Mid-South Races for Hope Marathon - Race Reviews

I tell ya what! The simple fact that you can email or call the RD and he answers is AMAZING! This is a small town race that doesn't get all carried away with entry fees like most do. The start of the race was AWESOME! The RD prayed a blessing over everyone, and just before the National Anthem said we all know about Freedom of Speech...Butt whoopins are free to! Come to find out, he's a Veteran that did two Combat tours. The course is out and back and would you believe an aid station and port-o-potty every single mile! Access to indoor plumbing, locker rooms, and shower facilities post race as well! Did I mention that this race was $40? $40 and I got a sweet shirt, a big woodallion, and they fed me after the race with BBQ, Pizza, and deserts! I loved it! This is a race that you definitely have to put on the list at least once! You won't be disappointed!

It was a good race with decent support. Having run 30+ marathons in various states, I didn't expect to run on as many exposed highway shoulders with as much repulsive carrion, but that can be expected. What wasn't expected was the race PA stating that 'If you believe in Free Speech, I believe in a free butt whooping for anyone who doesn't salute the flag during the national anthem.' Subsequently, the race started with a prayer. As a person of Jewish faith, I did not feel comfortable and did not feel at ease. Threatening violence shouldn't be tolerated. Prayer would have been fine under different circumstances. I wouldn't recommend anyone run this race as a result.

This is small race in a small town. It's awesome that the cost is so low (only $40). The fee didn't even increase if you registered on race day! The low fee doesn't diminish the race. I got a nice cotton shirt with a tasteful logo and lunch after the race. I knew going in that the roads would not be closed. Most of them are lightly traveled, so it wasn't a big deal. I didn't enjoy running on the extremely canted shoulder for the mile on the highway, though. Overall, the course is pretty. Slightly rolling. Enough to break up the drudgery of a pancake flat route but not hilly enough to wear you out. My only major disappointment with the race was the race director. Starting the race with the national anthem is fine. Threatening to 'whoop' someone's butt if they took a knee isn't cool. I value my freedom and love my country because of it. If standing is compulsory, we're not free.

My wife & I both ran the Half Marathon. Enjoyed the day for many reasons but the BEST part of all was 'the start'. The way the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance & the Prayer was handled was AWESOME! The race director was SPOT ON!!! The course was made of rolling hills, none of which was difficult. The ROTC kids were fantastic, the post race meal was tremendous and I would definitely go back again! Thanks for a great day!

This race is an easy hour drive from my home in Memphis an early riser doesn't need a hotel. Which is usually the biggest Marathon expense, and back in my own home a few hours later, one of the most convenient and economical races I've ever done. A real diamond in the rough. The temperature this time of year is usually ideal, beautiful foliage, easy route, runners supporting runners one could try and high five everyone on the course from first to last if you wanted to. I run with my music so I don't need the streets lined with people so don't expect that.

This was my first time running the full marathon for this race. Back in 2004 I ran the half. This race is located in the small town of Wynne, AR. Packet pickup was kind of interesting. I got my bib number, cotton shirt and chip and was told to go assemble my own goodie bag. The pasta party was located in the same location so we ate in the same room after we picked up my packet. The salad was okay but I was not crazy about the meatballs. They had a weird smell and taste and I just couldn't eat them. The salad, dessert and tea were fine. The race course itself was unremarkable. It was an out and back course mostly on the highway with lots of rolling hills. I felt parts of the course was dangerous since parts were not blocked off with cones and we had to run on the highway with big trucks passing by. It was also very windy. I thought the volunteers did a good job with the water stops. However there was not much crowd support due to a lot of the route being on the highway. I thought most of the route was very boring and lonely. I like to run races that give nice bling and awards. I was not happy with this year's medal or awards. The medal looks like a backstage concert pass and is just not appealing at all. Also another thing I didn't like was that the medal was the same size for the folks who did the half as well as the folks who ran the full. I didn't think this was fair at all. Instead of getting a nice plaque this year they gave out drinking glasses with a sticker on the front. I hate it when races do this. I did like the fact that we were able to shower postrace and they provided massages and great tasting barbecue. But all in all I was kind of disappointed with this race and will not be running it again.

The Midsouth Marathon is a nice, small town race. Aid stations are plentiful, and volunteers do a great job. The course isn't too difficult. It's an out and back course on some rural roads, but don't expect too many spectators. Non-stop rolling hills from miles 6 to 21ish, but none of the hills are large. Finish area experience at the football stadium is pretty cool. They serve what is apparently really good BBQ to all finishers. My stomach can't handle food like that after a race, but other runners raved about it.

