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Many people in Arkansas love lacing up their running shoes and heading outside to enjoy the different types of races that Arkansas communities offer. There are trail runs, mud runs, long runs, and kid runs to choose from in the Spring 2023 racing season. Pick one to train for and enjoy a festival and race all in one. Grab your kids and help them participate in one of the events best suited for them. We love seeing Arkansas kids being active and participating in the kid races. Enjoy!
Pig Trail Mud Run (Springdale)
SOOOEEEEE! Calling All PIGS! June 3 is the 9th annual Pig Trail Mud Run. If you think getting wet and dirty sounds fun, and you love to be mentally and physically challenged, then the Pig Trail Mud Run is the race for you! Plan to stick around afterward for more fun. You can pig out on food and cold drinks and enjoy some great entertainment at the recovery picnic. Even if you don’t like the idea of running the race yourself, come out and join the picnic anyway. The race starts and ends at Ecclesia College and is run in an undeveloped, rustic area of Northwest Arkansas. Located in the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks, the course features extreme hills, underbrush and lots of trees, a stream bed and ponds. That’s before you factor in the ultra-challenging obstacles, you’ll have to navigate to complete this 5K race. You may even see a wild boar. Bring your piglets to this year’s race and let them wallow and play in the mud while you run. Kids ages 4 through 10 are invited to play in the mud, squirt each other with water, and do a number of other fun, muddy activities.
Venue: Ecclesia College, 9653 Nations Dr., Springdale
Date: June 3
More Information: Click Here
Toad Suck 5k, 10k & Tadpole Trot (Conway)
Toad Suck Daze is a festival full of food, family and fun held on the streets of downtown Conway, May 5-7. The mission of the festival is to provide fun for the whole family, and the proceeds support education in Faulkner County. Events include local entertainment, arts & crafts, carnival, a 5K/10K race, a tadpole trot for kids ages 4-10, and the World-Famous Championship Toad Races. Add this event to your weekend and sign up for one of the races!
Venue: Downtown Conway
Date: May 6
More Information: Click Here
RussVegas (Russellville)
RussVegas half marathon is more than just a fast course covering 13.1 miles in Russellville. It is a showcase run as participants start and finish through the streets of Historic Downtown. The race is known for its excellent atmosphere, with “Spirit Stations” throughout the course cheering and playing music. The community and local businesses pull out the red carpet for participants of the RussVegas half-marathon. It is also a festival, this year there will be Friday night events, including a kid’s mile, 5k Glow Run, bands, food and an expo. Whether you are looking for your best time, a fun time, or just a little downtime — RussVegas Half has something to offer.
Venue: Downtown Russellville
Date: April 22
More Information: Click Here
Wildcat Extra Mile Race (Searcy)
It’s official! The Wildcat Extra Mile is the Arkansas RRCA State Championship 1-Mile Race! Runners and walkers of all ages and paces are welcome to participate in this exciting race event! There will be multiple race heats so participants can run at their own pace. The Wildcat Extra Mile is for competitive runners as well as casual walkers and everyone in between! Students, parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors are encouraged to come out and go the extra mile on Saturday morning, April 22.
Venue: Searcy
Date: April 22
More Information: Click Here
Arkansas Runner 2 Mile (Benton)
A 2-mile race is a great distance for a race if you want to try one! It is also a perfect race for kids to enter. The Saline County Striders put on a top-notch two-mile race. This year is the 25th running of the Arkansas Runner 2-Mile Race.
Venue: Benton
Date: June 10
More Information: Click Here
Hogeye Marathon and Relays (Springdale)
You can choose between a marathon, half-marathon, 5k, 10k, or a relay team when you sign up to run the Hogeye races in April. The course takes runners past the city’s five major parks and, as in previous years, will include a portion of the Lake Fayetteville Trail. The course will be run primarily on Springdale streets, but sections will run through Johnson and Fayetteville, and a small portion of the 26.2-mile course will take place on the Razorback Greenway.
Venue: Springdale
Date: April 15-16
More Information: Click Here
Well Done Run (Searcy)
The Well-Done Run, a race for clean water, is an experiential 5K. What is an experiential 5K? During this family fun run, participants carry an empty milk jug to the halfway mark, fill it up with water from a creek and carry it back to the finish line to simulate what people around the world have to do daily to collect their needed water. While there will be some competitive racers, most are not trying to set their personal best. Along the course, you will see walkers, runners and families with strollers. The goal of The Well-Done Run is to impact participants as they help to change the world through clean water. There are currently 771 million people around the world who lack access to safe water. You can run and walk one day a year so that they don’t have to every day.
Venue: Searcy
Date: April 15
More Information: Click Here
Dogwood 5k (Siloam Springs)
The Dogwood Festival is held the last full weekend in April and draws an estimated 50,000 people to Downtown Siloam Springs. The award-winning festival features exhibitors from all over the United States. This festival has a small-town, family-like atmosphere for those visiting over the long weekend. There will be a line-up of live music and entertainment to enjoy. But the highlight for runners is a 5k and 10k for you to sign up for! The race will begin at 8 a.m., with the starting line at the Henry Park large pavilion.
Venue: Siloam Springs
Date: April 29
More Information: Click Here
Cow Paddy Run (Fayetteville)
There’s a Cow Paddy 5K for adults and older kids and a 1K Fun Run for the little ones. Don’t worry, though, because there aren’t any real cow paddies to avoid. The name is just part of the tradition of this race, which has played a big part in developing Fayetteville’s pro-fitness, pro-fun culture over the years! The Cow Paddy Run is produced by The Spark Foundation with a focus on helping students and families build the habits for an active, healthy lifestyle. Proceeds directly support physical education in local schools through the school participation prize. As part of the school participation run series, the focus is for running to be fun and accessible for everyone. All runners get a chip time, participant shirt and finisher’s medal.
Venue: Fayetteville
Date: May 6
More Information: Click Here
Catsmacker (Perryville)
Trail runner enthusiasts love the 20-ish miles for the Catsmacker and 12-ish miles for the Kitty Run option during Catsmacker weekend. The course utilizes forest service roads and a small portion of the Ouachita Trail. There is a combination of pavement, gravel, and single/double-track trails. Grab some friends and do this trail run together!
Location: Perryville
Date: May 20
More Information: Click Here
Pink Tomato 5K (Warren)
The Pink Tomato Festival is a great family event that also offers a 5k as an activity. The course goes through the heart of Warren and finishes at the historic Bradley County Courthouse on their famous brick streets. There will be prizes for the top three positions of all age divisions and an overall male and female winner.
Location: Warren
Date: June 10
More Information: Click Here
There are many more Arkansas races to choose from, CLICK HERE and find one near you!
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