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☰
Mississippi Blues Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Mississippi Blues Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.8 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 4.1
Number of comments: 260 [displaying comments 181 to 191]
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C. W. from Henderson, TN
(3/12/2009)
"If you're going to run Mississippi, do it here!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Being a native Mississippian, I was excited about running in my home state; in fact, we ran by the hospital where I was born! The pros: Volunteers, volunteers, volunteers. More volunteers than you could shake a stick at, and the nicest people around. There was no confusion about where to go next. They ran the expo smoothly, and thanked us profusely for running. The course was completely closed off by plenty of police, who were incredibly nice, too. Sporadic course support, but some, toward the end, were handing out bananas, oranges, etc., in front of their houses. There was one group, right around BCBS headquarters, that really gave you that jolt you needed. Some of the course was beautiful, winding through historic districts and downtown. Blues CD and the backpack/goody bag were awesome, as was the music at the expo and after the race. Plenty of gel, Gatorade, and water. Cons: This course was tough, particularly those miles from around 15 on. LOTS of hills. I didn't particularly care for the day-glo yellow vest that came with the goody bag; I had to purchase a technical tee that I'd actually wear. And, I actually liked the volunteers' shirts better than the tech tees. More music along the course (along the likes of Memphis or Nashville) would be a great addition. Also, there were no clocks at all on the course, or anyone yelling times, so be sure to bring your watch if you want to pace yourself. All in all, it's a good experience. I don't know that I'll go back (at least to that particular course), but if you live in Mississippi or want to cross it off your list, it's definitely worth it! | |
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Janis Posey from Birmingham, AL
(2/18/2009)
"What a wonderful surprise" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I grew up in Jackson, MS and, quite frankly, didn't think I would enjoy running a marathon there. (You can't go home again!) I was wrong! The course had rolling hills (NO, those definitely were not hills - come to Birmingham and you'll see) and flats. The race was very well organized - offering GREAT vests in the race packet, along with a blues CD - and the volunteers thanked me for running! That was a first! If large crowd support is important to you, go to Chicago or New York; otherwise, MS Blues Marathon is a wonderful surprise! I would recommend it to anyone and will run it again! | |
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j. m. from michigan
(1/15/2009)
"up, down, up, down in the south" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The support and enthusiasm of the volunteers was actually very amazing. I put Mississippians on my top friendliest list. This was a huge help when one is tired. The expo was well organized. I just wish that race directors would give out maps that are actually to scale (a pet peeve of mine); it is impossible to use most maps from any marathon as an actual street guide on race morning. And they should have warned about the streets in many parts being very, very sloped and very potholed and in poor shape. I had to pay more attention to the street instead of the scenery. Otherwise, it was a good challenge - hilly indeed. The post-race area was well stocked. And the free massage at the yoga shop was great. | |
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S. S. from Oregon
(1/9/2009)
"Nice people, so-so course" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The pre-race expo was well organized and moved quickly, the goody bag was decent (although I don't wear vests very often), and pre-race instructions were thorough. Race-day parking was a little vague. Not enough porta-potties (of all the marathons I've done, Disney World is the only one that had no porta-potty lines). Course was hilly, but that was a known and it gave it some challenge. Hills were frequent, but none more than 1/4 - 1/2 mile long at the most. Course was well-marked with excellent traffic control, and there were friendly volunteers along the entire route. A good portion of the marathon route was an out-and-back along a larger highway connecting strip malls. The scenery for most of the route was not especially memorable. Aid stations were very adequate, but not overabundant. Crowds were light. The marathon field was small, with fewer than 500 runners. Even finish line crowds were small, albeit enthusiastic. After-race food was good and plentiful, and there was BEER, which is always fun. I'm glad to have done it, but I think once is enough for this venue. | |
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T. P. from Texas
(1/7/2009)
"Top-notch marathon." (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Best small marathon I've done. Terrific organization and support, great music, and plenty of post-race food. Lots of parking near the combined start/finish area. Plenty of rolling hills to mix it up a bit. None too long or big to present a challenge. Nice to have the variety of ups/downs/flats. This is a must-run for those who enjoy the small marathon setting. | |
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David Hurley from Roanoke, VA
(1/7/2009)
"Marathon With Potential" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 First, I will begin with positive aspects. Volunteers were friendly and traffic control was really good. The music at the expo was fantastic! There was plenty of food when I finished after five hours. Pizza, delicious sandwiches, and a Pepsi - what more could a runner want? Shuttle service from host hotel was helpful. The host hotel was very nice and within walking distance of the start and finish. Possible improvements before 2010: It would have been nice if the hotel had an airport shuttle since round trip fare was around $60. I was also surprised that the host hotel did not have a restaurant. For those of us who did not have private transportation, the expo was a little far for walking the day before the marathon. I liked the volunteer shirt better than the vest. In most of my 55 marathons large and small, approaching the finish line has always been a big rush with a cheering crowd. There were very few spectators near the finish line when I finished. Thanks to the director and his staff for pulling off a good marathon. It definitely takes a village for a marathon to be successful. | |
