Experience Fayetteville has signed on as the title sponsor for this year’s Fayetteville Half Marathon, and the course is getting a major remodel to align with the kickoff of college football season on Dec. 5.
The event, previously branded simply as the Fayetteville Half Marathon, now carries the city tourism bureau’s name and features a route that runs through Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and John McDonnell Field for the first time ever.
Runners will start and finish at The Gardens on the University of Arkansas campus. The weekend festival, organized by All Sports Productions, is officially part of the Texas Roadhouse IRONMAN Multi-Sport Festival. Registration is now open for four distances: the half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a fun run.
The timing isn’t an accident. The race falls on Dec. 5, immediately preceding the UA’s home football opener on Dec. 6. Logistics crews were already on the ground earlier this week. Max Hilgendorf and Azaryh Caldwell with All Sports Productions spent Friday setting up the start/finish line at Razorback Gardens to test the new flow.
Getting the locals and visitors ready
Experience Fayetteville is the organization responsible for the city’s marketing and tourism efforts, overseen by the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission. Knowing how a race like this spikes business in Anchor Alley and along Dickson Street on a Friday night, they likely saw value in putting their name on the line.
The revamped experience aims to highlight Fayetteville’s landscape. By cutting through the stadium and the historic playing field at John McDonnell Field, the route offers a look at the facility that has hosted so many championship moments for the Razorbacks. It turns a standard road race into something that feels like a local tradition with a twist.
Whether you’re looking to walk off the layers of Thanksgiving leftovers or just want an excuse to run through the tailgating party atmosphere, this is shaping up to be the event of the local running calendar. You can snag your spot online, though spots tend to vanish quickly in NWA.
You can register for the Experience Fayetteville Half Marathon here.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
