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Marathon Details - Magnolia Marathon & Half

North America Marathons > USA > MS > Meridian > Magnolia Marathon & Half

Magnolia Marathon & Half

Total Pain Care Magnolia Marathon & Half & Half Marathon

Meridian, MS USA

November 19, 2022

http://www.magnoliamarathon.com

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Marathon Results

By Year:

2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

Meridian's Only Marathon & half marathon. Finisher medals & awards are handmade from Magnolia wood.

Contact Information

Name:	Tim Irvine or Evelyn Watkins
Address:	Magnolia Marathon/Half
Phone Number:	601-938-9873
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (18)

Course 3.9

Organization 4.5

Spectators 3.8

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Number of comments: 18 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

R. S. from South Carolina (11/25/2019) "Great Hometown Feel and Fun" (about: 2019) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I wasn't sure where my 2019 marathon would be back in January and by summer it was down to this one and another race. I am so happy I chose this race. The hometown charm and friendliness of the volunteers and uniqueness of the awards only added to the experience. When I arrived at packet pickup, I wasn't overwhelmed with a loud busy scene, it was a laid back group of folks who were immediately helpful, I think I stayed there talking to these same folks for 20 minutes. On race morning, I was able to park super close in a free parking garage, which my legs were so grateful for after the run. The food was tasty and they even had a beer truck on site free to runners. No beer tickets, so I had a few. The course is certified although I wasn't trying to qualify for Boston, but if I had, it would have stood. All in all, you will be hard pressed to find a more friendly bunch of folks. I am so thankful I picked Magnolia!
W. K. from Texas (11/22/2019) "Best Little Marathon Anywhere" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This race is dear to me. Personal touches everywhere you look. You can tell the folks organizing this race care about there town and bringing out the best in it through this race. The medal is authentic, made of actual Magnolia wood from here in Mississippi. The craftsman is local and normally at the race to sign the medals. The volunteers are really nice and keep it upbeat. There was plenty of food, GU at every water stop, plenty of bathrooms on the route and the police were always ever present to keep the cars in check. Yes it's an open course, but I never felt unsafe at any time. Most small race only give you the finish time, but this one had my split for half way too, huge plus when breaking down the data of the run. They even had one of those print out machines to get your time on a sticker. And the race announcer was so funny. It wasn't the best race I have run or the biggest. But by far, it was a meaningful experience I will never forget and a nice feather in my 50 state journey.Thank you Mississippi! I will be back.
A. B. from USA (11/22/2019) "Friendly people, hills, well marked, good weather" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Course: Hills throughout, none big, just constantly rolling. Double loop for marathon - plenty of room. Good course. Water and sports drinks available at appropriate intervals. Cups small. No Gu or other gels. Course was open but minimal traffic and most intersections supported by officers or volunteers. Garmin distance on my watch was 26.21 miles. Pre-marathon: plenty of bathrooms, parking garage free and under 200 yards from start line. Post-marathon: massage without long line, food included Popeye's chicken, Jimmy John's sandwiches, local deserts, fruits, water. Medal and awards: Pretty cool - hand made wood from local Magnolia tree.
J. O. from Mississippi (11/17/2019) "Hills and Cars" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 You are running on open roads and very limited police presence. Some intersections needed a police officer but did not have one. The course is certified but measured on the tangent. You can't run the certified distance because the roads are open. Tons of hills that will not allow you to set a consistent time and pace. Spectators are sparse and most people look at you like you are crazy for running. Water stations are bad. You don't know if you are getting gatorade or water (so bring your own). No Gels were offered. Marathon does the half marathon course twice (which is bad). They should re-design the course to include a longer stretch of flat road. I am not kidding, you will crest a hill just to see another hill. Race director sent an email out a few days before the race. She was bragging that she was a 50 state completer. No idea what that was about. Swag bag was just full of paper and I just threw it away. No swag in the bag! Won't be back until they re-design a better course. When you finish the marathon, you just sit around the courthouse. No after race party or fun (bouncy house for kids and family would have been great). You could get your results from a lady in a tent but she was not very nice. The age awards were not personalized. It was just a wood board shaped in the state of Mississippi (that was pretty cheap). Hopefully this race will get an energetic race director who can bring a better course with a strong finish line celebration.
