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Fort Smith Marathon
Race Details:
- Location: Fort Smith, AR, USA
- Race Date: 03/21/2027
- Race Distances: Full Marathon, Half Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Boston: Yes
World Marathon Majors: Yes
Fort Smith Marathon Description
The Fort Smith Marathon starts and finishes at the River Front Pavilion each spring, taking runners through historic downtown Fort Smith, scenic neighborhoods, and paved riverside trails. The Boston-qualifying, mostly-loop course features rolling terrain with a few significant climbs and descents, sharing much of its route with the half marathon and a 5-leg relay. Its small-town, community feel makes it a welcoming choice for a personal best or a first Boston qualifying attempt in western Arkansas. Pacers are on hand to help runners hit their goal times.
Always check the official race website for the most accurate and up-to-date race information and logistics.
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Fort Smith Marathon Additional Details:
Mile 11 brings an unexpected treat some runners look forward to more than the aid stations themselves: jello shots, a small-town touch that turns a tough stretch of hills into a genuine crowd-pleaser. Marathoners come away with a T-shirt and badge alongside the medal, and the finish line spread gets real praise, hearty food that goes well beyond the usual bananas and pretzels, backed by coffee and donuts for those arriving early enough to need them. With only 50 to 100 marathon finishers most years, this stays a genuinely small, community race where volunteers and locals know plenty of runners by name. The final three miles flatten out completely after the earlier rolling hills, giving tired legs a fair, gentle stretch home to the River Front Pavilion finish.
Course Information
Profile: Rolling Hills
Type: Mostly Loop
Surface: Road/Pavement
Pace Groups: Yes
Time Limit: 8 hours
# of Finishers
Half Marathon: 100 to 150
Marathon: 50 to 100
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 1,337 ft
Elevation Loss: 1,337 ft
Average Temperature
- Low: 48°F
- High: 69°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Structured plans for every experience level, first finish to chasing a new PR.
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced plans to get you to the start line ready.
Your bridge into marathons, with a plan built for stepping up the distance.
Things to Do in Fort Smith, AR, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Outdoors & Trails
Ben Geren Regional Park
Hike or fish along the trails of Ben Geren Regional Park, a 1,500-acre park with picnic areas just outside Fort Smith — an easy option for tapering or recovering legs.
Landmark
The Unexpected Murals
Walk historic Garrison Avenue to see murals from The Unexpected project brightening downtown buildings across Fort Smith — an easy, flat, low-impact stroll after race weekend.
Arts & Culture
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
See nationally touring exhibits at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, housed in a mid-century modern building on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places — a relaxed, indoor visit.
Shopping
Garrison Avenue
Browse shops and galleries along Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith’s historic center of commerce and entertainment — an easy, flat, walkable stroll for a post-race souvenir.
Museums & History
U.S. Marshals Museum
Explore the history of federal law enforcement at the U.S. Marshals Museum, one of Fort Smith’s newest and most notable attractions — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop.
Food & Drink
Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden
Sample barbecue and local brews at Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden on Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith’s restaurant-and-entertainment corridor — a relaxed way to refuel after race day.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Fort Smith Riverfront
Take in views of the Arkansas River from Fort Smith’s riverfront parks and walking trails — a relaxed, flat way to spend a rest day after racing.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Fort Smith Marathon
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Boston Qualifier: Yes