Please email info@3bridgesmarathon.com with questions or comments.
3 Bridges Marathon – Saturday, December 9, at 7:00 a.m.
River Mountain Park/ Two Rivers Bridge – 4468 River Mountain Road, Little Rock, AR
See separate tab regarding the following Event Policies.
Registration Fees/ Transfer/ Waiting List/ Inclement Weather
(Note: The following topics are listed alphabetically.)
Aid Stations, Restrooms, and Medical Support
There are aid stations that average nearly every mile. There are numerous restrooms, including permanent restrooms on the River Trail and portable ones that we will place on the course. Medical personnel will be on duty at the Start/Finish and on the course. A clothing drop will be at Mile 2, where you may leave any clothing to be delivered to the finish line.
Awards
Awards will go to the top three males and females overall and masters and to the top three males and females in five-year age groups starting with 19 and under through 75+.
The awards ceremony will be held at 12 p.m. for the overall winners. Following the ceremony, age group awards may be picked up at the information booth as soon as the results in that age group have been verified and finalized by the timing company. Early starters may not pick up awards until their age groups have been verified and all regular starters in their age group have finished.
Course
The course is almost entirely on the Arkansas River Trail and is a 19-mile loop to the east and then a 7-mile loop to the west. The course crosses the Big Dam Bridge at Miles 1 and 18, the Clinton Presidential Bridge at Mile 9, and the Two Rivers Bridge at Miles 19 and 26. The course crosses the Start/Finish line going west at 19 miles. The course is mostly flat, except for the three bridges. The course is mostly paved trail. The course is USATF certified as AR13030DLP. See the Course tab for more detail.
All miles are clearly marked. Please carry your trash and dispose at the mile markers or aid stations. Mile 9 is prior to the Clinton Presidential Bridge going east. Mile 10 is on the Clinton Presidential Bridge on the return trip. Mile 18 is on the Big Dam Bridge going west. Mile 26 is on the Two Rivers Bridge.
Directions
See Parking tab for directions to runner parking and the Spectators tab for directions to spectator viewing sites.
Drop Bags
Numbered drop bags will be provided at packet pickup. We discourage placing valuables in drop bags.
The drop bag area is a U-Haul parked at the Start/Finish line area near where you will be dropped off by the 3 Bridges Marathon trolley. It will be December in Arkansas, so it could be 20 degrees or 70 degrees and may change that much overnight. Bring plenty of warm clothes for after the race. You may retrieve your bag immediately upon finishing, get warm, and enjoy food, music, and fellowship.
Early Start
An early start of 5:00 am will be allowed for those expecting to take between six and eight hours. Runners expecting to take longer than six hours are asked to take the early start option or may be removed from the course. Runners taking the early start and finishing significantly faster than six hours may be disqualified.
Indicate Early Start with your online registration. If you did not indicate so with your online registration, email your request to info@3bridgesmarathon.com with the email subject EARLY START. You may not take the early start option unless you have registered online with your normal race registration or received an email confirmation of your post-registration email request. Runners starting early without having registered to do so are subject to disqualification. If you are unsure, confirm at packet pickup that you are on the registered early start list.
See the Parking instructions for early starters. Early starters are responsible for being at the starting line at 5:00 a.m. Early Starters will park near the boat dock at River Mountain Park (4468 River Mountain Road, Little Rock, AR).
Early starters are eligible for awards in every age group but may not pick up their awards at the information booth until all regular starters in that age group have completed the race and the timing company has declared the results in that age group to be final.
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Fee
The registration fee for the 3 Bridges Marathon is non-refundable. Registration for the marathon is $115 plus service fee. Late registration will be offered at packet pick-up for $140 plus $3 service fee through Paypal or Venmo, or cash. There is no race day registration.
Half Marathon
There is no half marathon option or other race distance.
Information Booth
There will be an information tent at the Start/Finish where you may address issues and ask questions. Shirt exchanges will be accommodated based on availability by request at the information booth on race day FOLLOWING THE RACE START. Shirt exchanges will not be mailed after race day. Age group awards will be available at the information booth as each age group is verified and finalized by the timing company, following the 12 p.m. awards ceremony.
Medals
Every finisher gets a medal, which will be distributed at the finish line.
