Hero Half Marathon
About this race
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.***
Pick your distance
Running
Half Marathon
Certified 13.1 Mile Course
Half Marathon Firefighter Challenge- For Firefighters Running in Full Gear!
Are you a firefighter ready to take the ultimate running challenge?! By selecting this option you are committing to running the 13.1 mile Hero Half Marathon in full bunker gear! Eligible participants must be active duty firefighters (volunteers accepted too) Must run in full bunker gear provided by participant: helmet, coat, pants, and air pack (liners optional) Wildland gear acceptable Running shoes encouraged!
Quarter Marathon- 10k with some bonus running
Instead of a relay, run half of the half with your buddy! This will be slightly more than a 10k, 6.5 miles. https://www.strava.com/routes/2982722423683397536
Virtual Half Marathon
Can't make the race on race day? Sign up for the virtual option and we will mail your packet, shirt, and giveaways to your door!
Virtual Quarter Marathon
Can't make the race on race day? Sign up for the virtual option and we will mail your packet, shirt, and giveways to your door!
Run for Your Hero 5k
Hero Half Marathon 5k will start at the Northwest Arkansas Mall and be an out and back course that runs towards the skull creek and mud creek train intersection then returns to the Northwest Arkansas Mall. Proceeds go to support The Spark Foundation and Fayetteville Firefighters’ IAFF – Local 2866 Awesome Finisher Medal!! No race shirt provided.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 11 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in Fayetteville.
Course
Route map and elevation profile
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Summer Sizzler- Fayetteville
Golden Harvest Half Marathon & 5k/10k - Fayetteville
Midnight Recon
Spooky Sprint - Fayetteville
🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Fayetteville
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Fayetteville 5K Races 17 races
- 10K Run Events in Fayetteville 9 races
- Fayetteville Half Marathons 8 races
- Fayetteville Running Calendar 2026 19 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 27 Fayetteville events
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