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May 8, 2024

Mississippi River Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Mississippi River Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.2

Organization 4.9

Spectators 3.8

Number of comments: 66 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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J. T. from Monticello, AR (2/15/2013) "Awesome course for setting a PR." (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I qualified for Boston, so I think anyone wanting to set a PR should run this race. Organized very well. Festiveties at the end of the race where well done.
K. L. from Greenville, MS (2/15/2013) "Congrats on a Perfect Job!" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a fabulous, successful event! This was my first half marathon and it was absolutely perfect! (Well, okay, I didnt train as much as I should have and my time was not what I wanted..but I cant blame the marathon for that) I heard people everywhere raving about the entire event. The consensus comment was that you did not miss a thing! Of course, the weather was unbelievableespecially considering what happened on Sunday. The course was excitingthe bridge was gorgeousloved how Greenville turned out to support it. The atmosphere at the end was just too, too fun! The portapotties were so perfectly placed. Loved the school buses for a Teach for America event. Loved how the school buses hung around so the runners didnt freeze before the race started. Loved the moon pies at the end of the race and on and on and on! Congrats on a perfect job!!!!
R. R. from Memphis, Tennessee (2/15/2013) "Here's the Good, Bad and the Skinny" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 So your thinking about running the Mississippi River Marathon. Here's what you need to know: 1. Greenville MS is way out there. You can fly to Memphis or Jackson but be prepared to drive a while. 2. This is definitely a Full Marathon experience and not so great for Halvers. I loved the lake views and small towns that ALL occurred before we crossed the bridge (about half way.) The Half starts at the bridge then goes for miles through fallow fields before re-entering Greenville. The full also has these bland miles but they serve only as an interlude between the lake and the city and are therefore not as bad. 3. This race is supremely well organized. Start2Finish is a Memphis based company with years of experience putting on top notch events and was hired to run things here. Being from Memphis I have run many of their races and they do a great job. The marathon organizers were smart to elicit their experience and mixed in the Greenville's residents natural enthusiasm. They seemed genuinely glad to see you there. 4. There is an aid station every mile except over the bridge from miles 13-16. (It's a long bridge.) The water was a little rusty at some of the stops but was drinkable. 5. There is electronic timing but no start line timing mat. Why? If you invest in this technology why not go all the way? Still, it is great to just print your results out at the finish line and see if you won anything on the spot. 6. They give free cowbells at the Expo! AWESOME! The expo is otherwise kind of small, but has a vendor for emergency supplies, which is all I really care about. 7. There are bonfires and a gear check at the remote starting line. The fires could keep you warm if you could squeeze next to them. Some propane heaters or more fires could help keep more folks warm. I suggest you dress warm and check the cold gear just prior to the start. 8. There is little protection from the wind and the sun, so plan ahead. You will get plenty of both. 9. Nice medals. Good post-race food and entertainment. Nice plaques for age group winners. 10. They have an Athena and Clydesdale division! This is great news for bigger runners like me! They also have plenty of age groups compared to the number of runners so a lot of folks just might win awards who usually don't. 11. The bridge is a scenic suspension bridge over America's most famous river. Pretty cool. 12. The course is open to traffic, but the lanes devoted to runners are large enough for 3 across and I never felt in danger. Overall, this was a great race run across 2 states and the Mighty Mississippi. Well organized and fun. It's well worth the drive.
C. K. from Harrison, AR (2/14/2013) "Great!" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the half marathon of this race...my 8th one. I was initially concerned about this being a first year race and it using buses to take us to the start line. But the organizers did a great job all the way around! The buses stayed w us at the start line until 10 mins before the gun, which was helpful so we could stay warm. I was really surprised at the number of spectators who lined the roads and highways. There was even a drumline and cheerleaders along the route! I never stop in a race, but I did in this one just to dance to YMCA one of the spectator groups was playing and to get gummie bears. I've never been offered gummie bears at a race! Bathrooms and water/Gatorade were plentiful through out the course. It was a little nerve wracking when we got down town as some of the traffic didn't want to be stopped for us, but it went well. There were only 2 things that could improve this race...the hotels wouldn't allow an extra hour to get a shower before check out at 11am. When I asked about it twice more than one of them said the directors hadn't negotiated late check out times when