Mid-South Races for Hope, formerly known as the Mid-South Marathon is back! The people of Cross County have always offered runners and walkers a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of corporate America. Rediscover what you love about running, enjoy a slice of rural American country running and take …
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Mid-South Races for Hope, formerly known as the Mid-South Marathon is back!
The people of Cross County have always offered runners and walkers a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of corporate America. Rediscover what you love about running, enjoy a slice of rural American country running and take in the vibrant fall colors of Crowley’s Ridge. While we are still recovering from the March 31, 2023 tornado, our community is building back and moving ahead.
The races are out and back races that wind through part of the historic district and continue out along the ridge through fields ripe for harvest. The start and finish lines will be at Wynne Baptist Church. Our race is certified and is a Boston Marathon qualifying race. We will have aid stations approximately every mile, and port-o-potties are also located near each station! Each aid station will be supplied with Vaseline, Gatorade, fruit, snacks, and smiles. At the finish line we will serve the traditional championship BBQ plate supper for all finishers and their families. Come run in the country and let us show you some small-town southern hospitality.
In lieu of a pasta dinner, we will work with locally owned restaurants to create pasta specials for the marathon weekend.
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Fostering Hope
Mid South Races for Hope was a smaller race in Wynne, Arkansas celebrating their 25th anniversary. The race supports an awesome cause by helping foster children. They had several distances … MORE
Mid South Races for Hope was a smaller race in Wynne, Arkansas celebrating their 25th anniversary. The race supports an awesome cause by helping foster children. They had several distances to choose from including marathon, half marathon, 5K, and kids fun run. They went all out with pre race breakfast items available including donuts, muffins, bananas, clementines, coffee, water, and Gatorade. Race day packet pick up was super easy. Race starts at local church and after a few blocks in the city, you are out on country roads. Course is an out and back, with plenty of aid stations. Course was fast, I ran a PR. Crowd support was non existent. Post race had a live band, petting zoo, food trucks, bounce house for kids, several local vendors setup selling merchandise, and world class BBQ lunch with homemade desserts. I recommend this race.
Rebuilding Year
This was the first MidSouth since covid struck. They went virtual one year and cancelled last year. Prior to covid this race brought it. They would have aide stations at … MORE
This was the first MidSouth since covid struck. They went virtual one year and cancelled last year. Prior to covid this race brought it. They would have aide stations at every mile, age group awards, race pictures, etc. In the past there was additional food choices after the race besides bbq.
I signed up once it opened. This was my very first half and I tend to go back since it is so close to home. I was able to be in the batch that got a tech shirt for doing so (think it was first 50). The weather was perfect. The aide stations were reduced down. The number of runners was down. No age group awards. Whoever measured the distance was off. I talked to other runners so we actually got an extra half mile in before crossing at the finish, and there were some upset folks over that. I actually heard the RD saw it was a rebuilding year. I know there was another race in the state so that may have pulled some runners towards it.
Decided to go virtual
I understand with the Covid restrictions and the surge in the area at the time to make the decision to go virtual instead of outright cancelling. I was able to … MORE
I understand with the Covid restrictions and the surge in the area at the time to make the decision to go virtual instead of outright cancelling. I was able to actually run the race on the same date it would have been held. This is a pretty course during the fall like weather we were having at the time and would have been a perfect day to run it. Hopefully we will all be together live next year.
Another Midsouth finish
This was my 4th Midsouth 1/2 Marathon. This year's shirt was a fitted short sleeve shirt. Last year they had a long sleeve t shirt option which I liked better. … MORE
This was my 4th Midsouth 1/2 Marathon. This year’s shirt was a fitted short sleeve shirt. Last year they had a long sleeve t shirt option which I liked better. There seemed to be fewer aide stations this year than in previous years. The weather was perfect to run in this year. The leaves were turning which gave this route some scenic view to it. The post race meal options of bbq and pizza were plentiful when I finished the race. This years turnout seemed to be down from previous years. This race isn’t part of the Natural State Running Series which may have played into that.
Small town inexpensive race
This race is an example of you get what you pay for. A very inexpensive race that checked Arkansas off my list. I was hoping for a scenic country race. … MORE
This race is an example of you get what you pay for. A very inexpensive race that checked Arkansas off my list. I was hoping for a scenic country race. Instead, I spent most of the time avoiding road kill. I love to run some of the small town races, this wasn’t one of them.
The people associated with the race were nice enough but I didn’t get to participate in the postrace meal as I never received directions as to its location, only to find out later that is was in the school cafeteria. The shirts are not tech shirts, but I guess you shouldn’t expect that for the price. The “wood” medals were a disappointment.
Of the 25 states I have completed so far, this was the most disappointing.
Good, not great
This was like running at home, you enjoy running, so it's nice to be outside, but sometimes you expect a little more...scenery or something. I'm not dissatisfied with this race, … MORE
This was like running at home, you enjoy running, so it’s nice to be outside, but sometimes you expect a little more…scenery or something. I’m not dissatisfied with this race, but I probably wouldn’t go back. If it fits the schedule, try it out, maybe even cross Arkansas off of the list, it is cheap.
For the record, I didn’t love the medal.
Wonderful Rural Marathon
Beautiful rural run in Arkansas next to Autumn fields. One section of busy highway on the front and tail of the race, otherwise rural highway. (Sloped road.) Great course support... … MORE
Beautiful rural run in Arkansas next to Autumn fields. One section of busy highway on the front and tail of the race, otherwise rural highway. (Sloped road.) Great course support… not many cheerleaders.