Arkansas Traveller 100 History
The
Arkansas Traveller 100 was founded and directed for ten years by Lou and Charley
Peyton of Little Rock. The first running of the event was on October 5, 1991.
In 1989, Lou Peyton was one of four women to complete ultrarunning’s
Grand Slam—the first year this feat was accomplished by a female. It was the
Peytons’ travels to these 100 milers in other states that provided the
inspiration for the Traveller. They
wished to organize a similar event to share the true ultra-running experience
with their local friends and runners, and also to host a run where they could
invite the many friends they had made at other races from across the country.
It is this spirit of friendliness that has earned the Traveller the
reputation of being one of the most hospitable races in the United States.
Over 200 volunteers assist with the race--working the aid stations and in
other areas to make sure runners receive everything they need to finish their
100-mile adventure.
Starting
with the 11th running of the race in 2001, the Peytons turned over
race-directing duties to Chrissy and Stan Ferguson. Although it was transparent
to most, there was one other change with the race that year: the Arkansas
Ultra Running Association became a (RRCA) club entity of its own—with one of
its purposes being to provide a formal organizational foundation for the
Traveller. Previously, the race was
organized under the auspices of the Little Rock Roadrunners Club.
The
Arkansas Traveller course has remained almost exactly the same throughout its
history. Two minor variances have
occurred—both of which are merely trivial.
For the first seven years, the race started at the site of the Lake
Sylvia aid station and finished at the entrance to the Lake Sylvia park—where
race headquarters was located. In 1998, due to repairs underway at the park, the race
headquarters and finish were moved just over a half mile up the road to Camp
Ouachita, with the starting point being adjusted accordingly.
Beginning in 2001, the Turnaround aid station was moved approximately 200
yards to enable the start and finish to be at the same location.
The
headquarters of the race remained at Camp Ouachita from 1998 through 2002.
This location is about 30 miles west of Little Rock and adjacent to the
Lake Sylvia recreation area. Camp
Ouachita was a Girl Scout camp built in the 1930’s and is the only surviving
G.S. camp built jointly by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress
Administration. For over a decade since the race’s
inception, proceeds from the AT100 went to the effort to restore this camp--which fell into a critical state of disrepair after it became inactive around
1980. After the restoration
project gained more attention and additional funding, major repair work
ensued which caused race headquarters to be moved back to Lake Sylvia
occasionally between 2003
and 2007. With the restoration now essentially complete, we have been
proud to call
Camp Ouachita
home for the last several years.
[ Home ] [ Arkansas Traveller ] [ Ouachita Trail ] [ Events Calendar ]