closes Friday.
There is another option, though, for those who'd rather go the extra mile, so to speak. One can choose to register as an Angel. Instead of paying a registration fee, Angels promise to raise at least $150 in exchange for "free" registration. Those who sign up have the option of creating a personal fundraising site. There are incentives for going beyond the $150.
All funds go to Children's Hospital. Olson says the first RussVegas raised almost $20,000. This year so far, the Angels alone have raised $26,000.
"We've got a mix of entertainment as well as a fundraiser for a great cause. It's a flat, fast course. I don't know any reason why not to run it."
Call (479) 970-4394, email [email protected] or visit russvegashalf.com.
Hogs of iron
Fayetteville may be hilly, and the Pig Trail certainly conjures up images of steep, winding roads. But when it comes to the Iron Pig, the word is "flat." In fact, they boast that the run/walk course is "the flattest course you'll ever run/walk on."
The Iron Pig Festival on Saturday is a multipronged athletic competition with options for various levels of ability and endurance, from an easy 1-mile walk to a full-fledged duathlon, all starting from the Fayetteville Executive Airport, Drake Field, 4500 S. School Ave. (U.S. 71).
The footracing options are a 1-mile fun run/walk at 8:45 a.m. and a 5K run about 9:10 a.m. The competitive 5K is USA Track & Field-sanctioned, and has awards for overall winners as well as male and female age groups; all 1-mile finishers receive ribbons.
On the cycle-only side, there's a 17-mile time trial, starting at 10:15 a.m. USA Cycling licenses are required for participation and the interval start times are determined by registration order -- first signed up, first out of the gate.
For the ambi-athletes, there is the Iron Pig Duathlon at 9 a.m.: an 18-mile bike ride sandwiched between two 5K runs. USA Triathlon licenses are required.
While the footrace courses are flat, the bike course does have some hills to make it challenging, though not prohibitively so.
There is no race-day registration, but packet pickup is offered from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Fleet Feet of Fayetteville, 1020 Harold St., or on race day from 7 to 9:30 a.m. on-site.
Registration is $65 (no shirt), $75 (cotton shirt) or $80 (technical fabric shirt) for the duathlon. Duathlon team registration is $80, $95 and $110, respectively. For the 5K, registration is $20, $30 and $35. The 1-mile is $10, $15 and $20. The bike time trial is $40, $50 and $55.
Call (479) 521-7766 or visit ironpigduathlon.com.
Readers can send tips about wellness-supporting active recreation opportunities to Jennifer Nixon at
ActiveStyle on 03/30/2015