Very well organized, and a fun place to race. The few spectators had a ton of energy. Out and back, helped to see runners heading to the finish. Wonderful people, so sweet. Loved the barbecue pork & chicken buns with Cole slaw & beans at the finish! The massage was so relaxing. I would like to see moisture wicking shirts for next year. A must on your 50 state marathon list!

This is a very nicely- organized local race. I chose it because it is an easy drive from Saint Louis, and I hadn't run a race in Arkansas yet. Im very glad I got the opportunity to check it out! The course was very true to the description posted on the race website: The vast majority of the race is run on rural state highways, but its a pretty stretch of road with lots of fall foliage. There are rolling hills throughout, but they aren't bad at all and help to keep the course interesting, even the one that is mentioned at mile 24 isn't awful. (I assume that if you usually run on very flat terrain you would notice the inclines more, however.) You do run on the road alongside traffic, but again, this is a rural area so there aren't a ton of cars out on a Saturday morning. Most of the traffic that I saw were race officials driving by to check on the runners. (There were a TON of race vehicles out checking up on us, which was really nice!) Although this is a smaller race (about 175 finishers) I could always see other runners on the course. The out and back format was also nice because you have an opportunity to see and interact with everyone participating. The abundance of aid stations was also fantastic. They are set up almost exactly to the mile, so they make great distance markers and gave me something to look forward to. The volunteers were all very friendly, and I loved how many kids were helping to man these stations! The weather in 2015 was near perfect. It was a little windy (13-15 mph), but it was really only against us during the first half. The temperature stayed in the mid 50s, and we had a cloudy day. I can see this course being a beast on a hot sunny day or a super- windy or rainy one, but if you get typical fall weather, it makes for a great morning! For those traveling from out of state: There aren't really a lot of restaurant choices in Wynn that aren't fast food, so I'd recommend the pasta dinner the evening before. My GPS wasn't able to find the church for packet pickup or the high school, so I was grateful for the directions printed on the race website. I stayed at the Days Inn, which is an older hotel and somewhat run-down, but it is clean and the staff were very courteous. The walls are VERY thin, so I'd recommend bringing earplugs or a noise machine to block out other guests. Overall, a very nice weekend!

I picked this race because it was an easy drive from St. Louis and it had received good reviews. I am *so* glad that I did! I have run big city marathons, but I would rather run this race any day. After the half marathoners split off, I was largely running by myself, but that is fine with me. This race is so well organized and really focused on the runners. You could sit inside the high school before the race, all of the aid stops were spot on, and the volunteers staffing them were super supportive. The description of 'rolling hills' is also accurate  you can tell that you are running hills, but they are not overwhelming. I even managed a PR here this year. :) Come run this race!

This was a lovely little local race with small town charm and southern hospitality. The course was rolling hills along a lovely rural country route with farms and residential areas. The foliage was beautiful! There was little traffic, except for one road crossing, but the officer directing traffic was great. There were few spectators, but volunteers at water stations one mile apart were super enthusiastic and very obliging to help runners with odds and ends things, like I needed salt at some point and a girl went out of her way to find it among the bulk of stuff they had. I loved that there was a water station every mile. Even if I didn't need water, I liked that there was something to look forward to in short increments and I liked seeing volunteers that often. It kept my motivation high the whole race. The post race food was super! We had pizza and homemade desserts. I went to the pre-race dinner too and it was a tasty pasta dinner with very delicious potluck desserts. I highly recommend this race for the runner on a budget, for the runner that prefers the small town experience, for the runner that likes to keep it simple. Read my detailed take on the race on my blog: http://empoweredbyrunning.com/?p=564

Really enjoyed the pasta dinner hosted by the Historical Society the night before. Race organization was excellent - packet pick-up, easy parking, plenty of porta-johns, very relaxed start. The weather was unusual - temps reached low 80's at a 4 hour finish - sunny and humid, and very windy. Tough conditions for November. The out and back course was long gradual rolling hills. They were challenging toward the end. I appreciated the water stations every mile due to the heat - and the people were very encouraging. Very little fan support on the course but no problem. Finishing on the high school track was fun. The post race food and awards were very nice! This is a stress free marathon due to their great organization and care for runners. Come run the Midsouth Marathon - you'll enjoy it. And the weather will probably be cooler next year!

