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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 21 to 31]
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R. R. from Memphis, TN
(8/31/2014)
"A new day in Tupelo" (about: 2014)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Tupelo Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 There were big changes this year in Tupelo. The course is all new, highlighting the city of Tupelo rather than running through the rural surrounding areas.The 14.2 mile 'half' is gone, replaced by a certified half. The out and back full has been scraped and a 'two loops' around the city format has been adopted. There is now a finish inside the air conditioned Tupelo (Bancorp) Coliseum complete with a band and seating for spectators. Some things have remained the same. Tupelo's famous swag is back. The half marathon medal was super cool and was actually bigger than the full marathon medal (although the full was no slouch.) The long sleeve psychedelic t-shirts (this year in pink) are a staple (although I still miss the whole shirt tie- dye rather than just the sleeves- personal preference.) The race was well stocked at all aid stations, even at the back of the pack, and there was plenty to eat and drink at the finish, including the famous BBQ sandwiches. The 5AM start in the dark may be a little less dramatic under the sreetlights rather than the stars, but is still pretty cool. And of course there is still all the heat and humidity that makes suffering as much a part of the Tupelo tradition as the swag and the early start. What was surprising was the new course itself. The old course was gently rolling hills, and in those rare years that Fall type conditions arrived early to Mississippi, the course was perfect to set PR's (my 2nd best time ever was run during such blessed conditions here.) The new course was surprisingly hilly and adds a new dimension to the suffering know as the Tupelo marathon. I doubt many PR's will be set on this new course (unless you love hills.) I know several runners scheduled to run the full marathon who called it quits after the first loop because they couldn't handle the heat and humidity (expected) AND the hills too. Fortunately there were plenty of half medals to accomidate the marathon defectors to the half. Overall, I liked the new course although this year was my slowest time by far. Maybe, given the new level of difficulty, the 6 hour time limit should be extended. I know a few runners who usually run near the 5 hour mark in past years who were barely able to finish this new couse in 6 hours. Its that much tougher. My only other criticism was that the marathon medal has the number 13.1 at the bottom under the Tupelo Marathon name. It kind of looks like the full medal is actually for the half marathon, at least at first glance. Its not a huge thing, but several people commented on it. It would be easy to fix. Bottom line. Tupelo celebrates heat, humidity, and now hills. Its a challenge that will test you. The swag is great and the organization is top notch.Its a small town race with big time attitude. Come suffer with me again next year. | |
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S. N. from Murfreesboro, TN
(8/31/2014)
"Good swag; course needs work" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tupelo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I truly enjoy smaller races and looked forward to the Tupelo Marathon. Packet pick up was quick and painless, and the shirt was very nice and good quality. My biggest frustration was the course mile markings, or shall I say, lack of markings. It was not until the sun came up that I realized there were some markings on the ground in white paint. I would think it not unreasonable to have mile markers on the course. This led to much guessing and trying to figure out what mile I was at on different portions of the course. I am not one who needs people cheering me on but I was very surprised at the almost total lack of people along the course, even in the neighborhoods. Water stops were well manned and had plenty of water and powerade. Overall, I enjoyed myself and the destination, with some minor tweaks this is a very good marathon. | |
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D. N. from South
(8/31/2014)
"New course, poor result" (about: 2014)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I've run this race for the last several years. I've in fact enjoyed the experience. This year, they were forced to change courses. This course had dozens of turns. It seems the idea was to run through as many subdivisions as possible. There were zero mile marker signs. Most miles had been painted onto the pavement, but if you weren't on the correct side of the street and looking down, you would miss them. I ran the half this year and there were a total of 5 aid stations in 13 miles. Mind you, this is in the South during the summer. It was horribly humid. If I hadn't worn my fuelbelt, I would've become dangerously dehydrated very early in the race. The finish was inside BancCorp South Arena, which was nice. Frankly, I have zero interest in returning to this race despite having done it multiple years in a row. | |
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M. J. from Covington, LA
(8/31/2014)
"Loved it!!" (about: 2014)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Tupelo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great SMALL marathon. Coolest shirts and medals ever!! Pretty course for the most part, except when passing by the tornado damaged areas, but those areas were a good reminder of so many blessings I take for granted. I was scared of the hills, but they weren't too bad. Traffic control was wonderful. Volunteers were great. One more drink station would have been nice. Overall (except for the STUPID snake I saw on mile 22) it was great!!! I enjoyed it way more than the uber crowded NOLA Rock n Roll! And I LOVE New Orleans! | |
