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☰
Tupelo Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Tupelo Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 2.5
Number of comments: 159 [displaying comments 141 to 151]
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A Runner from Oxford, MS
(9/23/2002)
"fluids, carbs, toilets..." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I have done this marathon twice and the 14.2 @ 4 times and am familiar with the area. Temp at 5am was 75 plus 90% humidity. That being said you need fluids every two miles from start to 14 and every mile thereafter. Human physiology and fluid depletion/replacement requires this. Post race festivities are second to none, great food, drink & camaraderie. Personally, I would move the race to November as a prep race for Memphis or Huntsville. The weather would be much better and I think you would attract more runners at a normal time. Although I would still stay with the early start, nice to have the entire day ahead of you after one's put in an 'easy 26.2'... Perhaps the course could do a double non-repetitive loop heading to the east side of Tupelo i.e. Elvis' house, UM Tupelo Campus, Battlefield, etc...just a thought as it would be much less repetitive for the out of town visitor and more enjoyable, plus you might see another person! | |
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Rob from Jackson, MS
(9/13/2002)
"Organizers were great." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Ok, Tupelo is a small town in MS. This isn't the Chicago Marathon. However, for the slow, beginning runner that I am, the race was perfect. It was hot and humid, that's just Mississippi. There was one thing about which I was extremely impressed. When those last slow runners were finishing up, the organizers began checking on us. The local police who were in charge of traffic control began checking on us. They were offering me water, bananas, etc. while I ran. I didn't even have to wait for an aid station. They were bringing things to me. I know that this doesn't mean much to the elite runners, or even the average runers for that matter. But for the 5 hour guys such as myself, this was appreciated more than they will ever know. | |
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A Runner from Winter Park, FL
(9/4/2002)
"Hot, Humid, Hilly." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 But what would you expect on September 1st in Mississippi? For this Floridian, the heat and humidity were not a problem. The rolling course through the countryside was challenging. The course is a double loop. Due to the 5:00 a.m. start the first half was largely in the dark for this 4 hour runner. That made the second half, after sunup, seem like a different course. Adequate water/Gatorade stops, with big cups. Timers on course at 3 mile mark and half way. Mile markers on pavement. Very few spectators, just a few friends of runners. | |
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A Runner from Alabama
(9/3/2002)
"Fantastic little marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is a nice little marathon with a challenging course and great organization. Race starts at 5:00 AM (and you are glad that it does once the sun comes up). No spectators, but the volunteers are supportive and enthusiastic. This is recommended marathon in the the late summer in the South. | |
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A Runner from Alabama
(9/3/2002)
"Nice, little marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is the first year I ran the Tupelo marathon after running many large marathons, and I was pleased by the organization and course. A gently rolling hill course that is a challenge, yet not too difficult. Race starts at 5:00 AM (you will be glad it does after the sun comes up) and nice post race party. If you are looking for a small marathon in the south, I would recommend this one. | |
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A Runner from From Alabama
(9/3/2002)
"Nice little marathon" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is a well run, nice late summer marathon. It starts at 5:00AM because of the heat, (and you will be glad about two hours into the run that it starts that early). No fans, but the volunteers are great and very enthusiastic. Nice end of marathon party. | |
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A Runner from Charlotte, NC
(9/2/2002)
"fair to middling" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Let me start by saying this is a very challenging race. Completing a marathon in Mississippi in early September is difficult enough. Then you add starting the race in the dark (5 am), a course marked by a lot of bump and run hills, and absolutely no fan support and you have even more to overcome. All that said, it was a good race. My main complaint was the lack of water stops. You cannot expect runners to stay hydrated--on a hot, rural course no less (no convenience stores to pop into)--when your water tables are 2 to 3 miles apart, with your last water stop at 23. I'm sure it's hard to recruit volunteers in Tupelo to get up at the crack of dawn and stand in the heat for several hours to hand out drinks, but it is vital in such a humid climate to drink as much as possible. In addition, no bananas or oranges on the course, either. This may sound whiny, but it would have made a huge difference in performance. Bananas were at the finish line, so they were available. Getting them at mile 18 or mile 20 water would have been far more beneficial to the runner than at the end. If the race organizers could clear up this one problem, this marathon would really increase in popularity, especially for hardcore runners. It has too many positives (cheap entry fee, great shirt and medal, down home feel)to be undermined by what could be so easily resolved. | |
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(Scott) from Birmingham, Alabama
(9/1/2002)
"Easy run, needs more organization" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The course was like they said, 'gentle rolling hills'. But it is an out and back course which which some may like, others maybe not. It begins in the dark around 5:00 am and with no starting gun, someone simply yells go as you are talking to your friends or spouse. The hills were not bad at all but the heat played havoc on some. I saw two experienced runners go down due to dehydration and heat. There need to be a few more water stops. There were no port-a-lets either except for two on a construction site just off the road. Overall, I enjoyed the run. Even though I suffered a little leg pain from not enough training, I still scored a personal best. There was basically no crowd support and a few drivers, which were common on the course, almost ran me down. | |
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A Runner from Northwest Arkansas
(8/28/2002)
"great post race, shirt and no bad spectators" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 After I ran it the first time I said I would never again get up at 3:45 to run a marathon. This is the first marathon that I ran three times. I also ran the 14.1 one time. Years past they flipped burgers, a great time if you enjoy pizza and/or beer. Why don't all marathons have beer and pizza or burgers? I unfortunately will not be there this year. This marathon is unique, eat the night before at the Italian restaurant North of McCullough on Gloster. No bad specatators (I remember seeing some that were watching for the runners they drove to the start) and very few homes and less homes that have people awake. Ample aid stations. I could not let the spectator thing lower my rating. | |
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A Runner from Houston, TX
(9/6/2001)
"A down home no frills quality run" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Looking for a well organized marathon with no frills, small or no crowds, friendly support, along with beer and pizza at the finish? If that's the case don't miss this one. Many thanks to the courteous organizers and volunteers who are responsible for a very pleasant experience. PS - Don't look for a PR here- |
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