Keesler Federal Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon
Biloxi, MS
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Beer Mile, Beer Mile Relay, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon showcases the local culture with a beautiful beachside run from Pass Christian to Biloxi. Kick off the weekend in Biloxi for packet pickup and grab some commemorative merchandise to celebrate your accomplishment. Saturday morning is our Chevron Kids Marathon 1 Mile Run and the Margaritaville … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Dec 13):
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| H (°F) | 66 | 64 | 76 | 67 | 70 |
| L (°F) | 41 | 42 | 62 | 46 | 57 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Beautiful, Coastline Race
Almost the entire half marathon is along the coast. The last mile does a small loop into town (with a hill) and ends in the baseball stadium. Fun post- race … MORE
Almost the entire half marathon is along the coast. The last mile does a small loop into town (with a hill) and ends in the baseball stadium. Fun post- race atmosphere with plenty of beer, gumbo, and more. If you are trying to do a race in each state, this is a good one to consider- especially because it is in December.
26.2
I had the pleasure of running this race along the Gulf of Mexico before an arrogant, power-hungry liar and convicted felon decided we should call it the Gulf of America. … MORE
I had the pleasure of running this race along the Gulf of Mexico before an arrogant, power-hungry liar and convicted felon decided we should call it the Gulf of America. Lucky for me, he hasn’t revoked our right to run. Yet.
Ranting aside, let’s talk about the race. It’s a fine race. The gulf views are pretty. A bit repetitive, but still…nice enough. I liked watching the sun come up over the water before the start of the race.
The course isn’t challenging at all. It’s straight and flat. The humidity, on the other hand, ain’t my cup of tea. Even when temps were cool the humidity made breathing tougher and my heart rate climb. A lot of runners said the wind was brutal; I didn’t notice it, but I may have been in a zone. Crowd support was fairly limited since it’s a point-to-point along a highway hemmed in by the coastline, which makes it difficult for spectators to get around. The folks who were out were supportive, though.
As far as race amenities, this one was a mixed bag. The pre-race expo…if you could call it that…was a waste of time. It was held in a parking garage. There was no swag. No vendors. Just a bib and a race shirt and some old merch to buy. Maybe they didn’t get any sponsors? The post-race event in the baseball stadium was better…you got a bunch of food and drink tickets and I couldn’t even use mine. The food options were limited (I snagged a few BBQ pork sammiches and a beer), but they were giving out chocolate milk (my post-race fave), no ticket required. I’m helped myself to as much as I wanted.
Biloxi itself is a snooze fest. Typical coastline made-in-China tchotchke town. As I expected, Mississippi was a “run this damn race and get the hell out” state.
Would I recommend this race? I dunno. Maybe. I guess. It was fine. Just nothing distinctive about it. I don’t ever want to go to Mississippi again, but I’m curious if other races in the state have a bit more flavor.
Running next to the ocean is the best!
Being from a mountainous state, I will always appreciate a race next to the ocean EVERY TIME. In all honesty though, production for this race was very smooth, including bib … MORE
Being from a mountainous state, I will always appreciate a race next to the ocean EVERY TIME. In all honesty though, production for this race was very smooth, including bib pick up. I love that it was at Margaritaville Resort! I stayed at the hotel that was closest to shuttle pick up to the start and the finish line at the MGM Park a block away. Couldn’t have been a better option. Some may say that the route in a straight shot (except for the last mile or two?) is boring, but while looking at the sunrise and the ocean next to me, it was easier to zone out and enjoy it. Of course, it was a bit humid, which I do not really prefer. Really the only reason I scored this race a 2/5 for difficulty was because of the humidity. Haha. Overall, it was a great race and felt really great with performance and having ran this race! I met some new half marathon runners and beginner runners. All were local runners. It was very fun and they were all so nice and fun to talk to! I loved this race!
They lied!!!!
It was flat, beautiful scenery. Great post race. But lord, the best keep secret the last mile... that incline circle curve ramp, almost took me out. I was not expecting … MORE
It was flat, beautiful scenery. Great post race. But lord, the best keep secret the last mile… that incline circle curve ramp, almost took me out. I was not expecting that… overall love the suprise and race.
Beautiful Run
This was a great run with unobstructed views of the ocean, couldn't ask for much more, at least for a gal from the north who doesn't see the ocean all … MORE
This was a great run with unobstructed views of the ocean, couldn’t ask for much more, at least for a gal from the north who doesn’t see the ocean all too often. It was flat and really uneventful until the last mile whereby runners had to run up the on/off ramp which was a bit challenging considering the mileage already covered. The post race was very well organized, loved the finish in the ball park, and appreciate the great medal.
