This one’s got GRIT! Just like the colorful characters that got Fort Smith going: soldiers and settlers… cowboys and Indians… lawmen and outlaws… madams and nuns. That same no-nonsense, adventurous, pioneering spirit is still alive in Fort Smith today. Darn right the course is challenging…but they didn’t hand out US …
MORE
This one’s got GRIT! Just like the colorful characters that got Fort Smith going: soldiers and settlers… cowboys and Indians… lawmen and outlaws… madams and nuns. That same no-nonsense, adventurous, pioneering spirit is still alive in Fort Smith today. Darn right the course is challenging…but they didn’t hand out US Marshal’s badges to just anybody. It took folks with “grit”. You’re gonna want one too. Come claim yours!
The start/finish will be on the beautiful University of Fort Smith campus. There will be plenty of parking available for racers and a nice shaded green for spectators to hang out at during the race.
Marathon
This course is both scenic and challenging and includes historic downtown, beautiful neighborhoods, paved trails, and rolling terrain with a few significant climbs and descents as well. This is certainly a finisher’s medal you’ll be proud to earn!
Half-Marathon
Starts along the marathon route, but turns off around mile 4.5 to go through several neighborhoods. The route meets up with the marathon route for a couple of miles before turning off again. The last few miles will be along the marathon route.
Marathon Relay
The Marathon course is broken into 4 relay legs. First leg is 6.5 miles long. Second leg is 6.2 miles. Third leg is 6.7 miles. Last leg is 6.8 miles. These distances are approximate and may change slightly as we work on the logistics of setting up relay stations.
LESS
Great Small Race
I loved this race! I went in with low expectations but they knocked it out of the park. Coffee and donuts inside at a local fire station at the start. … MORE
I loved this race! I went in with low expectations but they knocked it out of the park. Coffee and donuts inside at a local fire station at the start. Scenic route with, yes, lots of hills. Well supported aid stations with lots of choices. Half zip shirt and cool medal as swag. Ft Smith is a historic town that’s fun to explore for the weekend. Good time overall!
Oh those Hills, they just keep a coming
Don't let that headline fool you, this was a really fantastic course and and a great run. The people are super supportive and once you have mastered those hills, the … MORE
Don’t let that headline fool you, this was a really fantastic course and and a great run. The people are super supportive and once you have mastered those hills, the last three miles are all flat and taking you home to the finish line. Once you hit that finish line, you feel like you accomplished something major. Fort Smith is also a really cool town to visit. lots of things to see for a long weekend.
Crazy Weather, chaotic start
Drove 2 hours from Conway, AR through hellish rainstorms, arrived an hour before the planned 7am start. Weather cleared at least down to a light sprinkle. 7am comes and goes, … MORE
Drove 2 hours from Conway, AR through hellish rainstorms, arrived an hour before the planned 7am start. Weather cleared at least down to a light sprinkle. 7am comes and goes, then a late start of 7:15 is rumored due to weather and logistics, then 7:30, then at 7:35 they say there will be a potential 8:15 start but the race my end early due to tornado watches, etc… Long story short I downgrade to the half as I feel that I can fit that in the alotted time and didn’t want to be pulled before i finished a marathon. Race was otherwise uneventful after we started. Good amount of water, gatorade, snacks on course, every ~2.5-3 miles. Course is extremely hilly and that may change next year. Will be back next year as they are changing the time of year and the course up a little. Appreciated the alcohol/jello shots at mile 11!
Under staffed
It has a small expo outside. There were no safety pins in my packet. Luckily I had some in my car from previous races. This one has very challenging hills … MORE
It has a small expo outside. There were no safety pins in my packet. Luckily I had some in my car from previous races. This one has very challenging hills so make sure you do you hill training. The T-shirt was nice. The medal is ok. There were not enough aid stations in the first half. I recommend you bring your own hydration and nutrition. There were more in the second half. They were stocked and fun. There were multiple unclear turns during this race. I went off coarse three times. Not normal for me. Watch out for the half /full split. It’s at about 4 1/2 miles. After the split the runners thin out considerably. I felt like I was running by myself most of the 2nd half. The unclear turns were after the split. So you come to a turn and there’s no one there to help you decide which way to go. No signs or cones. This race challenged me mentally and physically. Definitely a one and done race for me.
