On February 17, it was cloudy and cool – perfect weather for a long-distance race. Runners and walkers took off down Broad Street on a 13.1-mile race through both Cities of Texarkana. Texas Mayor Bob Bruggeman and Arkansas Mayor Allen Brown fired the starting guns at 7:30 a.m. for the 12th annual Run the Line Half Marathon. Seven hundred runners and walkers registered for the race setting a new record. Runners from 14 states ran in the race including runners from as far away as Connecticut and Washington State.

The race is a unique opportunity to run in one half marathon in both Arkansas and Texas. The USA Track & Field certified course includes Nix Creek Trail, Phillip McDougal Trail in Spring Lake Park, and city streets with coning. The runners loved having volunteers and residents – young and old alike – cheer and encourage them as they ran the course. The 3rd and Wood Street finish line included a post-race awards presentation at the historic Hopkins Ice House.

Awards were presented to the top three female and male finishers in Overall, Masters, Grand Masters, and Senior divisions, along with the top three places in 5-year age increments, 2-Person and 4-Person Relay Teams, and top walkers. This was the ninth year for the Run the Line to be included in the prestigious Arkansas Grand Prix Series, and the race was the very first race in the new Natural State Running Series.

The Run the Line is a collaborative effort of the Texarkana Texas and Arkansas Police, Parks, and Street Departments, generous sponsors, 225+ volunteers, Four States Amateur Radio Club, and Partnership for the Pathway. The Partnership is a non-profit, all volunteer organization building a safe pedestrian and bicycle trail system in the Texarkana area. Information about the Partnership for the Pathway is available at www.txktrails.org. The race proceeds benefit the Partnership and are used to collaborate with the two cities to build a safe trail system for Texarkana residents and visitors.