Fort Smith General Darby Challenge

Event:    Fort Smith General Darby Challenge Event: 13.1 m Ruck; 13.1 m Half Marathon; 10K; 5K - Ruck, Run, or Walk  
When:    Sunday, April 26th 2026 at 7:00am 
Time:      07:00am - Noon CST. This is a  "mass start", non-sanctioned, but timed event. Dead Stop: 12:00 noon
Where:   Downtown Fort Smith at Cisterna Park. FSGDC begins and ends at the “Darby Statue” (1001 Garrison Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72901)

Questions and/or sponsorship info: fsdarbychallenge@gmail.com  or 479-783-7841

Additional info: fortsmithmusuem.org or darbyhouse.org

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557398563665
Hotels & Lodging: Holiday Inn Express; Hampton Inn; Home 2 Home; Homewood Suites; Fort Smith Riverfront RV Resort; Springhill Recreation Area & Campground / RV; Priceline; Travelocity

Ruckers, Runners, Hikers & Walkers  
Mass Start: 0:700 am at Darby Statue at Cisterna Park in Downtown Fort Smith
Check-in: Check-in for all divisions begins at 6:30 am at the Darby Statue. Ruck with 25lbs or more weighed before and at finish line. Ruck / Backpack weigh-in begins at 06:00 at the Darby Statue / Start Point.

- Finisher medals will be awarded to participants completing the challenge and special recognition will be awarded to those with the best times. 
  13.1 Mile Ruck will recognize the first 20 participants and no other categories. Your are welcome to Ruck the 10K and 5K events but you will register as a runner and will be treated as a runner for timing and award purposes.
- 13.1 Mile, 10K and 5K runners, hikers and walkers will recognize age and gender 1st, 2nd and 3rd place categories.

FS General Darby Challenge Details: 

*The FS Darby Challenge event is a non-sanctioned but timed 13.1 m Ruck / Half-Marathon, 5K or 10K that welcomes participants to ruck, run, or walk competitively or at your own pace. You have 5 hours to cross the finish in all event categories. Choose your event to meet your fitness goals. 
*It is open to civilians, those on direct military orders, active and/or retired military, ROTC/JROTC. 
*Divisions for the FSGDC are: Ruck/Weighed (before and at finish), 13.1 m Run, 5K, 10K
*For those unable to make the FS Darby Challenge in person, a virtual participation option is available with finishers medal.
*Finisher’s medals will be awarded to all participants completing the Darby Challenge.
*Special recognition will be awarded to those with the best times in all divisions.
*In the Ruck Division, special recognition will be awarded to the first 20 Ruck participants to cross the finish line. 
*All participants have the option to purchase a t-shirt at registration for $20.00 *Last day for t-shirt orders is April 12th, 2026.  Note: There may be the possibility to purchase a t-shirt the day of the Challenge but sizes are not guaranteed.  

Route: Event Map & Information
The Fort Smith General Darby Challenge will begin at the General William O. Darby statue in Cisterna Park in Downtown Fort Smith; continue down “A” Street to the Greg Smith River Trail where the route will turn north and continue along the Riverfront to Fort Smith Park. The return route doubles back along the trails, following the return path to the General William O. Darby statue at Cisterna Park in Downtown Fort Smith where participants are will be able to honor General Darby upon completion of the Darby Challenge.

Parking: is available throughout downtown Fort Smith. Sunday parking should be easily obtained by individual participant.

General Information
Mark your Calendars! The Fort Smith Museum of History, with the new Darby House organization, and the City of Fort Smith proudly announce the 2nd Annual Fort Smith General Darby Challenge, a ruck march and half marathon event dedicated to honoring General William O. Darby and Fort Smith’s "Twin Cities", Cisterna, Italy and Nago-Torbole, Italy. The FS Darby Challenge will take place on Sunday, April 26, 2026 starting at 7:00 am at Cisterna Park in downtown Fort Smith.  

The Fort Smith Darby Challenge honors Fort Smith native General William O. Darby, who sacrificed his life on April 30, 1945, in Nago-Torbole, Italy. In 2023, Fort Smith and Nago-Torbole established a special “twinning” partnership to celebrate their shared history. This international sister city event coincides with Nago-Torbole’s Col Darby 40 Mile Ranger Challenge.

The 2026 Darby Challenge will commemorate the 81st anniversaries of General Darby’s death and World War II’s armistice and will feature a "Silent Mile" along the Arkansas River to honor 93 WWII Arkansans listed as KIA or MIA near Fort Smith’s sister cities in Italy.

The Fort Smith General Darby Challenge will kick off at the General William O. Darby statue in Cisterna Park in Downtown Fort Smith. Participants will follow “A” Street to the Greg Smith River Trail, where the route turns north and continues along the Riverfront to Fort Smith Park. The return route retraces the trail, leading back to the General William O. Darby statue at Cisterna Park in Downtown Fort Smith. Participants will have the opportunity to pay their respects to General Darby upon completing the Darby Challenge.

In 2026, the FSGDC will honor Master Sergeant Joshua Lloyd Wheeler who was KIA in Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve.  A member of the Cherokee Nation and a native of Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, he was a member of the elite Delta Force, and was the first American service member killed in action as a result of enemy fire while fighting ISIS militants. He was also the first American to be killed in action in Iraq since November 2011.

All proceeds from these events will benefit the Fort Smith Museum of History and new Darby House organization.

Join us in celebrating the legacy of General William O. Darby and the bond between Fort Smith and its twin cities, Cisterna, Italy, and Nago-Torbole, Italy, at the Fort Smith General Darby Challenge on April 26, 2026. 

More information about the hosting organizations can be found at: fortsmithmuseum.org or darbyhouse.org