J. S. from Birmingham, Alabama (12/23/2018) "Finish line was bad" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Magnolia Marathon & Halfs COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Finish line was really bad. When you finished they handed you the medal and basically that was it. There was no entertainment and it was just sad.
S. C. from IL (11/18/2018) "Great small town race" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great small town race. Packet pickup was very easy at the host hotel and the room was only $100! Nice hand made wooden medals and age group awards. Plenty of aid stations. Complimentary massages and good food at the finish line. The course was a double loop with plenty of rolling hills to keep in interesting. Nothing too bad, but not super easy. The course was not overly scenic, but the hospitality was wonderful.
W. C. from Missouri (11/21/2017) "Hills, Heat, and Great People" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the most personable marathon I have ever run in 41 marathons. They even let me pick-up my packet at the desk when I checked in. Don't expect huge crowds, but the folks that were out there, were great. Very hilly course, most runners did the half-marathon.
N. T. from MN (11/24/2015) "Southern hospitality at its best and lots of hills" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The people of Meridian were SUPER nice and sweet. The race was EXTREMELY hilly and challenging. This wasn't a PR but I enjoyed the views and the spectators who cheered for everyone. I would've trained harder if I'd known how AWESOME the age-group awards were. LOL. Would definitely recommend to anyone seeking hills and a small racing field. As mentioned by someone else, some motorist didn't seem to understand there was a race going on, or care. However, there were plenty of policemen along the route so, I didn't get lost or feel in danger of being hit (just a rogue car that came too close, too fast for my comfort).
B. A. from Collierville, TN (11/22/2015) "Great support and organization!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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!
David Weiss from Bay Village, Ohio (11/23/2014) "Very enjoyable small town race!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Overall, very enjoyable race. My thoughts.... The Good -Race organizers-I literally called at noon day before the race to inquire if I could still do the full and with typical southern charm, the lady responded that they had just had someone change from full to half so they had one spot open. Then she simply said 'Just pay cash when ya get here. Have a safe trip!' Love it! -Parking a snap, packet pickup a snap, friendly folks staffing things before, during, and after the race. -Pretty nice shirt and medal (put the state name on the shirt too-I'm an out of towner and when I wore the shirt this week a couple of people asked me-'Where is Meridian?') -aid stations well stocked, definitely frequent enough, with friendly volunteers -not a lot of folks out, but those that were very encouraging -big thanks to the cops out directing traffic for us -weather! although a bit chilly at the start (I'd say about 28) the weather by the time I finished (low 50s w only a slight breeze) was fantastic-especially considering I was in basically a blizzard in Cleveland, Ohio the day before -food at the finish line terrific, fried chicken and buscuits and pizza sure hit the spot! -Results posted in a timely fashion The bad... -Course not terribly interesting, the time of year, everything kind of brown out there -Although not mountainous, course was challenging with the fairly constant up/down of the small rolling hills (I dont mind this but my legs did) -The ugly -that moment when the half and full runners split and with such a small field of full marathon runners, the solitude-I love the solitude itself, however on a couple of occasions, cars didnt seem to realize I was running in a race and one whizzed by me pretty close at about 30 miles an hour in the downtown section of the race and when it was time to turn to cross the highway thing right before the finish, cars traveling very fast didnt seem to be too hip to stopping to let me cross over to finishI will say overall though course was well marked for the most part however-there was just those couple of instances -My name and where I'm from were posted incorrectly in the results-part of that however is my own doing w my last-second registration I'm guessing Overall, a very enjoyable day....I got out of work in Cleveland, Ohio at 3PM on Friday, drove straight down and ran the race Sat morning...enjoyed it very much, and coincidentally with the early 7am start time, it gave me time to drive the 90 min drive to Tuscaloosa, snatch up a ticket and have an awesome (albeit sore) afternoon seeing the U of Alabama-Miss St. football game. A memorable day!

