This is not a tough course...rolling hills with nothing that should hurt you...well except for the weather! This is a grueling run for the slower runners, but can't be much better for the faster runners either.

This is a nice smaller sized run with a great shirt and a great medal...the 14.2 is the class run, but I always do the full. What a idiot, eh?

This year we got some rain later on in the race...sweet! It was overcast and then the rain, made for an easy jog...and even finishing almost last there was a ton of great food left...unlimited beer and soda was left as well! It just doesn't get much better...easier maybe, but not better!

I used a coupon from the race packet and 'discovered' a nice place for a post race meal...sweet deal!

I signed up for the Tupelo Marathon knowing it had a reputation for being a challenging course. For one, it starts at 5 am and you run the first 7 to 8 miles under the cover of darkness. Two, the starting temperature was around 81 degrees, which is about on par with temps during this time of year in MS. This year, we received a special treat: Tropical Storm Lee. It was kind of a nice treat as the temps dropped during the run and there was a nice mist to run through most of the race. My last two miles were run in a monsoon, but I also ran my best two miles in it (averaged 7:55 miles).

David and the volunteers do an awesome job with the organization. I sent several emails to David leading up to the race and they were promptly answered. There were plenty of volunteers on the course and plenty of fluids. They hand out flashlights before the race starts if you care for one as well.

This was my ninth marathon. I've run Chicago, Marine Corps, Miami, Atlanta, Huntsville, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville and half marathons like the Quebec City half and others around Nashville. I appreciated the rural atmosphere this marathon had to offer. The other runners on the course were very encouraging as we passed one another (it's an out-and-back). Even as I passed people at the end, runners encouraged me to finish strong, so we all began encouraging one another.

I would recommend this marathon to any runner who loves to run and does not need an iPod or a 'cheer station' to keep him/her going. I ran it without music and ran it for the love of running and enjoyed scenery along the way. And by the way, the shirt is by far the best I've collected along the way (tie dye with a skull on it). Thanks to all of the volunteers!

This was my second consecutive year to participate in the Tupelo Marathon and both times I have been very impressed. Packet pickup is very well organized, the course is rolling but no bad hills and is marked very well. The volunteers were awesome. There are not very many spectators but I am fine with that. The past two years weather has not been bad at all with a nice cool rain this year during the second half that kept temperatures down. The post race food was delicious. The shirt and medal are cool and unique. I definitely plan on doing this one in the future. Thanks for another great time Tupelo!

I cannot say enough about David Whiteside and his team. First-class all the way. I have done a number of great races, but this one is just so darn unique; it is a race for runners. Not many spectators, but that is okay. I mean, it starts at 5 a.m. I registered for 2011 early because dedicated runners know this is the race to run. I did it in 2010 as a warm up for another race only to fall in love with it. So much so that I have had it marked for a year.

This is my 6th Tupelo Marathon to run and they get better each year. This year came two surprises. The first was a change in weather. No lie - I could see steam coming out of runners' mouths. It was that cold. The second suprise was the BBQ at the end of the race. Meat for days, along with all the fixins. The only downside to the marathon (if spectators are your thing) is the crowd support. I gave it two stars, one for each spectator. If you run this race next year, you better sign up now; space is limited and they have maxed out the past two years.

Apparently we lucked out in 2010, as the weather was great - very cool and no humidity! The course has rolling hills but nothing that qualifies as grueling. Bring a flashlight, as it is dark out there for the first hour and you are running on paved country roads out where the roosters crow. There are street lights in some places but only fields in others. Race Director Dave was extremely helpful, as were the Tupelo Running Club members. As already mentioned, the shirt and medal are fabulous. The after-party too was well stocked with BBQ and ice cold beer. No spectators but plenty of water stops. Very few porta-potties on the course, but lots (lots!) of trees available. They changed the way they displayed the mile markers in 2010 and they were very easy to see. One note: don't stay at the Clarion Inn Summit Center on N. Gloster. There are plenty of other hotels, some closer to packet pickup and the start, that are a lot nicer.

This race turned out to be quite good. A cold front moved in and the start temperature was 55 degrees. I liked the country roads and thought that the course was not at all hilly. We did have a little difficulty finding the starting place as there were few or no signs. Generally, I really enjoyed it.

I had a great time in Tupelo. The hotel was very accommodating, it was easy to make our way around town, and the race was super. The host hotel had a great spread at 4 a.m. Very good organization for a small race. Awesome medals, great aid stations (with Coke and cupcakes at some!), and very laid back. The after-race refreshments were plentiful. I got a PR in Tupelo and will always have fond memories of this race.

The Tupelo Marathon is a blast! This is a small marathon, but very well organized. The course winds its way through scenic country roads and provides a great backdrop for a run. I noticed that many of the previous critiques of the race on this site were addressed. Mile markers were posted at every mile and the post-race food was excellent  Great Southern barbecue and all of the sides you could ask for. Don't miss this one!

This was my first marathon and I really loved the entire experience. I will be back next year for sure. The camaraderie was so encouraging. The route was through the neighborhoods of Tupelo and had some nice, rolling hills. The weather could not have been more perfect. I will always remember this experience. Thanks to everyone in Tupelo who organized this race. Also, thanks to my friend Bethany, who started me on this journey - and to my new Marathon Maniac friends (Jim, Diane, and Naresh), who made my first marathon experience so memorable. I'll be a Maniac soon!