they blocked rooms for the race. Another hotel said housekeeping wouldn't get everything clean on time. My thought is, if 1400 people descend on your town and stay in your hotel, an extra hour won't put housekeeping that far behind. The 2nd thing, I had no idea how long we'd be sitting on those buses before getting to the start line and then waiting for the race to start...from 6:00 to 7:45 am. So I didn't have any water w/ me and was getting really thirsty before the race. The restaurant where the buses parked gave us some water, but it would've been nice if there'd been a snack table next to the gear check in. Also, some kind of starting gun going off would've been good. We walked to the start line in the middle of the bridge, but I never heard anything...maybe the traffic drowned the start gun sound out. It was hard to find an OK dinner in Greenville the night before since I'm a vegetarian, but I'm willing to go back and run again in 2014 because I liked this race so much.
B. M. from UT (2/13/2013) "Best southern marathon ever!" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What an amazing inaugural year! No hiccups, glitches, or problems at all. The expo was quaint with friendly volunteers and a big map where I pinned my hometown. Buses from the finish to the start were seamless and easy to understand. When I got off the bus at the starting line, there were huge bonfires where I kept warm, and a baggage drop for my sweatshirt that I didn't want to take with me. The course itself was beautiful. The Lake was stunning and the bridge was epic. I was dreading running miles 16-20 along highway 82 but they had great aid stations every mile and plenty of people along the course cheering and playing music. The finish line was perfect with local bands playing, all the free beer I could drink and hoards of food. Usually when I finish, all the food is gone. There was so much food, people were taking home entire pizzas. This is a must do marathon. Well worth the money and travel time.
C. J. from Little Rock, AR (2/13/2013) "Beautifully organized inaugural race" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Beautiful course and very runner-friendly organization. Every detail handled by friendly, enthusiastic volunteers. Aid every mile. Ample post-race food. Just could not have been better.
M. C. from Memphis,TN (2/12/2013) "The Delta knows how to party, awesome event!" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have competed in many triathlons including road and mountain bike. From the corn fields in Illinois to the mountains in Maui Xterra. I always said I would never do a marathon because it was over my 6 mile limit. When I received the e-mail back in October concerning the Mississippi River Marathon all I thought was how cool to run across the bridge. After training and participating I love it. The MRM was the best prepared I have participated in. All the residents, participants, law enforcement, and event volunteers were like family. Residents on both sides of the river showed their support and gratitude for the event and racers were thanking them for coming out also. This event was not a one and done but has me looking forward to next years race. The Delta knows how to party!
R. S. from mississippi (2/12/2013) "well run race, volunteers and spectators great" (about: 2013) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 3rd marathon and a great experience. Well organized and executed especially for a 1st year race. Flat course, cool weather made for a fast course.
J. J. from Mississippi (2/12/2013) "Awesome race and very organized" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My daughter and my first marathon. Very well organized in a warm friendly place
S. M. from Mississippi (2/12/2013) "Favorite race of my 4-year running career" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Mississippi River Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run a lot of triathlons, 5Ks, 10Ks and volunteered at many as well. This was hands-down the best ever. I cannot believe how well organized it was. Everything was exactly as stated. They were responsive via email, Facebook and Twitter. Aid stations every mile. They never ran out of anything--at the stations or at the finish line. The buses to the start line were clean and left on time. There were plenty of port-o-potties. Incredibly supportive spectators with sweet and funny signs ('Free High Fives' and 'Don't poop! You're alomost there!' and an Ole Miss tent in a spectator's front yard where a family had taken it upon themselves to purchase and pour free beer to runners as they passed by.) I loved seeing the high school bands and cheerleaders and cub scouts, but also just random people who decided to watch and support the event with noisemakers (mostly cowbells!). The expo was easy to find and park--a few businesses, selling Gu and other last-minute items. The people there were friendly. The businesses in the area were incredibly supportive. The police blocking streets were supportive and yelled words of encouragement while blocking traffic. I could not have asked for a better race. Running over the bridge/crossing the state line was awesome. Times were posted immediately. T-shirt was good looking (although men's sizes only) and the medal was really pretty. The temperature started out just above freezing (~34?), but warmed up to ~60 at the finish line. Absolutely wonderful race by Start2Finish. I'll be looking for other races they produce.

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