Some days you just aren't gonna make it. It was my day to not make it on Sat. Nov 3, 2012 for the Midsouth Marathon. I will be back to get my full marathon in 2013. The people involved with this race are the best I have ever met. From the runners on their way back from the 13 mile turn around to the drivers of the ambulance who shadowed me - all were encouraging and positive and patient. I thank Roxanne and her husband for their time and willingness to stay for me until the end. And I thank Jim, the race director, for letting me switch to a half-marathon which made it easier to leave the course. Absolutely a wonderful group of people. Tim, my personal road crew, thanks for keeping me honest with myself.

I was impressed by all the refreshment stations, the volunteers who manned them. The weather could not have been more perfect. Course was challenging but 'doable.' I am 61.5 years old and this was my first marathon ever. I have been training since February of this year. My only goal was to finish the marathon, which I did. I finished dead last. But the ROTC kids were so sweet to 'escort' me in. They were the only ones left to cheer for me when I crossed the finish line. My only negative comment is that the 'sweeper' was not very encouraging. I was dead last to come in and as the sweeper was following me in, from about mile 18 on, I could hear the comments that were being made either by him or over the radio. I heard him say, 'Well, its a pretty slow go.' Then I heard someone over the radio say, 'Well, they (my friend and me) won't qualify for the Boston Marathon.' It made me think about saying to myself, 'Just forget it.' Instead, I simply told the man that I could hear everything that was being said and did not appreciate it and that he could just go on ahead of me. The 'sweeper' and the radio people need to be more encouraging and positive to those of us who are not fast runners.

this was my first full marathon and a great experience. i had a great experience with every water stop and every cheering bystander. the only complaint was that the gatorade was highly concentrated (very sweet) made it difficult to drink at a few water stations; the water stations were VERY excellent otherwise and had encouraging people. i'll be back for next year!!

This is a fantastic race! The course was just about perfect, the spectators were wonderful, but what made it so good were the people of Wynne, Arkansas! The course was 95% country-road running. Terrific scenery! A little too much traffic on the road, but police and organizers handled it okay. It was all rolling hills, making it pretty challenging, but that was all for the better! Something I really enjoyed, water stops at every mile. Young and old were at each stop, passing out water, Gatorade, bananas and oranges. Fantastic. And while it may be true that spectators were relatively few, the ones who were there were amazing! And here's to the Wynne HS JROTC students who were there until the very last runner! Add to all this a nice spaghetti dinner, a nice race shirt and medal, and you've got a race I'd recommend to anyone! One other note: good hotels are limited. Make your reservation very early, or get stuck someplace you really don't want to stay.

This was my third year in a row to run the Midsouth Marathon and my 30th marathon. Once again it is one of the most organized and runner friendly races I have been a part of. The race day packet pickup is very fast and there are more than enough port a potties along with bathroom facilities at the school that make it easy to take care of business before the race begins. The course has rolling hills but nothing too bad. The aid stations are plentiful with water, gatorade and goodies at every mile. The spectators are very supportive even though there are several miles without any but I don't mind that. The last mile is uplifting as along the streets are the young ROTC members cheering and one even ran with me for a while. It makes the last mile go by much quicker plus its mostly a slight downhill grade. I plan on returning to Wynne. It is a very friendly town and they can feel proud to know they put on one of the best marathons around. Thanks again for a wonderful time Wynne!

I won't use much space because this was awesome. I picked it to run because the comments on Marathonguide.com were positive. This race is even better than that. To sum it up, there were no lines at the porta-potties just before the race, and the people serving food after the race kept wanting to give you more to eat. If that doesn't sum up excellence, the course was exactly what the RD said it would be, and the water stop workers were the best. I ate the pre-race dinner with 3 guys the nite before, and we all finished better than our goals. Come do this race!!!

Great race. Lonely on the course but it's not Nashville or St. Jude. It's a great race to zone out and just run. Blew out both calves at mile 20 and noticed a bunch of people walking with the same problem. Don't know if its the gentle rolling hills or being one of the first marathons of the season. I still finished with a respectable time. Signed up for the 2011 race for a revenge of the hills.

This was my first marathon. The course was challenging but doable due to the great weather - not to mention the aid stations. Not a lot of fans to speak of, but goodness are they supportive. They are spread out just enough to keep you motivated the entire race. I caught a hamstring cramp at mile 24 and went down. This beautiful girl ran over and massaged it out so I could continue. I'll definitely run it again next year.

