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.

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