Come run through beautiful Hot Springs National Park! The Spa Running Festival is an event for everyone …. kids, walkers, beginners to elite runners and those that like a challenge! The Squirt Race is for kids 2 – 10 years of age. The 5K is a fast and flat course …
MORE
Come run through beautiful Hot Springs National Park! The Spa Running Festival is an event for everyone …. kids, walkers, beginners to elite runners and those that like a challenge! The Squirt Race is for kids 2 – 10 years of age. The 5K is a fast and flat course and for both walkers and runners! The 10K runners enjoy the beauty of running West Mountain. Do you like a challenge – well you get to – the Summit2Summit Half Marathon course takes you through the scenic National Park going summit to summit on Hot Springs Mountain/North Mountain AND West Mountain!
Benefits of the Spa Running Festival:
♦ The beauty of Historic Downtown and Bathhouse Row
♦ Running through Hot Springs National Park
♦ Expo on Friday
♦ A great Long Sleeve Technical Shirt
♦ An awesome Medal for All Participants (5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Squirt Race)
♦ Fast and Flat Course for 5K
♦ Corral Starts for 5K and 10K
♦ Team Registration
♦ Finish Line Festival area includes Grilled Burgers, Hot Soup, Pizza, Snacks and Beer Tent
Come enjoy the Expo on Friday at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Then, after the race, hang around to enjoy great food, the beer tent, picture taking, socializing and bragging rights that you conquered (BOTH) mountains.
LESS
Challenging but worth it
This is a great race, from start to finish, all the volunteers at packet pick up to post-race food, everything was top notch. The course is very challenging but so … MORE
This is a great race, from start to finish, all the volunteers at packet pick up to post-race food, everything was top notch. The course is very challenging but so beautiful, I can see why people return to do it year after year. The medals were great as well!
Love this race!
Great course and beautiful landscape! Plenty of room to run. Aid stations perfectly located. Very efficient in handing out medals. Food was delicious. MORE
Great course and beautiful landscape! Plenty of room to run. Aid stations perfectly located. Very efficient in handing out medals. Food was delicious.
Hills, we got hills!
About 1400 feet of elevation, in 3 longish climbing hills with switchbacks, the good thing is there are downhill as well. Friendly volunteers on course, and great eats at the MORE
About 1400 feet of elevation, in 3 longish climbing hills with switchbacks, the good thing is there are downhill as well. Friendly volunteers on course, and great eats at the end.
Gorgeous, Challenging, and Unique Half
The Spa Running Festival is my current hometown event (includes 5k, 10k, & half marathon). I have raced the 10k previously, but this year was the first time to get … MORE
The Spa Running Festival is my current hometown event (includes 5k, 10k, & half marathon). I have raced the 10k previously, but this year was the first time to get to do the half marathon. This course is very tough due to two long, hard climbs; however, you get tremendous payoff from your energy investment in the downhill and beautiful Fall scenery (in a National Park, no less). I can’t say enough positives about the organization, the food afterwards, and the sweet shirt/medals afforded to finishers!
Beautiful scenery full of nature
It is challenging because of the elevation but so rewarding when you finish and you get to experience the beautiful scenery of Hot Springs. I absolutely love running this race … MORE
It is challenging because of the elevation but so rewarding when you finish and you get to experience the beautiful scenery of Hot Springs. I absolutely love running this race and will probably continue to run it each year. I love the metals as well they are so wonderfully crafted.
Very nice challenging Half Marathon
What more can be said, up and down one mountain, then up and down another! Great views along the way, only a few steep parts, otherwise gently rising and falling, … MORE
What more can be said, up and down one mountain, then up and down another! Great views along the way, only a few steep parts, otherwise gently rising and falling, nice snacks after the race. Great staff.
Such a fun race!
We had such a good time at this race. Well run. The director was fantastic. The course was nice and the town super fun. The food after was the best … MORE
We had such a good time at this race. Well run. The director was fantastic. The course was nice and the town super fun. The food after was the best spread ever – pizza, hamburgers, soup & chili!
Beautiful Run
Don't let the Mountains scare you away. Many of us walked most of the uphill and took advantage of the downhill. It was beautiful and lots of on course support. … MORE
Don’t let the Mountains scare you away. Many of us walked most of the uphill and took advantage of the downhill. It was beautiful and lots of on course support. Post party was great and full of much needed carbs!
Unbelievably Beautiful with Hills
It was a lovely course with tons of support along the route. The leaves were turning and the colors were amazing. The hills or summits were tough, but it felt … MORE
It was a lovely course with tons of support along the route. The leaves were turning and the colors were amazing. The hills or summits were tough, but it felt good to conquer them.
Fun destination race
One of my all time favorite half marathons. The course is difficult on the uphills but you feel like you are flying on the down hills. Hot Springs is such … MORE
One of my all time favorite half marathons. The course is difficult on the uphills but you feel like you are flying on the down hills. Hot Springs is such a neat town to explore while you are there! By far my favorite finisher medal- it lights up and spins. I highly recommend this one!
Scenic run through National Park
I expected this half to be my worst time ever since it is Summit to Summit but my time was where I had been running lately. First mountain was tougher … MORE
I expected this half to be my worst time ever since it is Summit to Summit but my time was where I had been running lately. First mountain was tougher than the last one and the last couple of miles are downhill.
Gorgeous views with fall colors
About mile 9 I was by myself and this deer walked out in front of me and just stood there looking at me, it was pretty awesome
Staff and volunteers were great
Packet pickup was super easy at expo
Swag was awesome medal had 3 spinners & lights up and I got a half zip pullover
Post race party had pizza, soup, chili, and donuts
I highly recommend this race and plan to run again in the future
Perfect day to be outside!
I have had this race on my list but I was skittish on pulling the trigger until I saw it was part of the Natural State Running Series. Something about … MORE
I have had this race on my list but I was skittish on pulling the trigger until I saw it was part of the Natural State Running Series. Something about running up a mountain had me scared to death.
They have a small expo when you pick up your race packet at the convention center. As far as race swag, if you signed up for the half you got a tech pullover which was nice quality.
On race day the weather started out chilly but it did warm up as time passed. The half marathon takes you through some of the visitor spots that most want to see when you come to Hot Springs. The entire course is paved roads. There was a lot of walking up the mountains and running down. The police department did an excellent job of allowing runners to pass through busy sections. Plenty of aide stations for this one. You had to bring your own nutrition though. The medal was pretty cool as it did light up. Would I do the summit to summit again-may be. I would likely sign up for the 10k next go round. It only has one summit!