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Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers
It's here! Our annual list of the year's best marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.
The White River Marathon was the 311th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 292nd largest in 2022.
Last year 22.6% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 14.8% of runners qualified for Boston in 2022.
This gives the White River Marathon the 34th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 94th highest percentage in 2022.
Its Course Score of 99.31 ranks it as the 137th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 1st fastest course in Arkansas.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are within the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the White River Marathon a PR Score of 99.31. This PR Score ranks it as the 95th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 1st fastest in Arkansas.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
White River Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 644 feet (196m) Min Elevation: 428 feet (130m)
2020 races are hard to come by, and I needed to get Arkansas for my 50 state challenge, so this was great.
Registration was capped at 750, but the half marathon shares the same course (one loop for half marathon, 2 for full). The loop does NOT include mile 1 from the start line, so the finish is at a different point, one mile from the start.
Here's why- the first mile is a steep downhill from the start down to a road that encompasses the rest of the course. You only do that downhill one time, so on the second loop for the full they move the turnaround cone a half mile down the road. The flat road. The very flat road.
So this is BQable for sure. I'd love if that first hill was four miles down, but still.
The road itself is paved and is fine. Pretty in spots, but often just a road, with the beautiful White river visible at times but also not.
Race Tips
There were no pacers, and the corral start meant people were pretty strung out quickly. The course road is NOT closed, but not real busy with cars and trucks towing fishing boats. This was a minor disruption (say 10 cars passed me in 3 1/2 hours) and no stop signs or anything, but you do have to keep an eye out for traffic.
Parking at the school at the start was plentiful. No need to arrive more than an hour before gun. I stayed at the Cotter Trout Lodge, 2 miles from the start in the very sleepy town of Cotter. It was affordable and the staff was super polite. The room was clean and had a new TV but otherwise dated. It was a nice hotel and I'd stay there again for sure. There is a little restaurant next door that had great fried chicken after the race- the White Sands.
M Whitt's review of 2018 White River Marathon.
5 /
5 Stars
Review
I've ran a flat fast course before but this has to be the best. Small marathon but put together very well. It’s a two loop course so you get to see a lot of the runners at different times. It's ran along the beautiful White River in Arkansas.
Nice pasta dinner night before race,a few businesses setup with gels,clothing and shoes. Soup,chili and pizza after race was just what I needed after burning up all my fuel!
Race Tips
Flattest race I've ever done,along the White River on a paved road. Looking for a BQ,this is it!