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M. H. from Missouri
(2/27/2014)
"Great race and loved the shirt" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Tupelo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I expected heat and humidity and Tupelo delivered. I enjoyed the course, there were hills but nothing extreme just rolling hills. Loved starting in the dark running along the roads with headlights. | |
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J. K. from South Mississippi
(9/12/2013)
"Great" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Tupelo Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've been running this marathon since 1997. It's become my favorite. Very economical, runner-friendly, and well organized. I hate to lose the old course, but really looking forward to what Mike and the gang have in store for us in 2014. | |
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R. R. from Memphis, Tennessee
(9/8/2013)
"Better in Past" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Tupelo Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Let me preface this by saying I love the Tupelo Marathon and still think it is a great race. However, this year has a new race director and he needs to have honest feedback. The changes were noticed and didn't get the response he'd probably hoped for. First, Tupelo is famous for its swag. In fact, no other marathon of its size can boast of the quality of things received by runners as Tupelo. However, this year the cost-cutting was painfully obvious. The cotton tee's have always been of top quality in the past. The design this year with the skull and crossbones was in line with previous years, but the shirt was thin and cheap. I'll not wear it, which is a marked deviation from previous years. The 14.2 mile finisher's medal was not the trade mark full marathon medal raggedly cut in half. Instead it was a large, but frankly uninspired medal that could have been from anywhere and was a big let down for those who came a thousand miles just for the medal. The full medal was a Boston Marathon tribute medal, which pains me to criticize, but just wasn't up to stuff when compred to previous medals which wete far more detail and had far more attitude. (Reference the 'pewter' skull and crossbones medal with red glass eyes of a few years ago as one of the best medals ever!) Still, I could forgive all that if only the volunteers hadn't abandoned the last 2 aid stations of the race during unbearable heat and humidity. I'm a slower runner (5 or more hours) and I need water more than the fleet footed leaders who breeze through the last 5k in 20 minutes or less. It takes me 30-45 minutes on a good day (and this wasn't a good day.) The MOST important aid stations for slower runners were abandon. The heat was near 100 degrees on the black road. Had not a Good Samaritan driver stopped to give me a cool bottle of water, I would have passed out. Leaving the water stations unmanned in that brutal heat and humidity over the closing miles of a marathon is unforgivable! It's incredibly dangerous for the runners and irresponsible in the extreme!! It has never happened before in the last 5 years I've run this race and I pray that it never happens again! So, to sum up, Tupelo is still a fun race designed to test a runners toughness under extreme conditions. It is also a cultural phenom that has attracted runners from far and wide for its high quality swag and attention to detail. I hope the new RD has learned from this year and will restore the race to its previous glory even if he needs to raise the entry fee a couple of bucks to do it. After all, a good reputation can't be restored easily once it is lost. | |
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K. M. from NH
(3/9/2013)
"A great race!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tupelo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 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... | |
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D. G. from Mississippi
(2/20/2013)
"Nice Run" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Tupelo Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Cool Temps, low humidity, flat course with a year around tailwind. Enjoyed the event. Dale | |
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n. s. from tallahassee, florida
(9/20/2012)
"Great Small Race" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Tupelo Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My husband and I came to do it as a training run for a 50 miler in November. Knew about the slogan 'hurdle the weak, trample the dead' and was wanting to do the race for the challenge. The humidity was ghastly, but we have been running in that, so it was fine. Director was great, packet pick up in really nice shop, the medals and the long sleeved cotton tye-dyed shirts are FABULOUS. Many here to do it for training, and it's a congenial crowd. Very neat & different starting out in the dark, enjoyed the country roads. Out & back course means you get to say hi to everyone, which I like :) We both finished well under 4 hours and the car traffic was a little on the heavy side nearing the end- that was the only fault with the course...they need to have a portion of the road at that point coned off for runners. If you enjoy a smaller, fun, relaxed race,this is for you. Volunteers were awesome & enthusiastic. Course is rolling hills, not flat but has some flat portions. If you are someone who needs a bunch of spectators, this is not for you. If you love running for running's sake, this is for you. |
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