Hero Half Marathon
The Hero Half Marathon in Fayetteville offers a fast, net-downhill course with strong community support.
Race Date
Oct 17, 2026
Location
Fayetteville, AR
Quick facts
- Date
- Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Location
- Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 13.1 Miles, 6.55 Miles, 5K
- Course
- Point to Point
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 4,136
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Hero Half Marathon, first run in 2014 and now in its 12th edition, is a community-focused event in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This race is known for its fast, net-downhill course, with a significant elevation drop that aids runners aiming for personal bests. The course is USATF certified and features a 40% start/finish separation, indicating a point-to-point design that contributes to its speed.
While the median field size is around 648 finishers, recent editions have seen around 326 participants, drawing runners from approximately 17 states. A loyalty rate of about 23% suggests a dedicated following. The event is organized by The Spark Foundation in partnership with the Fayetteville Firefighters, with proceeds benefiting local community needs and fitness initiatives.
Runners can expect a long-sleeved tech hooded tee as swag, with early registration encouraged to guarantee a size. The race also includes age group awards and a unique "Firefighter Challenge" for those opting to run the half marathon in full bunker gear.
Race-provided description
The Hero Half Marathon is a fundraising race and community event hosted by The Spark Foundation in partnership with Fayetteville Firefighters’ IAFF – Local 2866. Race proceeds benefit organizations that meet important community needs, increase fitness opportunities for the community, and make Fayetteville and Arkansas a great place to live, work, and play. The Spark Foundation is all about encouraging our community to get active and stay active. We will award age group awards for the Top 3 male and female finishers in each age division for both the half marathon and quarter marathon. Are you an active duty FIREFIGHTER? Want to participate in our Firefighter Challenge by running in FULL bunker gear? Sign Up for the Firefighter Challenge! *Please note if you sign up for the Firefighter Challenge you are committing to running the 13.1 mile half marathon in FULL BUNKER GEAR! Please reach out to contact@mysparkfoundation.org with any questions. *** Please note: In order to guarantee a race t-shirt (a long-sleeved tech hooded tee), you must register and select a size no later than September 12, 2026. If you register on or after September 12, 2026, we can no longer guarantee a race t-shirt. We will have some extra shirts available on race day, but please register before September 12, 2026, to ensure your shirt in your desired size.***
Logistics
Race Day
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Start Time
7:30 AM
Giveaway
Long-sleeve Race Tee (Gender Neutral Sizing)
Start Location
Fayetteville Firefighters' Hero Half Marathon, Fayetteville, AR, 72701
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Point to Point
Terrain
road
Scenery
Urban
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
-1.10 m
Separation
40.0%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
AR16022DLP · Hero Half Marathon 2016
Net uphill grade — expect a more challenging race.
Quality Score
Standout7712 years running
~648 finishers a year
shrinking
23% returning runners
USATF certified · 5 timing sources
runners from 17 states
winner 1:16:20
typical high 69°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
50°
Afternoon (High)
69°
Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish
0.1"
Precipitation
10 mph
Wind
58%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 4,136 finishers actually crossed the line across 12 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
4,136
Median time
2:06:27
Latest turnout
326
States
43
Turnout by year
2018–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Hero Half Marathon?
The Hero Half Marathon is held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.
Where does the Hero Half Marathon take place?
It takes place in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
What distances does the Hero Half Marathon offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 13.1 Miles, 6.55 Miles, 5K.
Is the Hero Half Marathon course flat and good for a PR?
The Hero Half Marathon is a ultra-flat, point to point course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Hero Half Marathon?
HalfRuns has finish records for 4,136 runners who have completed the Hero Half Marathon.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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