Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon training plan: course, start dates, and plan options
Little Rock, ARDecember 5, 2026
The Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon puts its last climb at mile 26. You cross Two Rivers Bridge to finish, having already crossed it at mile 19, the Big Dam Bridge at miles 1 and 18, and the Clinton Presidential Bridge at mile 9.
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Everything between those crossings is flat paved trail along the Arkansas River in Little Rock. The organizers say it themselves: mostly flat, except for the three bridges. Which means all of the course's elevation arrives as short, steep ramps, and three of the five crossings come after mile 17.
72 days to race day
Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon · December 5, 2026 · about 10 weeks out
Your plan starts with your race and works backward. Every week lands on a real calendar, with race day at the end.
When to start training for the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon 2026
Race day is December 5, 2026, which is 72 days from today. Counting back from that date, here is when each length of build starts.
- 30-week buildWindow has passed
- 24-week buildWindow has passed
- 18-week buildWindow has passed
- 16-week buildWindow has passed
- 12-week buildshortest Stride acceptsWindow has passed
You have about 10 weeks until race day, which is inside the shortest build Stride matches. Stride won’t pretend there is room for a responsible full build. You can still use the finder to check your starting point, then choose a later race if this runway is too short.
Answer a few questions, choose your plan, then create your account and subscribe to start training in Stride.
Let’s find the plan for you.
Your race, current mileage, longest run, marathon experience, and available days decide the best fit. Stride maps the plan you choose to race day at the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon.
- Stride Run-Walk FinisherThree sessions a week with planned walk breaks, cover the full distance before race day.
- Stride First MarathonThe classic four-day first-marathon build: easy running and one weekly long run, no speedwork.
- Stride First Marathon PlusA first-marathon build with a little more volume and weekly race-pace miles.
- Stride 6-Day FinisherFinish your first marathon on frequency: six easy-leaning runs a week, no monster long runs.
- Stride 5-Day Pace BuilderFive days a week with race-pace runs before your long runs, built for a mid-pack time goal.
- Stride 6-Day RhythmSix days a week with three quality sessions, steady fatigue that teaches you to finish strong.
- Stride Time-Based FoundationFive time-based runs a week, mostly easy, the injury-averse way to a strong finish.
- Stride Time-Based BuilderSix time-based runs a week at a strict 80% easy / 20% hard split, chase a time goal without breaking.
- Stride 3-Day Cross-TrainThree runs plus two cross-training days over 24 weeks, marathon fitness on a busy schedule.
- Stride 3-Day QualityExactly three hard runs plus two mandatory cross-training sessions, every workout counts.
- Stride 6-Day CumulativeThe six-day cumulative-fatigue build with quality from week two, for PR chasers with a base.
- Stride Threshold 55The serious BQ/PR build to 55 miles a week: threshold work, medium-long runs, and 20-milers.
- Stride Threshold 70The high-mileage BQ/PR build to 70 miles a week for veterans with a deep base.
- Stride 2-Quality FlexTwo fixed quality sessions a week, everything else flexible easy running, fits any schedule.
Answer a few questions, choose your plan, then create your account and subscribe to start training in Stride.
Choose your Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon training window.
Compare 12, 16, 18, and 20 weeks counted back from race day. The 18-week option includes the complete four-day schedule.
The course: a 19 mile loop east, then a 7 mile loop west
The Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon runs a 19 mile loop east from the start, then crosses the start finish line and heads out on a 7 mile loop to the west. It's mostly on the paved Arkansas River Trail, USATF certified as AR25005WJT, and a Boston qualifier. The organizers describe it as flat apart from the three bridges.
Bridge order matters more than bridge count. Big Dam Bridge comes at mile 1 and again at 18, the Clinton Presidential Bridge at mile 9, and Two Rivers Bridge at 19 and again at 26. Big Dam is a genuine pedestrian span with a real ramp on each side, and you take it the second time with 18 miles already in your legs.
Passing your own finish line at mile 19 and turning away from it for another 7 is the other feature of this design. Aid comes nearly every mile, portable restrooms sit along the route, and volunteers come from essentially every running club in central Arkansas. What nobody is going to do is carry you through those last 7 miles on crowd noise.
How to train for the 3 Bridges Marathon
Train for the 3 Bridges Marathon as a flat race with one specific late demand: short, steep climbs on tired legs. Big Dam Bridge at mile 18 and Two Rivers Bridge at 19 and again at 26 mean your last hour includes ramps you have to power over. Flat goal pace work on its own won't prepare you for that.
So put the hills at the end of the run, never at the start. Every week or two, finish a long run with three or four controlled 60 to 90 second climbs on a bridge, a parking ramp or a highway overpass. Run them at effort rather than sprinting. You're teaching your legs to change gear when they'd rather not, which is what mile 26 asks for here.