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]



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R. S. from South Carolina (11/25/2019) "Great Hometown Feel and Fun" (about: 2019) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I wasn't sure where my 2019 marathon would be back in January and by summer it was down to this one and another race. I am so happy I chose this race. The hometown charm and friendliness of the volunteers and uniqueness of the awards only added to the experience. When I arrived at packet pickup, I wasn't overwhelmed with a loud busy scene, it was a laid back group of folks who were immediately helpful, I think I stayed there talking to these same folks for 20 minutes. On race morning, I was able to park super close in a free parking garage, which my legs were so grateful for after the run. The food was tasty and they even had a beer truck on site free to runners. No beer tickets, so I had a few. The course is certified although I wasn't trying to qualify for Boston, but if I had, it would have stood. All in all, you will be hard pressed to find a more friendly bunch of folks. I am so thankful I picked Magnolia!
W. K. from Texas (11/22/2019) "Best Little Marathon Anywhere" (about: 2019) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This race is dear to me. Personal touches everywhere you look. You can tell the folks organizing this race care about there town and bringing out the best in it through this race. The medal is authentic, made of actual Magnolia wood from here in Mississippi. The craftsman is local and normally at the race to sign the medals. The volunteers are really nice and keep it upbeat. There was plenty of food, GU at every water stop, plenty of bathrooms on the route and the police were always ever present to keep the cars in check. Yes it's an open course, but I never felt unsafe at any time. Most small race only give you the finish time, but this one had my split for half way too, huge plus when breaking down the data of the run. They even had one of those print out machines to get your time on a sticker. And the race announcer was so funny. It wasn't the best race I have run or the biggest. But by far, it was a meaningful experience I will never forget and a nice feather in my 50 state journey.Thank you Mississippi! I will be back.
A. B. from USA (11/22/2019) "Friendly people, hills, well marked, good weather" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Course: Hills throughout, none big, just constantly rolling. Double loop for marathon - plenty of room. Good course. Water and sports drinks available at appropriate intervals. Cups small. No Gu or other gels. Course was open but minimal traffic and most intersections supported by officers or volunteers. Garmin distance on my watch was 26.21 miles. Pre-marathon: plenty of bathrooms, parking garage free and under 200 yards from start line. Post-marathon: massage without long line, food included Popeye's chicken, Jimmy John's sandwiches, local deserts, fruits, water. Medal and awards: Pretty cool - hand made wood from local Magnolia tree.
J. O. from Mississippi (11/17/2019) "Hills and Cars" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 You are running on open roads and very limited police presence. Some intersections needed a police officer but did not have one. The course is certified but measured on the tangent. You can't run the certified distance because the roads are open. Tons of hills that will not allow you to set a consistent time and pace. Spectators are sparse and most people look at you like you are crazy for running. Water stations are bad. You don't know if you are getting gatorade or water (so bring your own). No Gels were offered. Marathon does the half marathon course twice (which is bad). They should re-design the course to include a longer stretch of flat road. I am not kidding, you will crest a hill just to see another hill. Race director sent an email out a few days before the race. She was bragging that she was a 50 state completer. No idea what that was about. Swag bag was just full of paper and I just threw it away. No swag in the bag! Won't be back until they re-design a better course. When you finish the marathon, you just sit around the courthouse. No after race party or fun (bouncy house for kids and family would have been great). You could get your results from a lady in a tent but she was not very nice. The age awards were not personalized. It was just a wood board shaped in the state of Mississippi (that was pretty cheap). Hopefully this race will get an energetic race director who can bring a better course with a strong finish line celebration.
J. S. from Birmingham, Alabama (12/23/2018) "Finish line was bad" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Magnolia Marathon & Halfs COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Finish line was really bad. When you finished they handed you the medal and basically that was it. There was no entertainment and it was just sad.
