For Immediate Release                                                                                             Contact: Marie Bruno, Media Director

March 1, 2016                                                                                  littlerockmarathonmedia@gmail.com | 501-416-1592                        littlerockmarathon.com

Race Week is Here! Parking Spaces and Street Closures Begin Thursday Morning for 14^th Annual Little Rock Marathon Weekend

Little Rock, Ark. – The 2016 Little Rock Marathon has a new course this year. Both the start and finish lines for all races this weekend will be on 4^th Street near the Scott and Main Street intersections. This will necessitate closing parking spaces and streets along the course.

Race officials expect more than 14,000 athletes and 40,000 spectators throughout the 26.2 mile course beginning Saturday with the 5K (3.1 miles) race, the 10K (6.2 miles) race, and the final mile of the Little Rockers Kids Marathon. Race weekend culminates with the running of the Marathon races on Sunday.

The first closings will begin downtown at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, March 3, with the closing of all parking spaces on Main Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets, until 5:00 p.m. March 7.

The remainder of the parking and road closings are:

• Thursday, March 3: 11:00 p.m.     Closing of all parking on Main Street from Markham to 6^th Streets until 11:59 p.m. March 6
• Friday, March 4: 8:00 a.m.  Closing of Main Street from Markham Avenue to 6^th Street; will reopen as race progresses Sunday afternoon; will fully re-open at 11:59 p.m.  March 6.  Closing of Scott Street from 3^rd to 7^th Streets; will reopen as race progresses Sunday afternoon; will fully re-open at 11:59 p.m. March 6.

2016 Little Rock Marathon Parking and Street Closures

Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6:

Saturday races will begin at 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at 4^th and Scott Streets. Closures will begin at 5:30 a.m. along the entire 10K, 5K, and Little Rockers Kids Marathon courses. All road closures will be final at 7:30 a.m.

Sunday’s Marathon races begin at 7:00 a.m. at 4^th and Scott Streets. Closures will begin at 4:30 a.m. along the entire 26.1 mile course. All road closures will be final at 6:30 a.m.

As Sunday’s races progress, streets will re-open on a rolling basis at the discretion of the Little Rock Police Department.

Drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to adjust their travel and parking accordingly. Comprehensive information about street closures and detailed course maps are available at: www.littlerockmarathon.com/course.

Colleen Johnson can rattle off a list of what makes the Little Rock Marathon special to her with speed – everything from crazy race themes to the finisher medals to the courses the racers take past many of the city’s historic sites.

But despite all that, the Bolivar, Tenn., resident said one thing about the Little Rock Marathon stands out above all others.

“It’s the simple fact that Little Rock has provided a place in their marathon for me,” Johnson said.

Despite being 60 years old, Johnson doesn’t seem like the most unlikely of Little Rock Marathon finishers. Even if you ignore the list of chronic illnesses she faces on a daily basis – including diabetes, chronic asthma, bone-on-bone arthritis – and top all that off with being in remission from an aggressive form of endometrial cancer.

“On top of all of that, I’m short — only 5 foot, 1 inch tall — and I’m almost 60 years old,” Johnson said. “The combination of all of these things make it much more difficult for me to run a 26.2 mile marathon than the typical runner.

“I run much slower than the younger, healthier whippersnappers who will fill the race corrals on Sunday, and I have to work a lot harder to finally meet up with them at the finish line,” she added.

Which brings us to the reason the Little Rock Marathon holds a special place in Johnson’s heart. “Most marathons limit their races to runners who can complete the race in six hours,” she said. “But with all my medical problems – combined with my height and age, I just can’t run/walk 26.2 miles that fast, which means most full marathon races close their doors to me.

“But not Little Rock,” she said. “Little Rock offers a place in their marathon for even older, slower runners like me, something very few others do.”

 “The course was perfect,” said a translator for 25-year-old Yao Long, of Changchun City, Jilin Province, Peoples’ Republic of China; the winner of the 2015 Little Rock Marathon. Long finished with a time of 2:44:49. Last year’s winner, Mark Chepses, of Des Moines, Ia., won with a time of 2:25:42.

Changchun is one of four cities in the world partnering with the Little Rock Sister Cities Commission (lrsistercities.org) to foster relationships by promoting mutual, cross-cultural understanding; providing regular interaction and informational exchange; and creating economic development opportunities.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola says Changchun has been a Little Rock Sister Cities partner since 1994. Over the last three years, both cities have had accomplished athletes compete in each other’s marathons.

Today’s Little Rock Marathon was Yao’s first marathon in the United States. He said he was “very, very happy,” with his performance. He also thanked the people of Little Rock for their kindness and friendliness, adding, “It was a great honor to be here.”

“Winning this race means the world to me; it’s a dream come true,” said Angie Zinkus, age 38; of Eads, Tenn., the winner of the 2015 Little Rock Marathon’s Female Division. Angie crossed the finish line just one second under the three-hour mark – 2:59:59.

Angie said she did not start racing until a few years ago, adding that she’s learned that you can’t take the race too seriously. “You’ve got to have fun with it … if you let it get to your mind it’s no fun anymore,” she said.

Angie also had high praise for the Little Rock Marathon, saying she has “much respect” for the course. “I’ve run two Boston Marathons, and, to me, this course is much harder. It is well respected and known that Little Rock puts on a fabulous marathon.”

