FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Race Headquarters
501-371-4770
Change is Good
Changes Announced for the 2005 Little Rock Marathon and Companion Races
LITTLE ROCK, AR (February 4, 2005) - Organizers of the Little Rock Marathon
announced several changes for the 2005 race, which include a change in this
year's racecourse and new start times for the 5K and Little Rockers Kids
Marathon.
With an eye toward continued growth of the marathon and construction of the
Arkansas River Trail project (affecting miles 16 through 21), the third
annual race, scheduled for March 6, will show off a new and faster course
for the marathon, half marathon and relay marathon. The Little Rockers
Kids Marathon course has also changed.
"The Arkansas River Trail Project made the committee take a hard look at
that section of the race course," said Bill Torrey, Little Rock Marathon
course designer and race director. " I believe the participants will enjoy
this course more than the first two years. It offers more opportunity for
family and spectators to cheer the racers on. After hearing comments from
the participants last year, most of them will be glad that we have taken
some of the river road out of the race. This year half marathon is a better
course with a better finish line."
"The area in front of the Arkansas State Capitol will be a major cheering
station," said Torrey. "Woodlane Street is the half way point for
marathoners and it is the finish for the half marathon." Woodlane is also
an exchange point for the relay marathon.
Woodlane is also the start and finish for the Little Rockers Kids Marathon.
"Once we get participants through the half way point, we have to prepare
for 2,500 kids," said Torrey. "The Little Rockers Kids Marathon starts at
2 pm this year. We changed the time of the kids marathon so parents could
participate in the half or even the full marathon and then see their child
cross the finish line. This year's race will be an all day affair with
something happening every hour. It will be a great day for both the
participants and the spectators."
Both the marathon and relay marathon courses start at Capital and Scott
Streets in downtown Little Rock and finish at the intersection of Capital
and Victory Streets. The half marathon course starts at the same location
as the marathon and relay marathon, but finishes on Woodlane Street in
front of the Arkansas State Capital.
Participants will still run along the Riverfront in North Little Rock.
Coming back into Little Rock, the course goes by the Museum of Discovery,
the Clinton Presidential Center, Curran Hall, The Arkansas Arts Center,
MacArthur Park, the Quapaw Quarter Historic District, The Villa Marie, the
Governors Mansion, Central High School and Museum, Philander Smith College,
the Arkansas State Capitol, the Capitol Hill Neighborhood, Hillcrest
Neighborhood and Mount St. Mary Academy on Kavanaugh Blvd. The course then
takes marathoners down to the Arkansas River and through scenic Murray
Park, which features part of the newly constructed Arkansas River Trail.
The course then picks up the old course and takes participates by Alltel
Corporation's headquarters, Dillard's, Inc. headquarters on Cantrell and
then into the last mile of the 26.2 mile course into the finish in front of
the Arkansas State Capitol.
The Little Rock 5K will start at 7:50 am this year and will use the same
course as the 2004 race. The marathon wheel chair race starts at 7:55 am
with the start of the marathon, half marathon and relay marathon races at
8:00 am.
The Little Rock Marathon Award Ceremony will begin at noon in the Athletes
Village located on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol on Woodlane
Street. Over $17,000 in cash will be presented to top finishers, as well
as race awards to various age group winners.
The Little Rock Marathon course is open for 8 hours and is closed to all
vehicular traffic. As participants come through an area, streets will
re-open for normal travel. The course has been divided up into four
separate "zones" according to races officials.
Zone one and relay marathon exchange area one are located at the Arkansas
Arts Center on Commerce Street (at 9th Street), which is 6.8 miles from the
start line. Relay One Exchange will be open until 10:45am.
Zone two and relay marathon exchange area two are located at the Arkansas
State Capitol on Woodlane Street, which is 6.3 miles from the Art Center or
mile 13.1 of the course. Relay Two Exchange will be open until 1:00 pm.
Zone three and relay marathon exchange area three are located in Murray
Park on Rebsamen Park Road (the second pavilion entrance), which is 7.5
miles from the Arkansas State Capital or mile 20.6 of the course. Relay
Three Exchange will be open until 2:30 pm.
Zone four is the last section heading into the finish line. From Murray
Park it is 5.6 miles to the finish line. The official finish line closes at
4:00 pm.
After the race is over, participants and volunteers are invited to the
Marathon Post Race Party at the Historic Arkansas Museum. The post race
party begins at 5 pm. The public is also invited to attend and the cost is
$10. Participants and volunteers are admitted free of charge.
For more information about the racecourse, please visit
www.littlerockmarathon.com or contact race headquarters at 501-371-4770.
Proceeds benefit Little Rock Parks & Recreation.
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