A marathon is not just an endurance race, it’s a community celebration and a celebration of community.
More than two years ago, the Little Rock Marathon community found something new to celebrate with the launch of the All-Abilities Marathon, a program that gives people with disabilities a chance to log their miles and accomplish every runner’s goal — crossing the finish line.
“The Little Rock Marathon is such an iconic community event that’s been going on for 25 years,” says Sherrie Shinn, therapeutic recreation program coordinator for Little Rock Parks & Recreation. “I think finding a way for everyone to be involved in this major event that’s happened to our city is important.”
The All-Abilities Marathon is a non-competitive program for people of all ages with intellectual, developmental and/or physical disabilities that offers a supportive and safe environment for participants to work toward fitness goals and have fun.
Beginning in the fall, All-Abilities entrants follow a program of running, walking or rolling as they amass most of the marathon’s 26.2 miles leading up to race day in March. It concludes with the final mile on the Little Rock Marathon course, allowing participants to cross the official finish line with crowds cheering them on.
“Our tagline is ‘All-Abilities, one finish line,’ because everyone, the thousands of people that run that Little Rock Marathon, cross that same line,” Shinn says. “We want to make sure that anyone who wants to take part in that event is crossing that line.”
Participant Brandon Phillips is a returnee who was immediately hooked and anticipates the All-Abilities Marathon each year.
“It was good. I’d say it’s like on a scale of 9 to 10,” says Brandon, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental profile now classified under autism spectrum disorder.
His mother Angel Phillips says her son has always been competitive, enjoying both individual and team sports like basketball, and he embraced his All-Abilities training with signature enthusiasm.
“It’s a great feeling. I feel that he has gained a lot of his independence,” says Angel, who also works within the therapeutic recreation program. “It’s just a joy seeing him compete. He loves what he does. He’s out there with his peers. It’s a great opportunity for him to shine, and it gets him out of his comfort zone, and that’s what we really love about it.”
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2027, the Little Rock Marathon has expanded over its history to include a 5K, 10K, the Little Rockers Kids Marathon and the All-Abilities Marathon, all of which traditionally take place the first weekend of March.
The All-Abilities program delivers on the marathon’s longtime motto, “The Race for Every Pace.”
“We’re big believers in inclusivity and trying to show everybody the benefits of running and walking and endurance events,” says executive director Geneva Lamm, who has been with the marathon for its entirety.
Lamm and Shinn agree that the therapeutic recreation program is one of the parks and recreation department’s better-kept secrets, and hope the All-Abilities Marathon will continue to grow and underscore the program’s work with community members with disabilities.
“It’s one of those things that Sherrie and her very small staff, they do so much for an underserved population,” Lamm says. “She does a fantastic job. We want to help shine a light on what her division does and the need for more funding for that division.”
The All-Abilities event is an offshoot of Logan’s Run, named for the late Logan Bussard, a former therapeutic recreation program employee and runner who was passionate about working with people across all ranges of abilities.
“We decided the best way to continue his legacy was to continue the dream he had to merge those two worlds,” Shinn says of Bussard, who died in 2024.
The standalone, 2K Logan’s Run takes place on Sept. 26 and serves as the kickoff for All-Abilities Marathon entrants to begin logging their miles. Brandon says he pushes himself on the treadmill to get in shape for the event.
“So when I get out there I get ready for the real thing,” he says.
By most accounts, the All-Abilities finish line is a heart-tugging celebration of the entrants and their accomplishments. Shinn recounts the finishers’ joy and sense of accomplishment when completing the final mile.
“The first year was extremely emotional,” she says. “This thing had come to fruition. Watching the runners come across and the looks on their faces as they crossed that finish line. It was a first for everybody involved. Seeing the reactions of the marathon team and the reaction of the parents was so special.”
Brandon says the All-Abilities finish line vibe reminded him of certain better-known events, only with a healthy dose of local community spirit.
“It’s like being in the Special Olympics, but you’re like inside the city full of people, which is pretty good,” he says.
And his mom couldn’t be happier to cheer from the sidelines.
“Not only am I watching [Brandon], I’m watching the others and they’re all excited about it,” Angel says. “It’s an overwhelming feeling. It’s an overjoy.”
Learn more at littlerockmarathon.com/all-abilities-program.