Arkansas · Marathon · 10K · 25K
Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run
Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run is a marathon, 10K and 25K event held in Mena, Arkansas. Its next confirmed date is Saturday, January 9, 2027. About 660 runners take part across all distances.
- Race day
- January 9, 2027
- Location
- Mena, AR
- Field size
- ~660 runners
Race details
- Date
- Saturday, January 9, 2027
- Location
- Mena, Arkansas
- Distances
- Marathon, 10K, 25K
- Field size
- About 660 runners
- Course
- Very hilly / mountainous — max 1,850 ft, min 1,050 ft, ~7,000 ft cumulative gain (out-and-back)
- Registration
- runsignup.com
- Official website
- abftrailmarathon.com
Registration, course & weather
- Registration status
- Open
- Start time
- 8:00 AM CST
- Course profile
- Out-and-back course; Trail surface; 7000 ft gain, 7000 ft loss (official course data); Not USATF certified; Not a Boston qualifier
- Typical race-day weather
- about 47°F at the start, 98% humidity, 5 mph wind (based on the 2026 race day, measured near the city center rather than the exact start line; Open-Meteo, checked September 25, 2026)
About the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run
The Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon is a small, grassroots out-and-back trail race through the Ouachita Mountains near Mena, Arkansas, held every January since 1999. Full marathoners climb eight named mountains twice (16 climbs, roughly 7,000 ft of cumulative gain) on the century-old Athens-Big Fork postal trail, while a companion 17-Mile Blaylock Creek Fun Run turns around partway. It is widely regarded by trail runners as one of the toughest marathon-distance courses in the South.
More marathons in Arkansas
Coming up next, by confirmed date.
-
Mid-South Races for Hope (Mid-South Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5K)Wynne, ARMarathonHalf Marathon5K ~24 runners
-
All Abilities MarathonLittle Rock, ARAll Abilities Marathon ParticipantLogan's Run - VendorLogan's Run - VolunteerLogan's Run Participant +1 more ~100 runners
More races in Mena
More upcoming races in Arkansas
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Creep N' Crawl - Half Marathon, 5K, Lil Monsters Kids' DashLittle Rock, ARHalf Marathon5K0.5 Miles
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Jim Rowland FCA River Valley Run 5k, 10k, Half MarathonFort Smith, AR5K10KHalf Marathon ~300 runners
Keep exploring
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Guides from the RaceRove blog
- 8 min read How to Choose Your First Marathon A practical checklist for choosing a first marathon based on course, weather, cutoff, travel, field size and support.
- 7 min read How to Find a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon Near You A practical way to find running races near you: pick a distance, decide how far you'll travel, read the listing properly and confirm the details before you register.
- 9 min read How to Run a Race in All 50 States How to plan a 50-state running challenge: set your own rules, group states into trips, build a calendar around the seasons, budget for it and keep track of every finish.
- Blog All guides Planning advice for finding, choosing and travelling to races.
Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run: common questions
- When is the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run?
- The next confirmed date is Saturday, January 9, 2027.
- Where is the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run held?
- In Mena, Arkansas.
- What distances does the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run offer?
- Marathon, 10K and 25K.
- How many people run the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run?
- About 660 runners across all of its distances. That figure is an estimate of the field size, not an entry cap.
- How do I register for the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run?
- Registration is handled by the organiser at runsignup.com. Entry fees, caps and deadlines are set there.
- Is registration open for the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run?
- Yes — registration is open. Listed fee for the longest distance, $54 (from runsignup.com, checked September 25, 2026).
- What time does the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run start?
- 8:00 AM CST.
- What is the course like at the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run?
- Out-and-back course; Trail surface; 7000 ft gain, 7000 ft loss (official course data); Not USATF certified; Not a Boston qualifier.
- What is race-day weather usually like at the Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon & 17 Mile Fun Run?
- about 47°F at the start, 98% humidity, 5 mph wind (based on the 2026 race day, measured near the city center rather than the exact start line; Open-Meteo, checked September 25, 2026).
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