Press Release - Mississippi Blues Marathon - 9/30/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

             Blues Marathon Announces New Course for 2010

(Jackson, MS) – Competitors in the 3rd Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon 
and Half-Marathon, scheduled for January 9, 2010, will enjoy a faster 
layout as well as a new start/finish area in downtown Jackson. Race 
organizers are moving the start and finish lines to the intersection of 
State and Capitol Streets, in front of the Old Capitol.

"This redesign was done based on a combination of things," said John 
Sewell, Director of Corporate Communications for Blue Cross & Blue Shield 
of Mississippi. "A big factor in the move was a request from staff at the 
Old Capitol, who wanted to offer the building as a historic backdrop for 
our start/finish area. Feedback from runners was also taken into 
consideration, and we’ve tried to change the course to eliminate some of 
the hills, especially in the final miles."

The new course will run west on Capitol Street, take in the Metro Parkway 
out to Jackson State University, and come back through downtown on 
Pascagoula Street before picking up the original course and winding through 
Belhaven. The stretch along Lakeland Drive has been shortened, and runners 
will also enjoy a less crowded course through the Eastover area. The final 
miles will run south along Old Canton Road from Briarwood Drive, crossing 
over Interstate 55 and continuing south to State Street before finishing 
downtown.

"The changes to the course will also offer competitors more convenience 
with regard to accessing the Expo and starting line, and we see this as a 
great opportunity to highlight the exciting progress being made in downtown 
Jackson," said Sewell. "Runners will be able to stay in hotels, walk to the 
Expo and starting area, and enjoy the nightlife of downtown after the 
race."

More than 350 runners from 31 states and the District of Columbia have 
already registered. Registration is offered online through the marathon’s 
website at www.msbluesmarathon.com.

The Expo for the Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon will run for 
two days in 2010, taking place January 7-8 at the Jackson Convention 
Center. Information about purchasing exhibit space at the Expo is available 
on the race website as well.

                            ###