Runners can choose between running 26.2 or 13.1 miles, and the half marathon course will start at the mid-way point of the full marathon route, near the intersection of Highway 82/278 and Levee Road. From there, runners head northeast and almost immediately hit the recently opened 82 Bridge that spans the river and features the only hilly stretch anywhere along the race course. After they make it over and down the bridge — also known as the Greenville Bridge — runners then head northeast along the highway into Greenville, along fast and flat paved terrain the entire rest of the way.
The race finishes in downtown Greenville, the home of famed writers William Alexander Percy and Shelby Foote (the author of the beloved Civil War trilogy and the face of Ken Burns’s The Civil War documentary in 1990 for PBS) as well as Muppets creator Jim Henson. Runners will head north along Washington Avenue all the way into the city, turning left near the courthouse to head in to the finish line near the riverfront park, Stein Mart Park.
New from 2018, runners may run the first half of the full marathon, which takes place entirely in Arkansas, followed by the regular half marathon course. Half marathoners in the Arkansas race begin with the full marathoners and can complete both half marathons as part of the Delta Double Down challenge.
Shuttle buses will take runners in both races to each starting line, as runners will meet at the finish line to board the buses to the start. Runners in the full marathon or Delta Double Down challenge will have 7 hours to complete their 26.2 miles, while those running the half marathon will have 6 hours to finish their race.
Musicians will be out on the course playing Delta blues music, organizers add, and proceeds from the race will go to benefit the Washington County and Southeast Arkansas Community Foundations.
