Little Rock is the race you pick when you want a marathon that treats the back of the pack kindly. The start and finish sit on LaHarpe Boulevard behind the Statehouse Convention Center, and the course is a single loop that crosses the Arkansas River and passes the State Capitol around mile 8. Organizers joke 'What hills?' but findmymarathon logs about 828 feet of gain, so expect a few honest bumps. Miles 19 to 23 are an out-and-back where you share the road, split by medians and cones, with runners heading home. Officially the limit is 6 hours from the 7 a.m. start, and an approved 5 a.m. early start gives you 8. And yes, the finisher medal really is enormous; the 2015 version measured over eight inches across and weighed about three pounds.
Certified single-loop road course starting and finishing on LaHarpe Boulevard behind the Statehouse Convention Center, crossing the Arkansas River, passing the State Capitol near mile 8, with an out-and-back section from miles 19 to 23 and a few rolling bumps. Course map ↗
Registration opens 2026-07-16. Closes 2027-02-26. Tiered pricing for the marathon: $95 (7/16/26-9/9/26), $110 (9/10-10/23/26), $120 (10/24-12/23/26), $130 (12/24/26-2/26/27), $150 at the expo (3/5-6/27). Online registration closes 11:59 PM CST 2/26/2027. Capacity-limited with no additions once full; one-time deferral to 2028 for $20 between Jan 1 and Feb 26, 2027. Register ↗
- The event began in 2003, so the 2027 race is billed as the 25th Annual; it is a project of and benefits Little Rock Parks & Recreation. ↗
- Organizers call the finisher's medal 'the largest marathon finisher's medal in the world' and answer 'Why? Because we can.' ↗
- The 2015 medal measured 8.5 x 8.25 inches and weighed just over 3 pounds, which Runner's World recognized as the world's largest finisher's medal. ↗
- Start and finish lines for all races are on LaHarpe Boulevard behind the Statehouse Convention Center, and the State Capitol aid station is at mile 8. ↗
- findmymarathon lists 1,208 marathon finishers in 2026 with 828 ft of gain and only about 3% of finishers running a BQ time. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.