White River Marathon 2026
- Date
- Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Cotter, Arkansas
- Entry fee
- From $30 · goes up to $90 on Oct 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt and a hoodie or sweatshirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
Likely to sell out. 170 finished the 5K in 2025, and this year's cap is 200.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Nov 21, 20267:00 AM | $80$90 after Oct 1, 2026 | 350 |
| Marathon | Marathon | Nov 21, 20267:00 AM | $95$105 after Oct 1, 2026 | 250 |
| 5K | 5K | Nov 21, 20267:30 AM | $30$35 after Oct 1, 2026 | 200 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Half Marathon fee goes up to $90 on Oct 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Half Marathon: $80 until Oct 1, then $90 until Nov 1, then $100 until Nov 20, then $110 until Nov 20.
- Marathon: $95 until Oct 1, then $105 until Nov 1, then $115 until Nov 20, then $125 until Nov 20.
- 5K: $30 until Oct 1, then $35 until Nov 1, then $40 until Nov 20, then $45 until Nov 20.
Online registration closes Nov 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $95, entry is about the same as a typical marathon in Arkansas ($90).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a marathon in Arkansas runs 4:39:31, about 10:40 a mile, based on 5 races with published results. Women typically finish in 5:01:58 and men in 4:22:01.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:53 AM, and the Half Marathon starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 570 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
181 Mabel, Cotter, AR 72626
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Half Marathon
5K
Marathon
Aggregated from official results for White River Marathon. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at White River Marathon?
At the 2025 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:38:23 or better, the top quarter in 1:52:33, and half the field in 2:09:48; the last tenth came in after 2:52:04.
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 24:48 or better, the top quarter in 28:28, and half the field in 35:29; the last tenth came in after 53:39.
At the 2025 Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 3:10:41 or better, the top quarter in 3:41:07, and half the field in 4:21:25; the last tenth came in after 5:54:53.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1:41:38 | 1:21:50 |
| 20-29 | 1:48:03 | 1:32:33 |
| 30-39 | 1:46:23 | 1:41:35 |
| 40-49 | 1:44:07 | 1:32:03 |
| 50-59 | 1:52:36 | 1:53:11 |
| 60-69 | 2:08:05 | 1:59:19 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 19 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
White River Marathon Half Marathon year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 238 to 288 finishers, and the median time dropped from 2:10:15 to 2:09:48.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 288 (-7%) | 2:09:48 | under 1:38:23 | 1:15:49 |
| 2024 | 309 (+13%) | 2:14:56 | under 1:44:22 | 1:14:09 |
| 2023 | 274 (+27%) | 2:18:16 | under 1:39:12 | 1:18:05 |
| 2022 | 215 (-10%) | 2:17:41 | under 1:40:39 | 1:21:19 |
| 2021 | 238 | 2:10:15 | under 1:41:40 | 1:22:08 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Arkansas half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:52:33, against 2:00:42 in a typical Arkansas half marathon, so times here run 7 percent faster.
- 5K: Faster than most Arkansas 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:28, against 29:23 in a typical Arkansas 5K, so times here run 3 percent faster.
- Marathon: Faster than most US marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2025 marathon field finished under 3:41:07, against 3:52:43 in a typical US marathon, so times here run 5 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around November 21 the day usually runs from 39°F at dawn to 59°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 16% of days. Cold snaps dip to 27°F and hot years reach 72°F.
Based on 85 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 181 Mabel, Cotter, AR 72626Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 570 feet
- Included with entry
- Hoodie! (Actual sweatshirt, not the light weight tee); Awesome Race T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 21, 2026), 2025 (Nov 22, 2025), 2024 (Nov 23, 2024), 2023 (Nov 18, 2023), 2022 (Nov 19, 2022), 2021 (Nov 20, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is White River Marathon?
- Saturday, November 21, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $90 on Oct 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Arkansas?
- At $95, entry is about the same as a typical marathon in Arkansas ($90).
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt and a hoodie or sweatshirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 288 runners finished the Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:09:48 and the winner ran 1:15:49.
- Does it sell out?
- It can. 170 runners finished the 5K in 2025, close to this year's cap of 200, so register early.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:52:33, against 2:00:42 in a typical Arkansas half marathon, so times here run 7 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 181 Mabel, Cotter, AR 72626.
From the organizers
Everyone loves finishing in the park!
White River Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Boston Qualifier
Shoe Recycling Drive - bring your old shoes to us!
Flat Course along the White River!
Registration is limited to 750 participants - sells out!
Family & Runner friendly atmosphere!
Pasta Dinner is back!
Schedule:
Nov 20 | Friday: 5:30 - 7:30pm
Packet Pickup & Pasta Dinner at Cotter Schools
Nov. 21 | Saturday | 5:30 am - 6:40 am
Packet Pickup at Cotter Schools
Nov. 21 | Saturday | 7:00 am
All race start
Nov. 21 | Saturday | 2:00 pm
Race cut-off time (all distances)