Mississippi Blues Marathon & Half Marathon

Saturday, February 24, 2024 • Jackson, MS • Course Map

Set to mark its 17th annual running this year as the Mississippi Blues Marathon & Half Marathon, this 26.2- and 13.1-mile race through the city streets of the state’s capital city of Jackson actually traces its roots back to the mid-1970s, when the first Mississippi Marathon was run through portions of Jackson as well as the surrounding towns and neighborhoods.

After the race was later moved to the state’s Natchez Trace area, race organizers in Jackson two years ago re-branded and re-energized their own city’s marathon and half marathon event around the native music of the state and the region, and the Mississippi Blues race was born.

The updated version of the race takes place all within the city of Jackson, along an out-and-back course that starts and finishes at the city’s Jackson Convention Complex on East Pascagoula Street, just a few blocks away from the Mississippi governor’s mansion.

From there, the course winds through downtown neighborhoods and tree-lined streets like those through Bellhaven, where runners run past the home of legendary Southern writer (and Mississippi native) Eudora Welty.

Along the race route, runners also pass by two of Jackson’s college campuses, including Jackson State University, Millsaps College, and Bellhaven College, and run the part of the city known as Flowood before heading back up along Pinehurst and Riverside Drive toward the finish line back in the Fondren district.

Though there are some flat stretches along the course, much of the race is hilly and challenging, race organizers add, especially around the half-way point in the race as well as around mile markers 10 and 11. The terrain for the race is paved surfaces throughout, along the city streets of Jackson.

Race Weather & Climate

Located near the center of the southern half of the state, the city of Jackson typically experiences chilly to mild weather conditions in the late winter season, with relatively low precipitation (at about 3.5 inches for the month) compared to most of the rest of the year.

Past Results

• 2023 Results
• 2020 Half Marathon Overall Results
• 2019 Half Marathon Overall Results
• 2018 Half Marathon Overall Results
• 2016 Half Marathon Overall Results
• 2015 Half Marathon Overall Results

Course Map

See the Mississippi Blues Half Marathon course map here.

Starting Time

• 7:30 AM – half marathon, marathon
• 8:00 AM – 5K, 10K

Fees

• $105 and up – half marathon
• $115 and up – marathon
• $60 and up – quarter note marathon

Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2024 running of Jackson’s Mississippi Blues Marathon or Half Marathon, register online at Active.com here.

Official Race Website

msbluesmarathon.events

Comments

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See more races in: February, Mississippi