Flat run, pretty repetitive
Dont get me wrong, I like to run by the ocean.... but for 25 miles, it does get pretty receptive. Also, headwinds were a thing which seems like the case … MORE
Dont get me wrong, I like to run by the ocean…. but for 25 miles, it does get pretty receptive. Also, headwinds were a thing which seems like the case every year. The packet pickup was a breeze but definitely not in a convention area… in fact, it was in the garage of the Margaritaville which was somewhat strange. Beware of the fine mile of the race as there is a pretty steep hill (off ramp) from the highway.
Best part was the finish line as it ended in the ball park. Good run, nothing great, nothing bad.
Beachfront run in Mississippi
Rating explanation: Course difficulty = 1 shoe because the course runs along a scenic highway almost the entire time along the beach. Toward the very end there is a banked … MORE
Rating explanation:
Course difficulty = 1 shoe because the course runs along a scenic highway almost the entire time along the beach. Toward the very end there is a banked on-ramp that you run up before heading back down and around into the baseball stadium. I didn’t mind this but I heard a few other runners mention it, as well as my husband – it was his first half marathon. So just be ready for that at the end for both the half and the full. Otherwise this is a flat course.
Scenery = 5 shoes because I love a beachfront run! I had plenty to look at, as well as lovely mansions on the other side of the highway. Finishing in a triple-A baseball field is a nice touch.
Production = 5 shoes because we thought this was incredibly smooth and easy. Granted, we chose to stay in the Courtyard hotel that is walking distance to the start of the race and we did not opt in for the shuttles. I prefer to stay as close to a start line as possible when traveling for a race as I find things far less stressful race morning. Because the race was point-to-point, we got a Lyft back to our hotel after the race, which was super easy. At the start of the race, there was music playing, and lots of port-o-potties (although long lines as you got closer to the start and more buses arrived). It was easy for us to line up near one of the pacers at the start line.
There were a ton of aid stations – so many that I didn’t feel the need to stop at every one. They always had water and Power Aide, some had Gu gels, although we always like to be prepared and travel with our own gels.
After the finish line, it was nice to spread out on the grass of the baseball field and stretch our legs. Afterwards, you had to walk up a small flight of stairs to get to the food. This was another complaint I heard from some runners after running so long, but at least there was a lot of food up there! My husband enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich and gumbo. I’m a vegetarian but found a protein shake and a banana. They also had a photo booth at the end, although I never received the photo.
Race Swag = 3 shoes for the super nice medal and okay-ish t-shirt. I always like a full tech shirt but this one is soft material at least. I also include the free photos and finish line video as a part of the swag and appreciate it!
Overall = I gave this 5 shoes because I felt that this was a super smooth race, we absolutely loved the scenery (being from Colorado, we don’t see beaches so I could look out at the water all day), and loved how well the support was done at the aid stations. I’m thankful we chose this as my husband’s first half marathon!
Point to point run along the Gulf
I feel this was a good choice to check off Mississippi in my quest of a half in every state. There were 5 of us in our group, from 3 … MORE
I feel this was a good choice to check off Mississippi in my quest of a half in every state.
There were 5 of us in our group, from 3 different states. We flew into the Gulfport-Biloxi airport and got a rental car.
A miscommunication with my hisband had us staying at a hotel that was the best choice, logistically. Given the chance to do it over again, I would stay closer to the finish line (not the start) since runners get on a shuttle near the finish.
My main suggestion would be to research parking near the baseball park, as that is where the shuttles are staged and where the race ends.
It was cool watching runners on the jumbo screen as they crossed the finish line, even if we weren’t able to watch ourselves.
The bibs included SIX food/drink tickets, the most I have ever seen at a race. The hot sandwich and cold beer hit the spot after completing this race.
Gulf Coast Community Race
It's amazing the community effort that is put into this race to organize and clear 26 miles of beach hwy. through several communities. Just the active numbers of school busses … MORE
It’s amazing the community effort that is put into this race to organize and clear 26 miles of beach hwy. through several communities. Just the active numbers of school busses used to stage the racers at the two starts is a large logistical effort. I’ve been running this race for 5 years and each year they put on a well supported effort with a well stocked finish celebration.