Packet Pickup
Packet pickup will be at Rock City Running in the Market Place Shopping Center, 11121 N Rodney Parham Rd Ste 37B, Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday, December 8, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The phone number is (501) 313-4689. Rock City is owned by Bill Torrey, legendary Arkansas Hall of Fame runner. Packet pickup will also be available on race morning at the Start/Finish area from 4:30 a.m. until the last packet is claimed. We thank Rock City Running for hosting us!
Parking Instructions
Detailed Parking instructions are listed here. Do not attempt to drive down or to park on or at the bottom of River Mountain Road after the Early Start. This area is reserved for race officials, volunteers, and emergency vehicles. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification and ban from future 3 Bridges events.
Photographs
Race photographs will be taken by Marvin Winston and his team from Run Bike Swim Photos. Signs will indicate upcoming photographers. You will be contacted after the race with proofs and purchase information. Photos can be ordered at www.runbikeswimphotos.com.
Post-Race Activities
Post-race finish line activities will include the awards ceremony at 12:00 p.m. and food and beverages for runners, friends, and family.
Race Results
Race results will be provided immediately by Garner Timing Services on your smart phone through the RunSignUp.com Results app in your app store. Provide your bib number to your family and friends for an instant finishing time. Full race results will be posted at garnertiming.com. Race results will also be provided to MarathonGuide.
Safety
Medical personnel from Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) will be on hand at the Start/Finish and patrolling the course. Law enforcement will be on hand at the Start/Finish and at every section of the course that converges with traffic.
For the short sections of the Arkansas River Trail that converge with the roadway, runners must remain aware of vehicular traffic at all times. Runners must remain to the right side of the roadway, observe course monitors’ instruction, and proceed through intersections with caution. Race numbers should be securely pinned to the front of your clothing and visible at all times.
Strollers, rollerblades, skates, unauthorized vehicles, and pets are strictly prohibited to ensure runner safety. Pets are prohibited on the 3 Bridges Marathon trolley, except for service animals.
Shirts
Shirts are long-sleeve unisex technical fabric. Select from XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL at the time of registration. Shirt sizes may be exchanged on race day at the Rock City Running information tent subject to availability. Shirt exchanges will not be mailed after race day.
Spectator Guide
See the Spectators guide prepared for your friends and family to enjoy the day cheering for you along the course. You will not find another course on trails this beautiful that is also this accessible. The guide includes directions, descriptions, and approximate mile marks for numerous viewing areas. Your friends and family may see you many times, often twice at one stop in a short period. Better yet, have your friends and family volunteer for an early or late shift and cheer the other half of the day!
The course is almost entirely on the Arkansas River Trail system. However, in a few short stretches, roads with vehicular access converge with sections of the trail. Although we know you will be very mindful of traffic and there will be police officers at these locations, please remind your friends and family that if they drive near the course to be courteous and careful.
Time Limit
The race begins at 7:00 a.m. There is a 6 hour time limit for the regular start. There is an early start option at 5:00 a.m. for runners planning to take between 6 and 8 hours. There is an 8 hour time limit for the early start. See details under Early Start above. Runners expecting to take longer than six hours are asked to take the early start option or may be removed from the course.
Travel
There is no host hotel and no hotel within walking distance to the parking lots. Race shuttles will not offer pickups from hotels. Prior transportation plans are encouraged.
Participants staying at local hotels may have a cab bring them to the race parking lot, and then ride the shuttle to the starting line. Cabs will only be allowed to deliver participants to the starting line for the Early Start. Instructing your cab to drive down River Mountain Road for the regular start may result in disqualification and ban from future 3 Bridges events.
Volunteers
It takes a tremendous number of volunteers to carry out a marathon. See Volunteers for clubs and organizations involved. Every major running club in central Arkansas has committed members and resources to make the 3 Bridges Marathon possible. If you would like to volunteer write info@3bridgesmarathon.com.
Waiver
The marathon waiver is included with your online registration. Specifically note the Event Policies tab regarding cancellations, registration refunds, deferral option, waiting list, transfers, and inclement weather. Online signature of the waiver upon registration acknowledges your understanding and adherence to all event policies.
Thank you for complying with all runner instructions.
3 Bridges Marathon Race Team