It was my first time to race in Arkansas and it was a wonderful experience. The organization, people, water stations, awards, food, etc. were fantastic. Great job.

These guys do a great job!

This was my second year in a row to run the Midsouth Marathon and my 23rd marathon overall. As soon as I picked up my packet on race day morning I realized why I had returned. This is a very runner-friendly marathon that has a very low-stress atmosphere. The volunteers are very friendly and helpful. Aid stations are stocked well and close together. Course is rolling, out-and-back, and has nice scenery. The most impressive thing happened before my wife and I made the trip. My wife emailed the race director a couple days before the race with a question and got an immediate answer. They seemed very concerned and geniune in their response. Thanks for another good time, Wynne. The weather this year could not have been much better. I hope to return next year.

Run Wynne. There are aid stations at every mile and there's Southern hospitality at its very finest. A gem of a small-town race.

I started running marathons in the late 1970's (marathon/ultra #129), and this one reminds me so much of the good ol' days of marathoning when more races had a "mom and pop feel" and each runner was made to feel truly welcome and valued. Ran New York City in 2009 on this weekend. They have larger crowds and bigger production values, but I really would choose Wynne over it. At this race even those of us near the back are made to feel that, just by being there, we, too, are "in it to Wynne it." Been wanting to say that for a long time... All joking aside, it seems like we all take a little bit of Wynne home with us each year - even those of us early starters who are working to break 6 hours. At least for me, starting first at Wynne trumps starting last at New York City every time. This was at least my 3rd Midsouth Marathon in the past 5 or 6 years. I can't quite decide whether my favorite volunteers are the Boy Scout troop or the ROTC volunteers. I had an absolutely perfect escort leading up to the finish line on the track by a very supportive, young, female volunteer in fatigues who made quite an impression on me. Each of the young people who came out seemed to get it. They, too, will go far. The police, sheriff's office and ambulance service were very professional and made major contributions. The finish line crew and food volunteers seemed to know just how to make sure we were taken care of afterward. I've seen a lot of small-town races. None better. Admittedly, this course is vulnerable to northerly winds and is miserable in bad weather. In 2010, however, the weather was absolutely perfect. The aid stations at mile intervals on this out/back course were well-stocked, so we were well GU-ed and hydrated. I gave the highest possible spectator mark mainly because of the aid station volunteers. Many of them, even the young people, are veterans. Their support and encouragement was absolutely uplifting. Thanks, folks. We love your community and will be back to enjoy your hospitality.

I've have run this race several times and I have always enjoyed it. It is obvious that the entire community is very involved in the race and they ensure that the runners are treated well. The race is small enough so that start is not crowded, but there are enough runners to provide a good amount of competition.

Yes, that's right. This is my 8th marathon ranging from very small to some of the largest, and this is the first marathon that I could say had too many aid stations!. They literally have one every singe mile. Of course this is joking complaint. I had to pass up some of the aid stations because I was worried I'd have to stop at a port-o-let. That would have been no problem though because this marathon also had more on-course port-o-lets per runner than I've ever seen. Overall the course was probably the best they could put together for the area, but be aware that it is an open course. Some drivers, as usual, get frustrated with races and come a little close to the runners. The course was very clearly marked, which is important at the end because there was no one within a quarter-mile of me within the front or back at the end. The organization of this race is unsurpassed. I have absolutely no complaints on that. They had pasta meal the night before, pancakes the morning of, and a meal at the end of the race. The announcer at the end of the race bringing you in to the finish was the best I've seen (or "heard." I should say). The only true letdown was spectator support. Hardly anyone living on the course came out of their homes to support runners. Maybe a radio ad asking folks to do that would help since I think the local TV is out of Memphis. What I think was ROTC spread out for the last mile was really nice. I saw some actually running with the runners to bring them in. The Days Inn was pretty racer-friendly. It's about 1.5 miles from the start. They let us have a 1:30 checkout and have a serve-yourself breakfast in the morning. There is no race shuttle though. I highly suggest this race for 50-staters even though its not located right by an international aiport. I think the closest is Memphis, 40-50 miles away.

This year's weather was 100% better than last year's - 29 degrees as opposed to high winds. I'll take it! Ran the full this year and actually did better than I expected. Had a great group to run with. Love the small-town atmosphere and the fact this is a Boston Qualifier. No, I didn't qualify. Living here in Wynne, it is nice to have such a great race right in my own backyard. Will be back to do it again and again.

