calendar icon Apr 28, 2024

Little Rock Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Little Rock Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.2 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.6 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.2 
 
 
Number of comments: 409 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 41 > ]

 

B. W. from South Lyon, MI (3/11/2017)
"Tough course and a huge medal" (about: 2017)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I did Little Rock as my 25th marathon in my 50 state quest.

Pros:
1. Decent sized expo for a mid size marathon
2. Indoor athletes' village to wait before the race
3. Start corrals and pace groups
4. Reasonably priced hotels in area
5. Frequent water stops about every two miles
6. Professional race photography
7. Very efficient finish line area
8. Indoor bag check
9. VIP area for $25 more
10. Very competent race organizers

Cons:
1. Medal was too large - who needs an 8 inch by 8 inch multiple pounds medal?
2. Race theme was gaudy
3. Course had significant uphill from 12 miles to 16 miles
4. Course had boring out and back between 18 miles and 23 miles
5. Logo on race technical shirt was gaudy
6. Sidewalks were too narrow to get all the runners to their corrals before the race
 

T. K. from Cincinnati, OH (3/9/2017)
"Little...Rock, Huge...Medal" (about: 2017)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


Top 10 Reasons to Run Little Rock
1) The huge medal, of course!

2) To visit the Clinton Presidential Library - even if you don't like his politics (and I don't), it is very interesting, especially when there is a Beatle's exhibit in the temporary gallery

3) To see and learn about the significance of Little Rock Central High School and the Little Rock Nine

4) To meet Hobbit, one of the Race Directors, who quickly, surprisingly and pleasantly changed an error I had made with the personalization of my bib a mere three weeks before race day

5) To challenge yourself with a grueling 3 mile hill from 13 to 16 miles - Little Rock's Heartbreak Hill

6) To experience a nasty out and back between miles 17 and 23.

7) The community support is amazing

8) To see the Arkansas governor in front of the Governor's Mansion waving to all the runners & in the rain

9) What other race has a Lipstick Station at Mile 25 so that the female racers can become even more beautiful for their Finish Line photo

10) Meet many other 50-Staters who are just as crazy and passionate about running as you.
 

W. F. from Little Rock, AR (3/7/2017)
"Good race but needs better course support" (about: 2017)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 Little Rock Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 1  FANS: 5


For my home course, this is a good and very difficult course. It is very well supported from the fan base. The athlete village was better set up this year and organized than years past. Other races, I attend have much better set up but the CIC are improving in this area. I do have two issues for the cost of the marathon. First, they spend too much on the large medal/theme and need to spend more on course support and aid stations. Secondly, the aid stations are spaced too far apart and if not for community volunteers helping with random stations set up, you might as well plan on carrying your own bottle. There are more beer stations than water stations. I can see why the Elite runners are not attracted to this race anymore as its becoming more about a medal/theme than it is about running. Again, very difficult & good course, but needs some tweaking to the organization especially the course support as compared to other marathons.
 

C. V. from Houston, texas (3/13/2016)
"I'll run it again, again." (about: 2016)

11-50 previous marathons | 6+ Little Rock Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


The 2016 edition was my 9th LR. After some issues the last couple of years, 2016 was great. The new start was a lot better - no waves because of the wider street. the out and back by the airport was a great edition. This was the shortest time we spent on rebsamen and that was good. Gina and Geneva pour their heart and soul into this race and it shows. if you haven't done it, do it. If you have don't it, do it again.
 

S. F. from Roseburg, OR (3/7/2016)
"Had a blast" (about: 2016)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


My first participation in the Little Rock Marathon last weekend was wonderful! We enjoyed good weather, a little too warm if anything. There were some decent hills, but they were manageable. The Chicks in Charge got us to a great start. There was plenty of water and Gatorade, cheering crowds, music, tranquility by the woods. I had to struggle in the last few miles due to a leg cramp, but pickle juice was available at cheerful booster station to help me cruise to a decent finish and earn the 3.5 lb medal!
 

M. B. from Hudsonville MI (6/16/2015)
"They Know how to put on a party" (about: 2015)

50+ previous marathons | 3 Little Rock Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


Love this race, my 3rd year running it. * Great finisher medal
* Aide stations
* Support
* Expo

^ Shirts are cheap and the logo is too big, they don't make a good shirt to actually run in
 

J. O. from Sterling MA, USA (4/28/2015)
"What a great race!!!!!!!!" (about: 2015)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


What a great race!
What can I say? I took the early start and we had
pacers, a playing of the national anthem (something I have never heard at Boston) and most importantly everything (water etc.) was opened as we arrived at it!
Geneva was even running people in who were finishing late and then there was the medals. Because the medals got tied up in LA at the finish we were given very nice plastic medals but true to their words the organizers shipped us the (what I call affectionately) the beast 3.5 pound medal.
It was a rainy cold day but the spectators really turned out - you could even get a blessing going by a church!
 

C. S. from Orlando, Florida (4/1/2015)
"Much better than expected." (about: 2015)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


I really enjoyed this course. For a Florida flatlander, it was just hilly enough to be challenging without being formidable. A bit of downtown, a bit of residential and some park area made for a nice balance. You run by Little Rock Central HS, MacArthur Park and Museum, the capital building and just in range of the Clinton Library, basically all the sights I was hoping to see while I was there. How cool is a race where the governor himself is standing outside the mansion giving high fives and cheering you on. The couch potato 1 mile, classic! The start was fine. The expo was good. The post race would have been great if not for the weather. I thought the perks pavilion was worth the money. Having the medals there would have been great, but such is life. The bag check was a complete disaster and should be avoided at all costs unless they make significant changes in that system. Overall, I was very pleased with my experience in Little Rock and will recommend this race to my Florida friends and for anyone needing an Arkansas race.
 

P. G. from Dayton, Ohio (3/12/2015)
"Excellent marathon with a fun crowd" (about: 2015)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 5


Overall I thought the race was very well organized. A few degrees warmer and no precipitation and the conditions would have been perfect. I really appreciated the effort to have an award for the finishers, in spite of delay of the big medal at the docks. The only drawback was getting your stuff back from the gear check. There should have been multiple short lines instead of one long line. I think I waited about an hour after finishing the full marathon.
 

M. H. from IL (3/6/2015)
"Much appreciated" (about: 2015)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Little Rock Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


I have never seen so many runners and walkers saying 'Thank you!' to the volunteers along the way. I greatly appreciated the spectators for being there despite the cold and rainy weather. I thought I was going to come home empty-handed, therefore I was thrilled to receive the acrylic 'medal' after crossing the finish line. If it wasn't for the rain, this would have been a perfect race. Also, I paid the extra money for Perks Pavilion. That was well worth it: heat lamps, food, massages, potty.
 

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