If you’re planning to run a marathon in Mississippi, don’t miss out on these races which are consistently rated the best by those who have run them.
Mississippi Blues Marathon – Jackson
This race celebrates the rich Blues history of the region. You will enjoy live music before and after the event, and even during the course itself. Click here to read more about the Mississippi Blues Marathon.
The Course
This course goes through the capitol complex, and runners will experience the rich heritage of the city.
Image Source: MapMyRun.com
Reviews
“I chose this particular marathon because it was rated very high for marathons in this area. Pros: VERY challenging course with many many hills and I LOVE a good challenge. Excellent race director. Good swag bag with a long sleeve pullover which I LOVE so much! It’s a nice change from the technical shirts usually given. Beautiful medal! LOVE BB King!” A.B., MarathonGuide.com Review
“Best road race. Easy start – no bussing. No corrals. Just run. It’s a bit hillier than I anticipated. Great crowd, most awesome volunteers. Awesome finisher medal – blue glass guitar. Good pizza at the finish. Music along the way. Highly recommend it as a beginning of the year marathon!” -Kristen, Yelp Review
Mississippi River Marathon – Greenville
This race begins across the state line in Lake Village, AR. Participants will run along the largest oxbow in the country and the race ends in Greenville, MS. The goals of the race organizers are two-fold. First, to help people get excited about getting and staying healthy. Second, in an effort to support excellent education, funds raised by the event will be donated to Teach for America. Click here for dates and registration info for the Mississippi River Marathon.
The Course
The race holds the distinction of being the only marathon in the entire Mississippi Delta. The average temperature and humidity create the perfect weather for an excellent marathon experience.
Image Source: Racesonline.com
Reviews
“This is a great race, well run, and benefiting a great cause. I ran the inaugural last year and enjoyed it again this year. The first half of the course around the lake is nice, the bridge is pretty cool, but the next 4.5 miles are a long, straight stretch of HWY 82. Thankfully, the good folks of MS come out and set up several cheering stations through here. Lots of residents in the neighborhoods from miles 20 – 23 do a great job with support. Great finisher amenities too. Lots of food and fun.” – A.J., Marathonguide.com Review
“Last year this was my first marathon to run. I enjoyed seeing all the community show up again this year cheering us on despite the weather. Homeowners on both sides of the river thanking us for running. Loved seeing the little kids (future participants) run up and doing high fives and holding up signs. Great event, see you next year!” -Marty Curley, Facebook Review
Riverboat Marathon Series Day 3 – Hollandale
This race is Day 3 of a 7 Day race that is held over 7 consecutive days in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. Participants can register for the entire event, or for any individual races they wish. Click here to learn more.
The Course
The course requires 20 laps over level, paved park roads in Leroy Percy State Park, near the small town of Hollandale, Mississippi.
Image Source: MainlyMarathons.com
Reviews
“Small race, small course, a bunch of loops. Sounds odd. But having done 15 marathons in this series (mainly marathons dot com.) I can attest that these races are so much fun. Most of the runners sign up for all 5, either the half of the full. The courses are usually small, 10 or 20 laps on a small course. This series features 5 really nice, beautiful state parks. The small loops are great for these races, because you are passing a crazy over-stocked food and aid station every couple of miles. Many runners show up not knowing what to expect, but eveyone leaves a part of something bigger. Great fun, great race, great runners, and great organizers. Huge Thumbs Up!” – Patrick Weldon, MarathonGuide.com Review
Tupelo Marathon
Race organizers are proud that this race is conducted like marathons used to be. If you need music, spectators, and frequent water stops… this isn’t the race for you. On the other hand, if you can brave the heat and humidity, you’ll be rewarded with a fashionable tie-dyed shirt just for entering, and if you complete the course, a unique medallion will be yours.
The Course
The Tupelo marathon starts in downtown in that city and continues through a number of historic communities. Expect rolling hills – remember, this is northeast Mississippi! The course ends indoors at the coliseum.
Image Source: http://tupelomarathon.racesonline.com/course
Reviews
“This is a must do race for the southeast! Rolling hills through beautiful neighborhoods, flat easy-to-maneuver sections downtown, and an indoor arena finish. The organizers are fantastic and so helpful. I would return for future races. Don’t miss out y’all!” – W.D., MarathonGuide.com Review
“I liked the predawn start, but it is still pretty sticky so beware of the humidity. The race director was very attentive and accomodating. The comraderie on the course was terrific. The race was far from flat but the hills were not too intense. They did a great job, especially for a small race…” – K.M., MarathonGuide.com Review
Magnolia Marathon – Meridian
This race benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, Lion’s Club Charities, and local charities.You will travel from Northeast Park to the downtown area in Meridian. From there you will go through several historic neighborhoods and charming open spaces before finishing back at Northeast Park.
The Course
Watch the video below to answer all of your questions about the course:
Image Source: http://www.magnoliamarathon.com
Reviews
“I loved the race from packet pickup which took 5 minutes, getting to the race 15 minutes before the start and finding easy parking and the 18 water stops with Powerade and the small but enthusiastic crowds ever so often. Okay, so I’m biased toward small races, and I know some runners like large crowds so this may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Lots of rolling hills keep the run challenging and interesting. So I started out slow and had enough left to finish strong. Great to call the race director to get directions to the packet pickup! Pizza, fried chicken (in true Southern style!) and bananas at the finish! Loved the small race charm but I know this gem won’t be hidden for long!” – B.A., MarathonGuide.com Review
“Really enjoyed this marathon. Everything was very well-organized – bib pick-up, well-stocked aid stations throughout, post-race pizza and chicken. Even though it is a small town marathon, there are pockets of encouraging support throughout. The tech shirt you get is great as is the chunky finishers medal. It is a challenging course (marathons are supposed to be tough) with a few slow steady inclines. That said I managed to knock 8 minutes off my PB. Would like to run it again next year. Definitely would recommend it.” – P.S., MarathonGuide.com Review
Mississippi Coast Marathon – Gulfport
This race is held at the Stennis Space Center. The course is flat and a double loop on paved roads and includes a forested section. Previous racers rave about the helpfulness of the volunteers and staff.
The Course
This is a smaller event on relatively flat course.The race begins at Cypress House, continuing along paved roads for the first few miles. Then the course heads toward the north side of the space center property. You will reach the turnaround point between the 7 and 8 mile mark. The race finishes back where it began, at Cypress House.
Reviews
“I would like to thank the race director, Leonard Vergunst, and all the volunteers for making me remember why I enjoy running in the first place. It has been 10 years since I first ran this race, and during that time I have ran all the majors. If you want a lot of spectators, and crowds, this race is not for you. If you want good friendly people, a truly fast runner’s course, and a small marathon, this race is for you. Finally, the cost of the race is less than what I have paid for some 5k / 10k races and they didn’t even have hot jambalaya..” – P.D., MarathonGuide.com Review
“This is probably the best value marathon in the USA. The entry fee was less than $40 if memory serves, and included all the essentials. It is a flat course with a few minor, mild climbs esp. in the last mile. Overall, two thumbs up, and a big thanks to Leonard the event director, and the other volunteers. A word of caution if you are attempting to PR or BQ: Since the race starts at 8 am, you will find no shade on the course after about 9:30. In the 2013 running, we had blazing sun & v. light wind so by mile 10 you could start to feel the heat. 60-65F will feel more like 80+F on this course if there is humidity & no breeze. However, if you get lucky with the weather, this event has the potential to be very fast..” – M.W., MarathonGuide.com Review