With two weeks still remaining until the registration deadline, 220 participants have signed up for the First Ever First Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Zero K footrace, Visit Hot Springs said Thursday.
The 299-foot race will take place at 6 p.m. March 15, kicking off a three-day weekend of festivities for the First Ever 16th Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17.
The deadline for entry to the race is 11:59 p.m. March 1.
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said in a news release that organizers were uncertain how many people would be interested in the new inaugural event when planning began, but are pleased with the response so far.
"Our race will cover a course that is 299 feet long, one foot shorter than the granddaddy of all Zero K runs -- the Wacky Florida Keys Cow Key Channel Bridge Run that is 300 feet long," Arrison said. "Of course, that still makes our Zero K three times longer than the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade itself."
Arrison said the Zero K is designed for athletes who "do not like to get up early or break a sweat."
All proceeds from the race's registration fees will benefit Tri-Lakes CASA, an organization of court-appointed special advocates for children in foster care in Garland, Hot Spring and Grant counties. The event is sponsored by Michelob Ultra and Arkansas Beverage Sales.
The entry fee is $25 and participants will receive a Zero K T-shirt, finisher's medal, race bib and a tongue-in-cheek sticker similar to those that marathon and half-marathon runners receive.
"The marathoners' stickers say 26.2 for the mileage of those races," Bill Solleder, marketing director for Visit Hot Springs, said in the release. "Half-marathoners' stickers say 13.1. Ours will say 0 K."
There will be three separate heats for the race, offering something for any skill level.
The first heat will be for first-place contenders. Runners should bring their fastest run and try to set the world record.
The second heat -- the Leprechaun Dash -- encourages runners to dress up in their best St. Patrick's Day gear, or as their favorite leprechaun, and run.
The final heat is the Last Place Shootout for the slowest racer to cross the finish line while maintaining a forward motion.
Online registration is available at https://runsignup.com/Race/AR/HotSprings/StPatricksDayZeroK.
Local on 02/15/2019