OPPORTUNITIES

Weekend provides two marathons in two days

According to Guinness World Records, the record for the most marathons run in one year belongs to Larry Macon of San Antonio. From Dec. 1, 2012, to Nov. 30, 2013, Macon ran 6,261.8 miles to complete 239 marathons.

That's obviously an extreme goal to set. However, for those keen to do extreme things, this weekend offers the rare opportunity to complete two marathons in two days. Both begin within the state lines, but one crosses into Mississippi.

The Mississippi River Marathon and Half Marathon begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. The marathon will be a point-to-point race that begins at the intersection of Lakehall and Causeway roads in Lake Village and ends in Stein Mart Square at the intersection of Walnut Street and Washington Avenue in downtown Greenville, Miss.

The half marathon begins on the Arkansas side of the U.S. 82 Greenville Bridge over the Mississippi River, but follows the same path as the marathon. A 5K race will also kick off at 8. The course will begin and end at Stein Mart Square in Greenville.

Runners are encouraged to park at the boat ramp at the end of Main Street in Greenville. It's a short walk to the finish line where a bus will load up all the participants from 6 to 6:30 a.m. and take them to their start locations. The website warns that parking will not be available at the starting lines.

Online registration is open until midnight Friday; runners may register in person at the expo and packet pickup from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at The Greenville Mall, 1651 Mississippi 1 in Greenville. The marathon costs $125, and the half marathon is $105. The 5K is $35. A portion of the proceeds benefits Teach for America. For more information on this organization, visit teachforamerica.org.

Registration fees include a swag bag and a long-sleeve shirt (5K runners will receive a short-sleeve shirt).

There will be no race-day registration; packet pickup for last-minute online registrants will be available from 5:15 to 6 a.m. at the finish line in Greenville.

The marathon course is overwhelmingly flat, with the only significant change in elevation occurring as runners cross the bridge into Mississippi. The marathon is certified to USA Track & Field standards (AR13002DLP) and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

For those interested in record breaking, the men's course record is 2:28:21 and was set in 2014 by Scott Downward. The women's course record, also set in 2014, is 2:56:01 and is held by Liudmila Stepanova. Any record breakers will be rewarded with a $500 cash prize.

Aid stations with water, sports drinks, portable toilets and basic first aid will be offered every mile or 1.5 miles.

Runners will be gun-timed and chip-timed. The gun time will be used to determine the top five finishers overall. Chip timing will be used to distribute awards three deep in the Masters (age 40 and older) and Grand Masters (50 and older) divisions.

Awards will also be given out three deep in five-year age groups, from 15 and under (half marathon only) and 16 to 19, on up to 70 and over. All racers who complete the course will receive a finisher's medal. There is a seven-hour cutoff time. Any participants still on the course after 3 p.m. will be asked to either leave the course or continue at their own risk.

There will be a post-race celebration with food and drink provided for all the racers.

For registration and more information, visit msrivermarathon.com.

FORT SMITH MARATHON

The Fort Smith Marathon and Half Marathon begin and end close to the state line, but Sunday's footraces don't cross the Arkansas River.

Both races begin at 8 a.m. Sunday at the Fort Smith Pavilion, 100 N. B St., and runners have until 3 p.m. to finish.

The course has some significant climbs and rolling terrain. Finisher's medals, which resemble a tin star, will be handed out to all with the "true grit" to finish by volunteers dressed as Old West marshals (picture Rooster Cogburn). Fort Smith is the home of the future U.S. Marshals Museum -- and was the setting for the novel True Grit, written by Arkansas' Charles Portis.

These race-day marshals will stick around for photo opportunities.

Runners also have a relay option. The marathon course is broken into four legs varying from 5.5 to 7.5 miles; four teammates can compete as one, tag-team style.

Until midnight Saturday, online registration for the marathon costs $100; its 13.1-mile half marathon is $75. Registration fee includes a long-sleeve event T-shirt and the finisher's medal.

The relay costs $50 per person ($200 per team) with online registration through Saturday.

Packet pickup is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday during the Fort Smith Marathon Expo at the Riverfront Park Events Building, 121 Riverfront Drive. Race-day packet pickup will be 6:30 to 7 a.m. at the Fort Smith Pavilion.

There will be 24 water stations, with four first-aid stations corresponding with the relay race exchange points. Shuttles will take relay racers to and from their exchange points throughout the day.

The awards ceremonies will take place at the pavilion near the finish line. The half-marathon awards will be at noon. The marathon and relay award ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Awards will be given to the top three male and female runners divided by age group.

Post-race nourishment and beverages will be provided for racers.

For registration and more information, visit fortsmithmarathon.com.

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ActiveStyle on 02/08/2016

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