The race finish times/website are first rate, easy to navigate and promptly available. They are generous in their finish info that they even provide several finish photos for each runner, sorted to their bib number, for free. That’s not normal and much appreciated.
Perfect choice for a Mississippi half!
First visit to Mississippi and was really pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the coast was. Beautiful sunrise at the start, weather was warm but comfortable for the most part - … MORE
First visit to Mississippi and was really pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the coast was. Beautiful sunrise at the start, weather was warm but comfortable for the most part – some rain, some wind. Not cold at all except for waiting to start.
Logistics: the expo was from 10-5 Saturday which feels early to end, especially when a lot of folks come from out of town. We still tried to run in at 5:10 straight from the airport and they were fully packed up. This meant getting up much earlier, though bib pickup was quick and easy.
Keesler federal park is the destination noted for bib pickup and to get the buses, but there’s no parking there, so we had to ask a cop and they directed us to the Beau Rivage, which had plenty of space
Shuttles were very well organized, not a ton of waiting around which is always nice.
My biggest feedback for pre-race is PLEASE include hand sanitizer or cleansing wipes, something. There was none to even begin with, which is just asking for a public health problem.
I thought it was a great sized crowd, not too large or overwhelming, enough where I never ran alone. The first 11.5/12 miles are beautiful and just a straight shot along the coast. A “set it and forget it” type of run.
The end of the race, to be honest, was hellish. We ran up a winding freeway ramp, then there was an out and back that’s deceptively long. Then multiple turns, another uphill, then a long stretch onto the baseball field to finish. It honestly just felt never ending, and my watch did clock about an extra 1/4 mile.
Overall, this was a great and well-organized race! I would definitely recommend it to other 50 staters. The t shirt was a good one – very soft material!
Excellent!!
Very good production. The race was mostly flat except the last mile when we went up a ramp. It has sprinkled a few times and the ramp was slick and … MORE
Very good production. The race was mostly flat except the last mile when we went up a ramp. It has sprinkled a few times and the ramp was slick and the cross slope was challenging ( More so than the climb). They had multiple events all weekend to keep the runners engaged. The double down medal what really neat.
A fun run through Biloxi
This was a well organized event, from packet pickup to race day shuttles and post race amenities. Compared to some other races I’ve done, this was a little smaller, but … MORE
This was a well organized event, from packet pickup to race day shuttles and post race amenities. Compared to some other races I’ve done, this was a little smaller, but you wouldn’t know it based on how well it was organized. The shuttles dropped us off with plenty of time to prepare, with plenty of porta-pots, ample room to stretch and warm up, and music to keep us entertained. The course was mostly a straight shot down a road that ran parallel to the beach, which provided us with a refreshing light breeze and scenic views of the sunrise. There were plenty of water stations along the route, with enough friendly and encouraging volunteers handing out water and sports drink that there wasn’t any notable slowdown from people traffic. The only real elevation on the course was a ramp about a mile from the finish, where spectators would cheer you on from the stadium stands next to the course. After a turnaround, you benefit from a downhill stretch before your arrival at the final stretch. I was elated to see that the finishing stretch was on the warning track at the minor league baseball stadium, which as a huge baseball fan, gave me an added boost of adrenaline to get me across the finish line a tad bit quicker. The medal is large and of excellent quality. The stadium concourse was well laid out with multiple stands providing post race beer and snacks, all of which were perfectly proportioned and delicious. With a generous 6 food/drink tabs, you will certainly get your fill. This was a great introduction to the friendliness and generosity of Biloxi and their running community.
Overall A Great Race!
This was a great race. It rained a few times, but overall decent weather. The view was also very nice. It was a flat course until mile 25 which was … MORE
This was a great race. It rained a few times, but overall decent weather. The view was also very nice. It was a flat course until mile 25 which was a bit brutal. The swag was a drawstring bag and a cheaply made t-shirt. Definitely don’t do this race for the swag. Also, another unfortunate thing was that the host hotel was 2 miles from the finish line. After the race was over I had to figure out transportation to get back to the hotel. I wish that would have been disclosed in the travel information on the race website and I would have just booked the hotel that was directly at the finish line. Also, it was recommended to get to the shuttle early and so I did, and they took us to the start 1 hour before the race started. It was very cold and that hour was a bit miserable. Gear check was very close though so next time I will make sure to bring a jacket to check in. Overall a good race and I would do it again.
Good Race!
