FAYETTEVILLE — At 31, the Hogeye Marathon is still going strong.

The marathon itself has dropped from headliner status in recent years, but race creator Barry Brown isn’t concerned. There is still plenty of interest in the Hogeye, which begins at 7: 30 a. m. Sunday with a series of races beginning at Fayetteville’s downtown square.

These days the most popular race is the half-marathon, which is again part of the Arkansas Grand Prix series. Brown said halfmarathons used to be a race runners ran before attempting a marathon, but now half-marathons are it for many.

“It has become the most popular of all the runs, which is outstanding,” Brown said. “Most people used that as a steppingstone, [thinking ] if they can finish that, then they can step up to the marathon. It’s a catch-all race for everyone.”

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Brown doesn’t care what race people choose, as long as they get out and do one. He is a fierce health and fitness advocate, and he re-established the children’s run to help get youngsters involved in running.

“It’s a passion of mine,” said Brown, a retired University of Arkansas professor. “It’s something I do because I love it. The important thing is to start people out as early as possible. If we do that, we’ve accomplished our goals.”

Brown said more than 500 are preregistered for all the races Hogeye will offer Sunday, which includes a 5 K and corporate relay race. He said he has again invited two Arkansas wheelchair racers to participate, even though the Hogeye course isn’t ready for a fullscale wheelchair race.

“We can’t open it up nationally,” Brown said. “It’s a really tough run for a wheelchair athlete.”

Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody will be the race starter Sunday, and Brown praised Coody’s and the city’s assistance in putting on the Hogeye. Brown hopes to eventually persuade Fayetteville to make the Hogeye its own race.

That would allow the city to shut down the streets during the race, allowing for more participation and better safety, Brown said.

“They do that in most of the big cities,” Brown said, referring to the New York City Marathon. “If New York can do it, little ol’ Fayetteberg can do it.

“ We can really build this thing up. There’s no reason we can’t. Little Rock did it in a couple of years.”

Brown just returned to Fayetteville from a one-month lecture cruise to such spartan locales as Australia, Fiji and Hawaii. He gave a series of lectures on health and fitness to people whose average age was 80, he estimated.

He didn’t try to sign any up for the Hogeye Marathon, Brown said, but his Hogeye T-shirts were popular items.

“I did bring my Hogeye T-shirts onboard,” Brown said. “I got a lot of comments from the people on the ship.” 31 ST HOGEYE MARATHON WHAT A 26. 2-mile race, half-marathon, relays and a 5 K WHEN 7: 30 a. m. Sunday WHERE Begins at the Fayetteville downtown square and continues through various neighborhoods before winding back and finishing at the square WHO As many as 700 runners are expected to compete in the marathon, half-marathon and 5 K events

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TODAY Fitness Expo, noon-6 p. m. SUNDAY Marathon, 7: 30 a. m. Half-marathon, 7: 30 a. m. Marathon relays, 7: 30 a. m. Corporate 5 K, 7: 35 a. m. 5 K run / walk, 7: 35 a. m. Awards ceremony, 2 p. m.