S. C. from IL (11/18/2018) "Great small town race" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great small town race. Packet pickup was very easy at the host hotel and the room was only $100! Nice hand made wooden medals and age group awards. Plenty of aid stations. Complimentary massages and good food at the finish line. The course was a double loop with plenty of rolling hills to keep in interesting. Nothing too bad, but not super easy. The course was not overly scenic, but the hospitality was wonderful.
W. C. from Missouri (11/21/2017) "Hills, Heat, and Great People" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the most personable marathon I have ever run in 41 marathons. They even let me pick-up my packet at the desk when I checked in. Don't expect huge crowds, but the folks that were out there, were great. Very hilly course, most runners did the half-marathon.
N. T. from MN (11/24/2015) "Southern hospitality at its best and lots of hills" (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The people of Meridian were SUPER nice and sweet. The race was EXTREMELY hilly and challenging. This wasn't a PR but I enjoyed the views and the spectators who cheered for everyone. I would've trained harder if I'd known how AWESOME the age-group awards were. LOL. Would definitely recommend to anyone seeking hills and a small racing field. As mentioned by someone else, some motorist didn't seem to understand there was a race going on, or care. However, there were plenty of policemen along the route so, I didn't get lost or feel in danger of being hit (just a rogue car that came too close, too fast for my comfort).
B. A. from Collierville, TN (11/22/2015) "Great support and organization!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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!
David Weiss from Bay Village, Ohio (11/23/2014) "Very enjoyable small town race!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Magnolia Marathon & Half COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Overall, very enjoyable race. My thoughts.... The Good -Race organizers-I literally called at noon day before the race to inquire if I could still do the full and with typical southern charm, the lady responded that they had just had someone change from full to half so they had one spot open. Then she simply said 'Just pay cash when ya get here. Have a safe trip!' Love it! -Parking a snap, packet pickup a snap, friendly folks staffing things before, during, and after the race. -Pretty nice shirt and medal (put the state name on the shirt too-I'm an out of towner and when I wore the shirt this week a couple of people asked me-'Where is Meridian?') -aid stations well stocked, definitely frequent enough, with friendly volunteers -not a lot of folks out, but those that were very encouraging -big thanks to the cops out directing traffic for us -weather! although a bit chilly at the start (I'd say about 28) the weather by the time I finished (low 50s w only a slight breeze) was fantastic-especially considering I was in basically a blizzard in Cleveland, Ohio the day before -food at the finish line terrific, fried chicken and buscuits and pizza sure hit the spot! -Results posted in a timely fashion The bad... -Course not terribly interesting, the time of year, everything kind of brown out there -Although not mountainous, course was challenging with the fairly constant up/down of the small rolling hills (I dont mind this but my legs did) -The ugly -that moment when the half and full runners split and with such a small field of full marathon runners, the solitude-I love the solitude itself, however on a couple of occasions, cars didnt seem to realize I was running in a race and one whizzed by me pretty close at about 30 miles an hour in the downtown section of the race and when it was time to turn to cross the highway thing right before the finish, cars traveling very fast didnt seem to be too hip to stopping to let me cross over to finishI will say overall though course was well marked for the most part however-there was just those couple of instances -My name and where I'm from were posted incorrectly in the results-part of that however is my own doing w my last-second registration I'm guessing Overall, a very enjoyable day....I got out of work in Cleveland, Ohio at 3PM on Friday, drove straight down and ran the race Sat morning...enjoyed it very much, and coincidentally with the early 7am start time, it gave me time to drive the 90 min drive to Tuscaloosa, snatch up a ticket and have an awesome (albeit sore) afternoon seeing the U of Alabama-Miss St. football game. A memorable day!

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Marathon Details - Magnolia Marathon & Half