The 2013 Fayetteville Half Marathon will take place after all.
Organizers with All Sports Productions initially announced that this year’s event would be canceled because of lingering snow and ice, and that no refunds would be given to the nearly 650 registrants who signed up for the race.
A backlash ensued on the event’s Facebook page which prompted organizers to rethink their decision.
Racers run north along Garland Avenue on Dec. 9, 2012 during last year’s Fayetteville Half Marathon.
Photo: Todd Gill
“We know that our original decision to cancel the event without providing our participants with value for their registration fee was a mistake,” organizers said Friday. “We were wrong. But we listened to our customers – the running community – and we have worked hard to develop better options.”
The half-marathon, 5k and fun run races originally set for Dec. 15, will now take place Saturday, Dec. 21 on the Lake Fayetteville paved trail system near the softball complex beginning at 9:15 a.m. Organizers said all runners registered for the Dec. 15 events are automatically registered for the Dec. 21 races. Those who cannot make it, may transfer their entry to the 2014 event.
The rescheduled races will begin just after the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks’ Jingle Bell Jog concludes on the same trail system.
Race registration
To register for the Fayetteville Half Marathon, visit fayettevillehalfmarathon.com. To register for the Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Reindeer Relays, visit register-wizard.com.
“We thank the BGO Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/Walk and Reindeer Relays for working with us on our rescheduled date,” stated officials. “They were gracious in allowing us to start our event just after their event concluded. Our events are completely separate. But, we know that our rescheduled event could impact them and that is why the Fayetteville Half Marathon will donate all new registrations to the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.”
Officials said even if the Fayetteville Half Marathon does not have any new registrations between now and Dec. 21, they will still make a donation of some kind to the botanical garden.
All Sports Productions officials said they are “committed to being an industry leader in the way we handle any future cancellations. If an event must be canceled for reasons outside our control, we will transfer the participant’s registration to the event’s rescheduled date.”