I enjoyed this race and have mostly positive comments. Good course, fairly moderate hills, plentiful aid stations, and great volunteers with the exception of one. I arrived on Friday evening for the packet pick-up at 7 p.m. The registration was closed and the food tables were being put away. I showed the man at the registration table their website (via iPhone) stated that registration was until 8 p.m. and food was to be served until then as well. There were 4 others arriving at the same time, also with the same understanding. Anyway, it made a terrible 1st impression of Wynne, AR and the race. My note to the race director would be to please honor your time frame for registration that is posted on your website. I drove 700 miles that day to register for the race. All that aside, I enjoyed the race, enjoyed the course, and would definitely do this race again. I would just arrive earlier next year. :)

This was the 17th marathon I've completed and it was overall one of the best I've participated in. Great organization, nice course, awesome volunteers, plenty of aid stations that were very well stocked and the post-race food and awards were outstanding. Spectators along the course made you feel very welcome and drivers were very courteous and supportive. It was quite windy during the race, but then again the weather is something we have no control over. I hope to return to Wynne in the future and I highly recommend this marathon.

There are only a handful of places I've been that have more friendly and welcoming people than Wynne, Arkansas. Only 3,000 people live here, yet the on-course support was great. This is an open course, but the drivers were the most considerate of any race I've run. Not only did they slow down, but they were smiling and waving as they passed. The wind and heat were factors for sure, but I live less than a hundred miles from here, and I know this isn't normal for early November. This is also one of the few marathons where those who ran the full had much better views than the halfers. Crowley Ridge only got better and better with the miles. If small towns and big hearts are your thing, come to Wynne: We have a race for you.

I ran the half, and it was a great experience. The race is very well organized, and the volunteers are wonderful. The wind was terrible, but there's nothing you can do about that. Total fluke. I can't wait to go back to Wynne next year!

This was my first marathon ever, other that 5K's. I was determined to do this after working the aid station for the last two years! I finished and "Oh, what a feeling!" Perfect day for it other than a little bit of wind. Loved all of the aid station support. See everyone next year....

This was my first marathon, and I had a great experience. There were only 159 runners in the full marathon, which, after having run two mega half marathons, was refreshing. Also, they had an optional early start time of 7:00 a.m., which was perfect if you wanted to beat the crowd and the creeping warm weather. The weather was unseasonably warm, but the wind mitigated the weather, and the sky could not have been bluer. The volunteers were very friendly, and there were aid stations every mile. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a small-town marathon. My family enjoyed it too, because parking isn't an issue, and there's plenty of room to watch the racers. A+!

This is a great marathon put on by real runners. Everyone I talked to was friendly, helpful and happy you were running their race. The pasta dinner was one of the best I've had in 64 marathons - all homemade sauces and desserts. There were vegetarian options as well, and everything we tried was delicious. Someone else commented that he wished they would start at seven, and they actually did have that option for everyone and you could still qualify for awards even if you ran the early start. Speaking of awards, they gave out very large trophies for the top three in overall, masters, grandmasters, and seniors - AND went three- or five-deep in age groups, which were also very nice awards. The course was a bit hillier than I expected, and it was windy, but you can't control the weather and it wasn't raining or snowing or 95 degrees. It was a pretty rural course, with water stops every mile manned by very enthusiastic volunteers. I even saw a sign with my name on it and I didn't know anyone in town. If you need a huge expo and big crowds, this race is not for you. If you're looking for a more laid-back, affordable race, in a friendly, rural setting, it's a very good option.

This town rolled out the red carpet. If you like a grassroots race with local color, good organization, a down home pasta dinner and really nice people, I recommend this marathon and Eisenhower (Abilene, KS). The course is not that difficult. I agree that an earlier start is needed due to heat, even if it is 7:30. The wind was, as others posted, pretty harsh on the return this year. Water stop volunteers were enthusiastic, and one even filled up my water bottle while I ran on, and ran it up to me. Hampton Inn Forrest City offered a 6 a.m. breakfast and late checkout, 15 minutes from race start. I recommend this race if you need Arkansas.

I ran this race in 2000 and again this year. The race director and volunteers did a great job. Yes, it was hot. Yes, it as windy. But only God controls the weather. The race director did offer an early start to those who wanted one. The pre-race meal was great. The post-race food was great. Homemade deserts. Post-race showers. The course is not terribly easy or hard. Running along the highway is probably the least enjoyable part of the course. The people of Wynne are great. It is a small-town marathon at its best.