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Carolyn B. from Atlanta, GA
(1/7/2009)
"Spectacular organization; fun race!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 No detail was overlooked in organizing this race. Everything went smoothly from the packet pick-up to the finish line. I loved the bags and vests given out to participants. The course is hilly but well-staffed with friendly, encouraging volunteers and well stocked with water, Gatorade, and gels. There was an adequate number of porto-potties as well. Even though, there was 5-mile boring stretch from mile 13-18, at least it was flat. Just about every marathon I've run has a stretch like that. Great food and music at the finish line. Thank you, Jackson, for a great event! | |
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L. C. from Colorado
(1/6/2009)
"Great volunteers... LOTS of hills!" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 First time to Mississippi, and when someone told me the course was going to be hilly, I figured it couldn't be that bad. Was I ever wrong! Miles 1-13 were constant hills... I don't think I ever ran on flat ground during that time period. Up, down, up, down for 13 miles. There was a flat section for about 5 miles, but then back to the hills for that last 8 miles of the race. In fact, it ended on a 1/2-mile continuous hill, which was a bit cruel to those of us already suffering. The good: volunteers were the nicest I've come across, constantly thanking runners for coming to Mississippi and choosing to run the Blues Marathon. Music was excellent during and after! The medal is unique (in the shape of a guitar). This course is not a PR course, or even close really. Heed the warnings and train for hills (unlike me). I don't think I would run it again, but I enjoyed the experience. | |
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J. W. from Brandon, MS
(1/6/2009)
"No sophomore jinx on this 2nd annual event..." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Mississippi Blues Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Regardless of the heat, humidity, and hills, the 2009 Blues Marathon was indeed as enjoyable (if not more so) than the inaugural version last year! There is only one reason for this phenomenon: the tremendous effort of the organizers. An upgraded venue for the expo, bringing in Bill Rodgers, and retaining one of the best "volunteers per runner" ratios ever all contributed to an excellent 2nd annual event. | |
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Rob Klein from Aurora, Colorado
(1/6/2009)
"A Warm and Friendly Race" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Blues Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was a warm and friendly race, where both the people and the weather qualified as warm. The race started and finished in the same place - at the top of a hill - so you knew going in that it would be uphill at the end. Still, the hills were not that bad. The elevation profile chart on the website greatly exaggerated the "hill factor." The people in Mississippi were friendly and cordial. So many people - mostly volunteers - personally thanked me for choosing to come to Mississippi for this marathon event. And you could tell they really meant what they said. It did not hurt that Ole Miss beat Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl Game during the expo on Friday, either. The marathon was very well organized, and was well supported by the community with an abundance of volunteers. The course was hilly, but they were comparatively small hills. The race committee decided what part of the town they wanted the runners to see, and the hills are a part of the landscape. Still, don't be fooled by the elevation profile on the website. It is not that bad. The race started in Fondren, an old town neighborhood. The course looped around, and then went through the capitol area. After that, the course crossed over I-55 and headed out to an eastern suburb and back (the flat part of the course). Back in town, there were more hills to see up to the north, before heading back over the interstate, and up one more hill to the finish line. A couple of things stand out in this marathon. The volunteers - who always make such a big difference in a marathon anyway - were so friendly and outgoing. They really made you feel like you brightened their day by coming to Mississippi to run in their marathon. Southern hospitality in action. Additionally, there were Blues musicians (mostly one-man bands) providing musical entertainment all along the course. Of course, the hills were a little tougher on our bodies than flat surfaces would have been. A word about the weather: Normal temperatures for January in Jackson are a low of 35 and a high of 55. On race day morning at 5:30, it was 65, and so humid that all of the streets were wet, though it had not rained overnight. Midday on Saturday, it was 70. Yet it was overcast through the day, and rain started falling about 2:00 in the afternoon. Post-race festivities included abundance of food and drink at the finish line (ham or turkey subs, fruit, and soda, water, and 180 energy drink - at least a couple of runners ended up with a whole case of the 180 drink). And there was more music being played at the finish line. Then the marathon event hosted an evening celebration too, but I was not able to attend. The expo was held in a downtown area, and driving in the heart of downtown - and on the marathon course too - you could see that there was an abundance of construction taking place in Jackson. They are pouring a ton on money into this city to improve and update their community. Overall, this was a well-organized event with strong community support (and moderate hills). I highly recommended this winter marathon event. |
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