Runners' Almanac
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Late November · Southeast · Out-and-Back

White River Marathon

Cotter, AR · Saturday, November 21, 2026

Event listed as: Marathon

  • Best for PR
  • Boston Qualifier
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Registration opens on the organizer's site

Typical start

47°

Cooler than 58% of U.S. marathons

Modeled historical conditions

Elevation gain

120ft

Flatter than 75% of races

Estimated total climb

Field size

600

Larger than 22% of races

Estimated field

PR potential

9.1/10

Ahead of 63% of races

Almanac model

Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.

Course profile

120 ft gain · 0 ft net

Flat course, out-and-back.

0510152026.2
Schematic profile drawn from total gain, total loss and course category, on a shared vertical scale of 200 ft. Not a surveyed GPS trace.

Race-day weather

Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.

6 AM

39°

Start

47°

Midday

58°

ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk

Typical start sits at 47°F, excellent marathon conditions.

Typical dew point 40°F, 22% chance of precipitation, wind around 10 mph. All modeled.

The bottom line

A quietly fast race that does not ask for much beyond honest pacing.

White River Marathon is a strong choice for a PR attempt, and Cotter offers very little meaningful elevation. The tradeoff is atmosphere: expect long quiet stretches and few spectators.

Why runners choose this race

A out-and-back course around Cotter, AR, with very little meaningful elevation change.

The case for it

  • PR attempts
  • Boston qualification
  • Runners who want a low-key start

The tradeoffs

  • You want crowds and on-course energy

Course and logistics

Course type
Out-and-Back
Surface
Road
Profile
Flat
Total gain
120 ft(estimated)
Total loss
120 ft(estimated)
Net elevation
0 ft(estimated)
Field size
~600 runners(estimated)
Crowd support
Quiet, low-key
Entry
Easy
Entry fee
$80(most recent listed price)
Day of week
Saturday
Start / finish
Start and finish in the same area

Race details

Typical timing
Late November
Next confirmed date
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Registration
Open now
Region
Southeast
Editorial tier
Recommended
Data last reviewed
2026-08-26
  • Best for PR
  • Boston Qualifier
  • Out-and-back
  • Flat course
  • Easy entry

Similar races

Races with a comparable profile.

Late January · Southeast

Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K

Gulf Shores, AL

Weather
50°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~600 runners
Course
Flat
Elevation
50 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Marathon

PR9Weather9Experience6

Mid-February · Southeast

Run Oak Island

Oak Island, NC

Weather
43°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~400 runners
Course
Flat
Elevation
40 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Full Marathon

PR9Weather9Experience6