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Fri, Mar 5 · 2027Little Rock, ARSince 2003

Little Rock Marathon

The Little Rock Marathon runs a full loop through Arkansas's capital city, with enough rolling terrain to keep you honest and a generous time limit that welcomes runners of every speed. It's a low-pressure race with a real finish-line feeling.

RollingOpen
LITTLE ROCK · US
Little Rock
FRI, MAR 5
2027
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Race Overview

EST. 2003

Little Rock runs a loop through downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods, and the course has real hills in it. This is not a flat PR course. You'll climb in the middle miles and again late, so if you go out too fast in the early flat stretches you'll pay for it. The finish is back at the Statehouse Convention Center, which means a lot of your friends and family can be right there at the end. Be patient on the climbs and don't write off your goal time early.

This is a genuinely welcoming race. The time limit is generous, the field is mid-sized, and the atmosphere is low-stress in a good way. It's a Boston qualifier on paper, but the hills mean most people aren't running their best times here. If you're chasing a BQ, go in with a conservative plan and save something for the back half. Entry is open registration, so getting in is easy. Sign up, train the hills, and you'll be fine.

Field size
~1.2k
1,212 finishers
BQ rate
3%
Below national average
Time limit
8:00
Generous cutoff
Entry
Open
First-come registration

The Course

828 ft total gain
Total ascent
↑828 ft
Total descent
↓828 ft
Net elevation
↑0 ft
Highest point
498 ft
Lowest point
238 ft
Course shape
Loop
Start and finish in one place

The course is a loop with equal gain and loss, so no net elevation advantage. Total climbing sits close to 830 feet, spread across rolling terrain rather than one brutal wall. Expect the hills to come in waves rather than one concentrated stretch. The lowest stretches near the river can give you momentum early, but the mid-course rollers demand patience. Don't bank time on the flatter opening miles and then fight the climbs later. The loop format means you finish near where you start, which helps with logistics. At roughly 500 feet at the highest point, altitude is not a factor. Surface is mostly road. Plan for effort-based pacing rather than chasing a flat-course split.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO
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Race-Day Weather

10-year median
Low
43°F
High
64°F
30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°
What to expect

Early March in Little Rock is a mixed bag. You might get a cool, dry morning that feels perfect, or you might get a damp, grey day with a wind off the river. The start will likely be in the low 40s, which is fine once you're moving, but dress in layers you're okay ditching. By the back half of the race the temperature climbs into the 60s, and if it's humid you'll feel that more than the numbers suggest. Don't overdress for the gun and expect to race the conditions a bit.

Entry

OPEN

Online registration via Race Roster platform closes at 11:59 PM CST February 26, 2027. Late registration available at expo March 5-6 if race not sold out. Registration fees non-refundable but deferrals to 2028 allowed.

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Logistics

For runners travelling in
Closest airport
LIT
3 mi
from the start
≈ 10 min transferOn the doorstep
What to expect

Fly into Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT), about 10 miles west of downtown Little Rock. Most runners stay downtown near the Statehouse Convention Center, which is connected to the Little Rock Marriott and within walking distance of the start and finish lines.

Frequently Asked

7 questions