The rest is pacing on smooth, level ground. The Arkansas River Trail is paved and mostly flat, so your splits will look identical for hours and early over-pacing stays hidden until it isn't. Do the bulk of your long runs on paved trail at goal pace, and get used to running with only a handful of people in sight.
Getting in
Registration is open and tiered, stepping up as race day approaches: around $120 plus fees at the early rate, about $140 in the final weeks, and roughly $160 if you wait until packet pickup. Pickup runs the day before at Rock City Running, with race morning pickup from 4:30 a.m. at the start finish area. There's no lottery and no qualifying standard.
Where does the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon get hard?
Miles 18 to 20, when Big Dam Bridge and Two Rivers Bridge arrive back to back and you pass your own finish line before turning west for another 7 miles.
What is the weather like at the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon?
There are no verified race morning norms published for this event, so check the forecast rather than planning around a season. An early December start in central Arkansas can swing a long way from one year to the next, which argues for layers you're happy to throw away. If you take the 5:00 a.m. early start you'll be running in the dark, so dress for the wait as well as the race.
Is the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon a good Boston qualifier?
The 3 Bridges Marathon is USATF certified under AR25005WJT and the organizers state it's a Boston qualifier. The profile helps: flat paved trail with no sustained climbing means little on the course costs you time beyond the bridge ramps. Qualifying standards and the registration cutoff change, so check the BAA directly for the current rules before you build a season around it.
Is the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon a good first marathon?
It's a reasonable first marathon with one condition. The six hour cutoff is firm for the 7:00 a.m. start, and the organizers direct runners who expect to take longer to the 5:00 a.m. early start, which allows eight hours. Decide honestly which start you need when you register rather than on race morning.
Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon questions, answered.
How hard is the 3 Bridges Marathon?
It's an easy profile with hard placement. The organizers describe the course as mostly flat except for the three bridges, run on the paved Arkansas River Trail in Little Rock. The problem is when the climbs arrive: Big Dam Bridge at mile 18, Two Rivers Bridge at mile 19, and Two Rivers again at mile 26.
Which three bridges does the 3 Bridges Marathon cross?
Big Dam Bridge, the Clinton Presidential Bridge and Two Rivers Bridge, all in Little Rock. You cross Big Dam at miles 1 and 18, Clinton Presidential at mile 9, and Two Rivers at miles 19 and 26. That's five crossings in total, and three of them come after mile 17.
Is the 3 Bridges Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes. The organizers state the course is a Boston qualifier and it's USATF certified under AR25005WJT. Flat paved trail with no sustained climbing gives you few ways to lose time. Qualifying standards and the registration cutoff change from year to year, so check the BAA directly for the current rules.
What's the time limit at the 3 Bridges Marathon?
Six hours from the 7:00 a.m. start. Runners who expect to take longer are directed to a 5:00 a.m. early start, which gives eight hours. The organizers are clear that runners past the cutoff on the regular start may be removed from the course, so pick your start time honestly.
Where does the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon get hard?
Miles 18 to 20, when Big Dam Bridge and Two Rivers Bridge arrive back to back and you pass your own finish line before turning west for another 7 miles.
What is the weather like at the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon?
There are no verified race morning norms published for this event, so check the forecast rather than planning around a season. An early December start in central Arkansas can swing a long way from one year to the next, which argues for layers you're happy to throw away. If you take the 5:00 a.m. early start you'll be running in the dark, so dress for the wait as well as the race.
Is the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon a good Boston qualifier?
The 3 Bridges Marathon is USATF certified under AR25005WJT and the organizers state it's a Boston qualifier. The profile helps: flat paved trail with no sustained climbing means little on the course costs you time beyond the bridge ramps. Qualifying standards and the registration cutoff change, so check the BAA directly for the current rules before you build a season around it.
Is the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon a good first marathon?
It's a reasonable first marathon with one condition. The six hour cutoff is firm for the 7:00 a.m. start, and the organizers direct runners who expect to take longer to the 5:00 a.m. early start, which allows eight hours. Decide honestly which start you need when you register rather than on race morning.
When should I start training for the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon 2026?
Race day is December 5, 2026. Counting back from that date, a 20-week build starts around July 18, 2026, a 16-week build around August 15, 2026, and a 12-week build around September 12, 2026. Already inside that window? Stride maps a plan from today to race day, whatever the runway.
How does Stride's Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon plan work?
Download the app, pick the Jacob Wells 3 Bridges Marathon as your race, and answer a few questions about your recent running and your weekly schedule. Stride matches you to one of 14 marathon plans, maps every week from today to December 5, 2026, adjusts when life gets in the way, and puts you in a feed of runners training for the same race.
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