Angie said that last year’s winner, Leah Thorvilson of Little Rock (who won with a time of 2:42:39), was her inspiration for today’s race. She said she received a text from Leah just before the race, which said, “Go get it girl!”

Drew Nowlin, age 27 of Mayfield, Ky., finished second in the men’s division with a time of 2:47:21; followed by the third place winner, Ryan McClay age 29, of Mableton, Ga., with a time of 2:48:43.

Finishing second and third in the female division was Katharine Reilly, age 38, of Bethlehem, Pa., with a time of 3:16:42. Jenn Forkenbrock, age 39, of Lawrence, Ks., finished third with a time of 3:18:16.

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Sunday’s Little Rock Marathon featured groups from all over the country. One of the most memorable was that of the nine member Student Veterans of America (SMVA) from Russellville rucking the 10k and completing it with at time of 1:41:06.

These students marched in unison while carrying 45 lb. rucksacks. The group also carried a dummy litter throughout the entire 10k course with banners draped reading, “Veterans don’t just die on the battlefield,” and American flags. The group hoped that their march would raise awareness for Veteran suicide.

Headquartered at Arkansas Tech University, “this group has the overarching goal of providing military service members, veterans and individuals associated with Armed Forces the resources, support and advocacy with a social environment to promote success and stability needed for family, education and employment,” said Aaron Scruggs, SMVA president.

The group offers peer advising through a Veterans Affairs (VA), Student Veteran Partnership and are part of the VA clergy. Deeply supported by their community, the student group has several members active in the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters in the Russellville area.

James Krajsa was all smiles as he crossed the Little Rock Half Marathon finish line Sunday morning, winning the men’s division with an official finish time of 1:11.34.

Despite cold and drizzling conditions on a new course, Krajsa said today’s finish was a personal best for him.

“It was a good but tough course today,” Krajsa, 28 of Columbia, Mo., said. “The weather was a bit chilly.”

Russellville’s Kaitlin Bounds took home first place in the women’s half marathon, finishing this year at 1:25.06 officially.

The 23-year-old said the hardest part of the course were the down hills because she trained primarily for up hills, “But the best part was definitely winning.”

Ryan Lawrence, 34 of Little Rock, finished second in the men’s half marathon at 1:19; 20-year-old Carter Witt of Dardanelle placed third at 1:20.

In the women’s division, University of Central Arkansas alum Jennifer McConnell of Tulsa, Okla., crossed the finish line in second place at 1:25; Tracy Tungac, 30 of Bryant, Ark., who had a baby in September and is working her way back to top form, finished in third place at 1:27.

More than 14,000 racers from 46 states registered for the weekend’s races, which include a 5k, 10k, half marathon and full marathon.

Sunday, March 1

“I love this race – it’s an amazing course,” said 33-year-old Cameron Thomas of Collierville, Tenn., shortly after crossing the finish line to win the 10 K division of the Little Rock Marathon in 34.05.

Cameron, who works for Breakaway Running in Memphis, has run two full marathons and four half-marathons in his racing career. He ran in the half-marathon last year in Little Rock, but opted for the 10 K this year because of a hip injury.

Cameron says his favorite part of the race is the starting line. “There’s so much energy, it really gets you pumped up. It’s a great feeling.”

Alyssa Getta, age 26 of Chicago, Ill., chose to run in the Little Rock marathon because, “there are not many winter races to run in Chicago,” and that a good choice – she won the 10K Female Division in 41:18. She added that the most difficult part of the course was the hills, but overall, she said the course was great because it was easy to follow.

Placing second and third in the 10K Male Division were Gus McCoy, age 16, of Beebe, Ark., finishing in 37.54; and Jordan Brimer, age 20, of Bald Knob, Ark., finishing in 38:27.

Finishing second and third in the Female Division of the 10K were Lynn Brehm, age 40, of Gibsonia, Penn., with a time of 48:39; followed by Joy Harwood, age 38, of Little Rock; time 48:49.

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Website – littlerockmarathon.com

Facebook – facebook.com/LRMarathon

Twitter – @LRMarathon

Sunday, March 1

The 2015 Little Rock Marathon is underway with a 6:00 a.m. Early Start.

At 7:45 a.m., weather conditions in downtown Little Rock are cloudy and cold with a temperature of 34 degrees and intermittent showers. Winds are northwest at five miles per hour with wet streets from overnight showers.

Saturday’s winter weather in Western Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas caused headaches for hundreds of runners trying to either fly or drive to Little Rock for the marathon. Check-in deadline to receive bibs and time chips was originally 5:00 p.m., but was pushed back to 10:00 p.m. and later into the overnight hours to accommodate the delayed travelers.

More than 14,000 people are taking part in all the races for marathon weekend.  Today, as of 7:30 a.m., more than 2,950 are registered to run the Full Marathon (26.2 miles); nearly 5,000 for the half marathon, and 1,600 for the 10K (6.2 miles).

There are 6,190 racers from Arkansas and more runners from 46 states: Alaska, Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,  Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming.  There are also runners from the District of Columbia.

The Marathon is also welcoming runners from the Arab Emirates, Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Great Britain, Guatemala, and Poland.

Website – littlerockmarathon.com
Facebook – facebook.com/LRMarathon
Twitter – @LRMarathon

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