Really well organized. As others have mentioned there is only packet pickup and race merch available at the Expo. The weather was ideal for Dec especially coming from the northeast, … MORE
Really well organized. As others have mentioned there is only packet pickup and race merch available at the Expo. The weather was ideal for Dec especially coming from the northeast, was great to run in shorts. The food afterward was disappointing, I got a banana and a few beers, which is the same thing I got after the 5K the day before. It was nice to be able to watch other runners finish while sitting in the stands drinking a beer. I stayed at the Doubletree which was a 5 min walk to stadium for the shuttle and the finish line. I would definitely run this again.
Aid stations every 1.25 miles
The aid stations were every 1.25 miles and had water and Gatorade. They had great volunteers. The course was extremely flat except for the welcoming hill at the end. The … MORE
The aid stations were every 1.25 miles and had water and Gatorade. They had great volunteers.
The course was extremely flat except for the welcoming hill at the end.
The beer afterwards was very tasty and wasn’t only limited to one or two.
The medals were nice and I will wear the shirt.
Nice run by the Gulf
Running by the beach is always nice. This race is a point to point straight line from Gulfport to Biloxi, MS running along the beautiful Gulf coastline all the way … MORE
Running by the beach is always nice. This race is a point to point straight line from Gulfport to Biloxi, MS running along the beautiful Gulf coastline all the way (well almost).
The packet pickup is … just that. No expo or vendors.
Start is at Jones Park across from the MS Aquarium (pretty cool place BTW). Race is entirely on the paved road until the last 1/10 of a mile inside the baseball park. It is as flat as you can get until mile 11.5 when you have to climb up the I-110 ramp to then turn around a come to the finish line. It isn’t a terrible climb, but after 11.5 miles (24 if in the marathon), your fatigued legs don’t appreciate it.
There are plenty of water/electrolyte stations about every 1.5 miles. It sounded like too much when I read it. However, locals know best. It was a bit warm (mid 60sF/upper 10sC) and humid. Those stations were perfect.
You’re running in a closed lane of a busy coastline road, so not much crowd around until the end.
The finish line is inside the Baseball Park. You have to climb to the second level to get the good stuff. Again, with tired legs you want to make sure you do this once. But is worth it. They had the usual bananas and a quite tasty brisket sandwich. To my pleasant surprise they had flavored protein drinks and beer. They felt like a million bucks (actually 2).
As always, the volunteers and traffic police officers made all the difference. Without them this race doesn’t happen. Favorite race for many MS locals, and great choice if like me, you’re checking off MS of the 50 states running bucket list.
Scenic
Do it for the white sand and palm trees. Crowd support very minimal. No PR bell 😭 Swag medals are nice but the shirts are redundant. No actual expo. Make … MORE
Do it for the white sand and palm trees. Crowd support very minimal. No PR bell 😭
Swag medals are nice but the shirts are redundant. No actual expo. Make sure you have everything for the race or can find a running store. Good beer offering afterwards. Pulled pork sandwich might not be best after food option.
FIRST RACE SINCE A PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEM
Best course in Mississippi with the beautiful sunrises and watching the ocean waves while racing. The most beautiful scenery on the race course 😍 I can't wait til next year MORE
Best course in Mississippi with the beautiful sunrises and watching the ocean waves while racing. The most beautiful scenery on the race course 😍 I can’t wait til next year 🏃♀️🏃♀️🎅🎅👍
Great course. Good volunteers.
Its flat. The overpass at mile 24 is a challenge. Good community involvement. The police make you feel safe. Slow or fast. Organization ofnthis event is great, communication is above … MORE
Its flat. The overpass at mile 24 is a challenge. Good community involvement. The police make you feel safe. Slow or fast. Organization ofnthis event is great, communication is above par. And the runners? Supportive!
Highly recommend
This was my first time visiting Mississippi and if you're looking for a run here, this race definitely gets my vote. It was very well organized, starting with packet pickup … MORE
This was my first time visiting Mississippi and if you’re looking for a run here, this race definitely gets my vote. It was very well organized, starting with packet pickup all the way to the finish line. The medals for both the 5k and half were nicely done, as well as the bonus medal for running two races. There were food/drink coupons at the bottom of our race bibs that could be exchanged for coca cola products or beer and food options that I tried, were the gumbo (LOVED IT) and pulled pork sandwiches (LOVED IT). The course for the half started in Gulfport, which we were shuttled to, and ran along the nice, flat beachfront, up until the last mile or so they put the nice freeway incline for the fun of it. Put this on your list for next year – it’ll be the 10 year anniversary!