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Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon

Name: Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon
Start: 2025-01-04
Location: Big Fork, AR

Big Fork, AR
Saturday, January 4, 2025

5 Stars from 1 Reviews

Description

Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon has been postponed due to weather. It has been rescheduled for April 1st

If you are not an experienced trail- or ultra-runner (or adventure racer), we happily invite you to one of the other UTS runs, BUT NOT THIS ONE. This is a difficult event on a difficult trail that presents many opportunities for one to get lost, injured, exhausted, or incapacitated--with sparse access for rescue. The course is an out and back course. You first run almost 3 miles on roads - paved and gravel up to the start of the trail. Then you enter the Athens-Big Fork Trail - White Blazes. Follow the trail over 8 mountains. You pop out of the trail and need to go about a half mile down the gravel road to get your full 13.1. Then you turn around and go back. It's that easy!

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Race Information

Race Dates

2025: Saturday, January 4, 2025
2024: Saturday, January 6, 2024

Course Information

Profile: Very Hilly
Type: Out and Back
Surface: Trail

Boston Qualifier?: No
World Marathon Major Qualifier?: No

Race Day Weather

Mean Temp.: 40°F (4°C)
Average High: 52°F (11°C)
Average Low: 28° F (-2°C)

PR Score & Course Score

PR Score: N/A
Course Score: N/A

Race Size

2024: 91 Finishers
2023: 91 Finishers
2022: 92 Finishers
2021: 103 Finishers
2020: 94 Finishers
2019: 105 Finishers

BQ Percentages

2024: N/A
2023: N/A
2022: N/A
2021: N/A
2020: N/A
2019: N/A

Miscellaneous Information

Pace Groups?: No

Recent Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon Reviews

5 Stars from 1 Reviews
View all Reviews

Josh Drake's review of 2013 Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon.

5 / 5 Stars

Review
Toughest marathon in the south. Take your BEST marathon time and double it. 4:22 is course record. Most difficult marathon I have ever heard of much less run. Amazing feeling of accomplishment just to finish. 5 total aid stations on the out and back wilderness trail course. No cell coverage. Beautiful mountain views if you are not too exhausted to lift your head. Sponsored by Arkansas Ultra Running Association with aid station assistance from TATUR (Tulsa Area Trail and Ultra Runners). Course is up and over mountains with minimal switch backs. No entry fee but most folks donate $10-20 to the community center.

Race Tips
MOST runners end up bloody, lost and wet. For HARD CORE trail runners only. More ascent than Pikes Peak Marathon (8,500+). Eight mountains, few creeks and a river then you turn around and come back. Carry water. Gaiters are helpful. Your feet will get wet in the river at least and maybe a few creeks. http://www.athensbigforkmarathon.com/readme.aspx

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)
The "community" of Big Fork AR can be difficult to find but if you drive slowly enough down the highway, the start line is the only place with more than two cars. No bathrooms on the course and arrive early before the community center bathroom clogs up as it does from overuse every year.

View all Reviews

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Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers

It's here! Our annual list of the year'sbest marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Marathon Pace Bands

Run the Right Pace in Your Next Marathon

Nearly 500 marathon courses.Ships same or Next Day

Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon

Big Fork, ARSaturday, January 4, 2025

Description

Pace Band

Other Marathons in January

Other Marathons in Arkansas

Race Hotels/VRBO

Pace Band | Race Details | Rankings | Course Elevation Chart | Race Hotels | Time Converter | Reviews

Want to Run Your Best Marathon?

See what splits you need to run for hundreds of different marathons - adjusted for the specific terrain of each marathon, your goal time and pacing strategies. Create Your Custom Pace Band Today!

Race Information

Race Dates

2025: Saturday, January 4, 2025 2024: Saturday, January 6, 2024

Course Information

Profile: Very Hilly Type: Out and Back Surface: Trail Boston Qualifier?: No World Marathon Major Qualifier?: No

Race Day Weather

Mean Temp.: 40°F (4°C) Average High: 52°F (11°C) Average Low: 28° F (-2°C)

PR Score & Course Score

PR Score: N/A Course Score: N/A

Race Size

2024: 91 Finishers2023: 91 Finishers2022: 92 Finishers2021: 103 Finishers2020: 94 Finishers2019: 105 Finishers

BQ Percentages

2024: N/A2023: N/A2022: N/A2021: N/A2020: N/A2019: N/A

Miscellaneous Information

Pace Groups?: No

How does the Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon Rank?

The Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon was the 367th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 324th largest in 2022.

Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon Elevation Chart

Max Elevation: 2023 feet (616m)Min Elevation: 1028 feet (313m)

No course elevation available at this time.

Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon

View available accomodations around the Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon Finish Line and Course. Book your Reservation now before the best places are sold out.

For a better mobile or desktop experience: Click for Full Size Hotel Map

How Fast Can You Go?

If you ran the Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon in 4:47:00, what would your time in other marathons be? See how your race times would compare on other marathon courses with our time conversion tool.

Recent Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon Reviews

Josh Drake's review of 2013 Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon.

Review

Race Tips

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

The "community" of Big Fork AR can be difficult to find but if you drive slowly enough down the highway, the start line is the only place with more than two cars. No bathrooms on the course and arrive early before the community center bathroom clogs up as it does from overuse every year.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

It's here! Our annual list of the year's
best marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Nearly 500 marathon courses.
Ships same or Next Day

Big Fork, AR
Saturday, January 4, 2025

See what splits you need to run for hundreds of different marathons - adjusted for the specific terrain of each marathon, your goal time and pacing strategies.

Create Your Custom Pace Band Today!

2025: Saturday, January 4, 2025
2024: Saturday, January 6, 2024

Profile: Very Hilly
Type: Out and Back
Surface: Trail

Boston Qualifier?: No
World Marathon Major Qualifier?: No

Mean Temp.: 40°F (4°C)
Average High: 52°F (11°C)
Average Low: 28° F (-2°C)

PR Score: N/A
Course Score: N/A

2024: 91 Finishers
2023: 91 Finishers
2022: 92 Finishers
2021: 103 Finishers
2020: 94 Finishers
2019: 105 Finishers

2024: N/A
2023: N/A
2022: N/A
2021: N/A
2020: N/A
2019: N/A

Max Elevation: 2023 feet (616m)
Min Elevation: 1028 feet (313m)

Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the
Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon

For a better mobile or desktop experience:

If you ran the Athens Big-Fork Trail Marathon in 4:47:00, what would your time in other marathons be?

See how your race times would compare on other marathon courses with our time conversion tool.