Risky weather but awesome race
This is a very nice small race; fairly new. Cool medals and cool race shirts. For a newer race, Ft Smith offers the nicest volunteers you'll find anywhere. There was … MORE
This is a very nice small race; fairly new. Cool medals and cool race shirts. For a newer race, Ft Smith offers the nicest volunteers you’ll find anywhere. There was plenty of support on the course from volunteers to police directing traffic. The course was pretty interesting. It ran through town and the half marathon took is through their golf course. That reminded me of my days in high school cross country which I totally appreciated. The only thing I can mention to beware of is the uncertainty of weather this time of year. Last year they said it was 17 degrees with ice on the course. It was twice as warm this year (lol) but it rained the whole time. I appreciate the good challenge that comes through this tough course during a tough time of year. I’ll be racing this more in years to come.
Weather can be a killer
Expo was a packet pickup. The race is a small time race. We gathered together shivering in the cold for the start. No corals everyone picked their place to start … MORE
Expo was a packet pickup. The race is a small time race. We gathered together shivering in the cold for the start. No corals everyone picked their place to start both Half and Full. We saw nice neighborhoods and city streets and for a change up lots of hills. So very cold (wind chill 26) and hills… did I say it was a hard race for me. Well we got it done and there was food left to eat… and surprise I was second in my age group. I shouldn’t complain so much. This year I understand it was just as cold. Good luck on this one.
Friendly and Fun Challenge
I ran this as a hill-heavy prep for Boston, and feel much more confident about tackling Heartbreak Hill now! The course features a handful of tough climbs (including a looong … MORE
I ran this as a hill-heavy prep for Boston, and feel much more confident about tackling Heartbreak Hill now! The course features a handful of tough climbs (including a looong beast at mile 22…but after that it’s pretty much flat/downhill to the finish!). The aid stations were fantastic, the community was welcoming, and there was FREE PRE-RACE COFFEE. I had a great time.
Specifics:
The course was well-marked except the first mile or two, but there’s enough people running together that you can follow the leaders. Once you really start risking running alone, your path is marked by tons of cones. You are running in the road, and roads are not closed! There was the occasional car trying to drive in the runners’ lane, but I didn’t experience any real issues. Major intersections were staffed by police and volunteers.
The course is a big lollipop so you only retrace your steps for the last mile or two. The scenery varies from downtown to neighborhoods to parkland to a golf course – overall very nice.
There were no pacers for the marathon. Between that and the hills, runners need to keep pace/effort management in mind!
I carry my own race fuel, but the aid stations seemed well-stocked, well-staffed, and offered water/gatorade as well as food at at least a few.
The race is USATF certified, though my watch ended up reading over 0.2 mi long. GPS watches aren’t perfect, but this is a bit more than I’d usually call watch error. I suspect that the certification measurement was made without accounting for the fact that runners only run on one side of the road, so when making turns one direction, runners are forced into a wide turn. I’m betting when they measured the course, they measured as if runners used the whole road. I’m not positive on this, but it would account for the discrepancy.
Race communication was not the best I’ve seen; I’d recommend following the facebook page as that’s where most information was shared. There was ice the night before the race, and all the updates I’m aware of were only posted there.
Overall, the race was well-managed and enjoyable. It’s a five-hour drive from where I live, but I will seriously consider returning next year, so long as it’s not 70 outside!
Best rest stops i have seen
Lots of fun people along the way and very well organized. Pacers were accommodating and the shots at mile 20 sealed the deal. THe town had a lot of discounts … MORE
Lots of fun people along the way and very well organized. Pacers were accommodating and the shots at mile 20 sealed the deal. THe town had a lot of discounts going on for the running community and the law enforcement had a strong presents including horse mounted deputies in the park areas. I felt very safe the entire time.