Joplin Memorial Run
Joplin, MO
- Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
2024 will be the FINAL Freeman Joplin Memorial Run. Due to participation decline, rising expenses, and volunteer fatigue it has been decided after much discussion that 2024 will be the final run. *** One of the friendliest cities in America; Joplin, Missouri, is your host for two days of competitive … MORE
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Amazing Race
This was a truly amazing race. The swag was great, scenery was decent, and the course support was on point. I do believe this was the last year this race … MORE
This was a truly amazing race. The swag was great, scenery was decent, and the course support was on point. I do believe this was the last year this race was happening.
Sadly last year of this race
Very nicely producd run, lots of swag, food options after, supportive public. Sadly this was the last year of this race, hopefully someone takes over or local race people step … MORE
Very nicely producd run, lots of swag, food options after, supportive public. Sadly this was the last year of this race, hopefully someone takes over or local race people step up and create a new one in its stead.
Beauty borne out of tragedy
This race serves to honor and remember the tragedy that struck the town, taking 161 lives and destroying over 8000 structures. It was (this was their final and 13th running … MORE
This race serves to honor and remember the tragedy that struck the town, taking 161 lives and destroying over 8000 structures. It was (this was their final and 13th running of the race) a beautiful race, and I am honored to have been able to be a part of it. The course this year started off in downtown Joplin by Memorial Hall. Sadly, the Hall has fallen into disrepair and is not able to be visited. I hope one day it is so I can go back and see it. The course is fairly flat for Missouri but there were a few gradual hills. This course is hot. There is no shade and you’re out in the open, usually on a wide street. There is a great deal of thermal mass to contend with, and for those of us who don’t deal well with humidity, it quickly got punishing. Somehow, I still managed to come close to my standard pace despite being on the injured list. At one point the drummers outside the local church near the halfway mark were bringing absolute fire, which thankfully we got again as we circled the park and came back up the other side. Two fastest splits on the course for me right there, despite one having a lot of hills, so kudos to the young men and women who were out there bringing the heat and pumping us up. You sound amazing on the approach and just as powerful up close.
The shirt is a very tasteful design and the medal is gorgeous, with elements of the memorial statue reflecting in the design of it. All 13 medals were on display and whoever has done this one and the last two or three has a wonderful eye for design. There was also a very much appreciated remembrance coin that came with the race, a very nice glass, a stylish branded trucker hat, and a very stylish branded bookbag sized insulated cooler that is going to have my snacks from now on when I’m driving a ways to a race, which is not uncommon here lately. Almost forgot, branded polarized sunglasses as well. Truly there was a great amount of SWAG. There was also a handful of small nonbranded things donated like a bottle opener, pens, tickets to the baseball team.
Three hours on the road well spent to get there, and to my new friends in Joplin, I hope we get to race together again someday. Everyone stay safe. Your town is lovely, and I look forward to going back.
Super Produced Race for a small town
Top notch shirts, very well organized, great volunteers, could have used a few porta potties on the half course, maybe another water station.. Great snacks after race, Chick Fila AND … MORE
Top notch shirts, very well organized, great volunteers, could have used a few porta potties on the half course, maybe another water station.. Great snacks after race, Chick Fila AND Jimmy Johns, superb, will race again. I didn’t think the course was too hilly.
Great small town Memorial Run
Run through the streets of downtown Joplin. A few hills but nothing terrible. Amazing crowd support at the start and end of the race, and the volunteers were great too! … MORE
Run through the streets of downtown Joplin. A few hills but nothing terrible. Amazing crowd support at the start and end of the race, and the volunteers were great too! My only complaint as far as the race goes were the water stations seemed too spaced out. The first one was nearly 2 miles in, and then the last two were near the end. No porta potties on the course but a lot at the race start. Nice-quality t-shirt and very nice medal! Post-race snacks were some of the best I’ve ever had… lots of drinks ranging from Gatorade to water to chocolate milk to beer and full-size sandwiches from Jimmy John’s AND Chick-fil-a. Will definitely be doing this race again!
Very encouraging race
This is a very encouraging race. At the beginning of the race, they have a moment of silence for all those who lost their lives in the Joplin Tornado. Then … MORE
This is a very encouraging race. At the beginning of the race, they have a moment of silence for all those who lost their lives in the Joplin Tornado. Then the first half smile of the race, they have flag set up representing each person who died from the tornado. It’s a little hilly, but a great course. Plenty of encouragement along the way and good water stations.
Amazing race but them hills!
This was by far the best race I have. See so far. Awesome volunteers, plenty of aid stations, for an amazing cause. But them hills were brutal. MORE
This was by far the best race I have. See so far. Awesome volunteers, plenty of aid stations, for an amazing cause. But them hills were brutal.
A great cause and a great race
In participating in races that are for a cause or for remembering an tragic event you have to go in it with a different expectation. I wanted to do this … MORE
In participating in races that are for a cause or for remembering an tragic event you have to go in it with a different expectation. I wanted to do this race for the people that lost their lives from the tornado. I didn’t have much of an expectation other than doing my best. The course is tough as Joplin is a smaller town and you run through side streets and business areas. The start and finish you see flags that have names of the people who lost their lives during the tornado. It makes you want to run for them. Joplin Memorial Run does a great job with their swag and awesome finisher party. I will be doing this race again in 2018.