Entries sought for Running of the Tubs

In just less than a month, tubs will be racing down Central Avenue in the ninth annual Stueart Pennington Running of the Tubs bathtub race.

The race, which will span the length of Bathhouse Row on May 17, is named in honor of the late Stueart Pennington, a Hot Springs business and civic leader. Entries are being taken at $25 per team, and are due at Visit Hot Springs in the Hot Springs Convention Center by 8 a.m. May 9. Entry fees will be donated to the Downtown Merchants Christmas Tree Fund.

"Each year the entries have been so creative and we take any and all entries as long as they fall into the rules," said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs.

According to Arrison, a secret panel of judges will meet "at an unannounced time in an undisclosed location," to come up with the 2014 rules.

These rules are "subject to sudden and unannounced changes, sometimes even after the race starts."

Teams must consist of five people, with the fifth member riding in the bathtub. Of the other four pushing the tub, one must carry a large bar of soap, one a nice bath mat, one a loofah mitt and the last a bath towel, all while keeping one hand on the tub at all times. Each team crossing the finish line must still have these items in their possession or they will be disqualified.

Tubs must be no smaller than 4 feet long and 2 feet wide, with wheels no larger than 30 inches in diameter, mounted on axles no more than 44 inches wide. Coasters and casters are not allowed, and no motors or mechanical devices can be used to push the tub.

All team members must be 18 years or older, and each team member must wear a hat of some sort. The tubs must be full of water at the start of the race and have at least 10 gallons of water left at the finish line. If the judges find less than 10 gallons, the team will be disqualified.

And the "death penalty" rule will remain in effect for this year's Running of the Tubs. This specifies that any team member who argues with a judge "will be banned from bathing on Central Avenue forever."

"It's a very laid-back event, and you never know what's going to happen," Arrison said. "Everybody gets wet because there's water balloons flying everywhere, and goes by really quickly. It's probably an hour from start to finish."

The event started small, bringing out locals to join in the festivities, but Arrison said it has slowly grown over the years.

"Originally, it was meant to focus on the bathing history of Downtown Hot Springs, but we've been seeing more and more people coming in on this weekend, planning their trips to Hot Springs around this particular event," he said. "And honestly, what better way to spend a Saturday morning in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas?"