Back to Mississippi Coast Marathon Information & Reviews
B. O. from Alabama
(11/27/2006)
"Excellent First Marathon!" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was a perfect race for a first-time marathoner. Excellent overall event organization and support. Race organizers available by email and cell phone in the weeks before the big day. Well marked course with plenty of aid stations and friendly support personnel. As mentioned in previous years' write ups, if you want cheering crowds, this is not the race for you; but if you like a fast, flat course with a quiet, rural setting and excellent race support, this is the one.... Not to mention the weather was outstanding - sunny and 70's with a cooling breeze (sorry, no guarantees on the weather next year!). | |
Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX
(11/27/2006)
"Mental Toughness Required" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon, Saturday, November 25, 2006, Waveland, MS. This was a small marathon (mental toughness required), finely organized by the Gulf Coast Running Club. The entry fee was $30. We received long-sleeved cotton T-shirts and nice finisher's medallions. There was a picnic-like post-race gathering in which jambalaya, cold beer, and soft and sports drinks were served. The race took place in NASA's Stennis Space Center, which is located a few miles from LA/MS state line. We ran the same loop twice around the perimeter of the Space Center. It was flat. There were water/Gatorade stops at approximately every other mile, beginning at Mile 1. As expected, there was no crowd support. It was a sunny day and temperature climbed into the 70's quickly. Heat and direct sun made it quite challenging. The closest major city is Gulfport. New Orleans is not too far either. There were 128 finishers, and winning times were 2:52:22 (overall male), 3:31:39 (overall female), 3:16:07 (masters male), and 3:49:15 (masters female). There was also a half marathon with 180 finishers, and winning times were 1:14:13 (overall male), 1:26:52 (overall female), 1:29:21 (masters male), and 1:27:50 (masters female); and a 5K with 154 finishers in which the winning times were 19:26 (overall male), 23:27 (overall female), 20:57 (masters male), and 27:55 (masters female). I am a "50 stater" and this was #23. | |
Sean Lillis from FL
(10/12/2006)
"A very small & friendly marathon" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 If you are searching for a small marathon with a double-loop course, this is it. Course is pretty much flat. Zero spectators. Cheap entry fee and very friendly people throughout. Rained for about half the race, but it felt good. Overall a decent race, and if you are looking to do all 50 states in your lifetime, this checks the box for Mississippi. | |
S. M. from Ohio
(12/14/2004)
"Great small race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a great small and friendly marathon. The race staff and aid station workers couldn't have been friendlier. The course was nice and flat, but don't expect spectators. The awards, T-shirts, and post-race food were all 1st class. This was a great chance to escape from some colder weather and experience a good marathon. | |
M. W. from USA
(11/30/2004)
"What a great way to spend a day" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 1. This marathon is deceptively difficult. It looks like it has PR written all over it, but I got the worst time I have ever gotten short of Choteau, Montana. The course is flat. Lots of water/fruit/Gatorade. A second-to-none staff, race director, etc. Each person associated with this race is nicer than the next. The organization of this marathon was flawless. Great accommodations (host hotel). 8:00 a.m. start. I could not complain if I had to. 2. With hindsight being 20/20, perhaps an 7:00 start would have been better. This way we would have had an hour before starting in a storm. Then an hour of running in the rain, then an extra hour of not running in searing heat. I went down south to TRY gumbo, not feel like gumbo. When that heat broke through, it was hell. I am also the only guy in Michigan to have a mosquito bite in November. 3. Bring your own cheering section if you need that stuff. 4. Lots of beer and jambalaya after the race. This was the best after-race set-up I have ever seen. The guys at the finishing line made everyone who crossed feel like they ran like Kenyans. In summation - forget about qualifying for Boston and raging crowds. That Southern hospitality you hear about is alive and well in Mississippi. It is puzzling how you can have such a miserable run and yet cherish every minute of running the race and being around these people. | |
Jon Beasley from Fort Wayne, IN
(11/30/2004)
"Very good race" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first MS Coast Marathon, and it was worth the drive from IN. The entry fee was minimal, which makes me wonder why all the other marathons charge so much these days. This race had nearly everything that expensive ones have and even more - plenty of volunteers, long-sleeve t-shirts, adequate aid stations, accurate course and mile markers, and post-race jambalaya and BEER! The volunteers did a fantastic job with everything - packet pickup, aid stations, post-race food/drink. The course was flat as can be and was basically a 2-looper around the Stennis Space Center. There were very few spectators, but what can one expect when the first 1.5 hours was a downpour? The course was well-marked and had very encouraging volunteers cheering everyone on. The downside of having few spectators was the upside of having no traffic whatsoever. This marathon is perfect for those interested in a fast, no-frills course and wonderful, post-race food and beverages. The race director and volunteers know what they're doing and do a great job with obviously a very small budget. It's not for those who are looking for a big race with lots of hoopla and spectators. | |
C. C. from Dallas, Texas
(11/29/2004)
"A Great, Well-Organized Marathon" (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Though the rain started just as the gun fired to start the 2004 Mississippi Coast Marathon, it was a great run with a well marked flat course, plenty of aid stations, roads without traffic, lovely scenery, and a good post-race party. The course loops the Stennis Space Center and besides a few spectators driving here and there, there were very few cars on the course. The scenery is coastal pine trees and Space Center buildings--maybe not spectacular but much prettier than some portions of urban marathons. Every turn and mile was clearly marked. The aid stations were positioned every other mile with hearty and friendly volunteers offering water, Gatorade and oranges. A good race--now if only the race director could do something about that rain. ;-) | |
B. W. from Mobile, Alabama
(11/29/2004)
"Super flat course" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Mississippi Coast Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you are looking for a fast marathon to run, then this is it. The course is flat with the only complaint being two cone turn-arounds. The were not any fans on the course except for the nice aid stations and at the finish line. The volunteers were great at all of the aid stations. Also the finisher medals are really neat. | |
A. F. from Madisonville, LA
(11/28/2004)
"A Nearly Perfect Small Race" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Mississippi Coast Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you are looking for spectacular scenery and large cheering crowds, then this is not the race for you. If, however, you are looking for a superbly organized race on a very fast course, at a very low cost, then this is the race for you. While course through the woods at the Stennis Space Center is not awe-inspiring, it is pretty. The medals and shirts are nicer than ones I have gotten at some much larger marathon. The organizers do an excellent job. Results were posted online hours after the race was completed. Last year I left with out realizing that I had won an age-group award; it arrived in the mail just a couple of days later. Overall, an excellent race. | |
K. S. from Baton Rouge, LA
(11/27/2004)
"Good race but a little boring and redundant" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon. I have to say I had a great experience, although the course was not everything I hoped for. But it was flat and the volunteers and organizers that worked the race were awesome and as nice as can be. Also the runners I talked to were very friendly and a couple even helped my friend and I pull our car out of the mud after all the rain... many thanks to them for their kind act :). The fans that were around were few and far between but were very supportive. Overall I enjoyed this marathon a lot and hope to do more in the future. |
Quick Links
Marathon Search
Upcoming US Marathons
Upcoming International Marathons
Search Marathon Results
Latest Running News
Recent Newsletters
Race Director Tools