LoVit Trail Marathon

LoVit Trail Marathon takes place at Lake Ouachita, Arkansas, on Saturday, December 5, 2026, with a single format: a trail marathon of 26.2 miles starting at 8:00 a.m. It is listed as a trail event rather than a road race, so finishing times run slower than they would on pavement over the same distance, and the marathon is the only distance on the schedule.

A trail marathon in December suits runners who already have a road marathon or a long trail race behind them and want the distance without the asphalt. Build for about 16 weeks with a weekly long run that climbs toward three or four hours, and put as much of that mileage as you can on singletrack so your ankles and calves are used to uneven ground. Rehearse eating and drinking on the move, because an 8:00 a.m. start means several hours out there, and pace the first half well inside what feels easy.