Mississippi Blues Marathon

The Mississippi Blues Marathon debuted in January 2008, succeeding the earlier Mississippi Marathon that had run since 1976, and 2027 marks its 20th Anniversary Edition. Held every February in Jackson, the race leans into the state's musical heritage: live blues bands perform along the course and at the finish festival, giving the event a distinct Southern soundtrack rarely found at other marathons. Both the marathon and half marathon courses are USATF-certified, and the race is recognized as a Boston Marathon qualifier. The marathon, half marathon, Quarter Note Marathon (10K), 5K, and Marathon Relay all start and finish on the 50-yard line at Jackson State University's Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, with the marathon and half marathon setting off at 7:30 AM and the shorter distances following at 8:00 AM. A BB Kids Mini Marathon half-mile fun run and virtual options round out the weekend. The full marathon and half marathon are open to runners 12 and up, and Jackson's mostly flat, gently rolling terrain keeps the course approachable for a range of finishing times. Finishers collect a medal, a commemorative tote, and a race bib produced for the anniversary year, then head into a post-race festival with Southern staples like jambalaya, fresh fruit, and cold drinks. Packet pickup and race registration run the Friday before the race at Veterans Memorial Stadium, with a shorter race-morning window for late arrivals. Between the blues theme, the community-driven crowd support, and the Boston-qualifying course, the Mississippi Blues Marathon draws both first-time marathoners and runners chasing a qualifying time.