May 2013
MBM Medal Ranked in Top 25… Again!For the third consecutive year, the official Mississippi Blues Marathon finisher’s medal has been selected as one of the top 25 medals in the country by Marathon & Beyond magazine. The 2012 Mississippi Blues Marathon medal claimed the #17 overall spot, besting the #22 spot claimed the past two years.
Each year, Marathon & Beyond publishes the list of the nation’s top medals from the previous year’s race calendar. Winning medals are selected by a panel of judges from around the country, including marathon veterans and running enthusiasts. The 2012 Blues Marathon medal is a replica of an old 45 record accented with a blue glitter guitar. Panelist Lisa Rini said, “I almost played this record on my stereo! This life-sized 45 record medal is very authentic. The colorful glitter guitar makes the medal pop!”
Finisher’s medals are popular collectibles among runners, with many runners now selecting events based on the finisher’s medal. If you want to be sure to get your award-winning medal from the Blues, register now and make sure you’ll be getting the Blues on January 11, 2014!
January 2013
A Record Breaking Blues!It was a good day for the Blues as the largest race field ever hit the streets of Jackson for the 6th Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon on Saturday, January 5. Craig Leon of Eugene, Oregon was the top male finisher in 2:16:48, breaking the previous course record of 2:18:53 set by Edward Tabut in 2009. Truphena Tarus of Georgetown, Texas was the top female finisher in 2:36:30, also breaking the previous course record for a female. The previous record for women was set by Janet Cherobon in 2010, when she finished in 2:37:44. James Senbeta of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the top finisher in the Wheelchair division, finishing in 2:02:28.
Click here for the full results.
Thanks to everyone who helped make the Blues a success!
January 2013
Blues Shadow Run in Asia!While runners in Jackson tackled the chilly and hilly course, Chung Siedlecki ran her own Blues Half-Marathon on a military base at an undisclosed location in Asia. Chung completed the half-marathon distance in 2:22 and will be getting her finisher's medal and race packet shortly. Congratulations, Chung!
December 2012
Our Biggest and Best Medal Ever!
The medal for the 2013 Mississippi Blues Marathon is our biggest and best medal yet! Click on the picture above to see a larger image.
December 2012
Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau Names Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon as 2012 Festival/Event of the YearThe Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon has been named as the 2012 Festival/Event of the Year by the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau! The marathon received this designation as part of an awards program that honors the "best of the best" of Jackson's tourism industry each year and highlights tourism-related businesses and organizations that have made significant achievements.
Come get the Blues!! Register today to participate in the 2013 race on January 5!
November 29, 2012
The Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon continues to earn praise and is now being recognized as one of the don’t miss events of the year!The Road Runners Club of America’s ClubRunning magazine published an article in its September edition highlighting races around the country offering a substantial value in entry fees, race swag and more. The Blues were praised for a well-organized event, hospitable volunteers and an “unparalleled medal.”
Register today and come see for yourself why the Blues are alright!
Click here to read the article in the online edition of ClubRunning
November 28, 2012
Mississippi Blues Marathon Selected as 2013 Southern Region ChampionshipJackson, MS – The Mississippi Blues Marathon has been selected as the 2013 Southern Region Championship Marathon by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). This is part of the RRCA Championship Series, which highlights top running events across the country and awards top performing runners at different skill levels. Since 1958, the RRCA has awarded championship events through a competitive bidding process at the National, Regional and State levels.
“We’re extremely excited to serve as the Regional Championship event for the RRCA, and we hope this distinction will encourage runners from around the country, and even the world, to come see what the ‘Blues’ is all about,” said John Sewell, Director of Corporate Communications with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, the presenting sponsor of the Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon. “We started off as a relatively small race, but people everywhere have heard about the race and what a great experience it is, which has allowed our field to grow exponentially. They’ve seen what a great race destination Jackson is and they’ve experienced the enthusiasm of the volunteers, which is why they keep coming back.”
The RRCA is the oldest and largest national association of running clubs, running events and runners dedicated to promoting running as a competitive sport and as healthy exercise.
The Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon began in 2008 and has quickly become a sought-after destination for runners of all skills levels from the professional, to the running enthusiast and even the beginner. The race has quickly garnered enthusiasm for its challenging course, live entertainment, amenities and Southern hospitality.
The 2013 race is scheduled for Saturday, January 5 in downtown Jackson. The race begins at 7:00 a.m. near the intersection of Capitol and State streets. To register or volunteer, visit www.msbluesmarathon.com where you can also find the latest news, travel information and more.
August 23, 2012
Two-time MBM Champ Cherobon Competes in the 2012 Summer Olympics
Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, two-time Mississippi Blues Marathon winner in the women’s division, placed 12th in the 10,000 meters event at the Summer Olympics in London. She ran a personal best time of 31 minutes, 12.68 seconds in the event, knocking 20 seconds off her previous personal best time. Twenty-two women from around the world competed in the event on August 3.
Cherobon-Bawcom won the women’s marathon division at the Inaugural Mississippi Blues Marathon in 2008 and again in 2010, where she set the course record for women in 2:37:44. Her record still stands.
You can learn more about Janet on the USATF website
August 21, 2012
Running for the Blues!
On Tuesday, August 21, the Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon was proud to present a $10,000 check for the Mississippi Blues Commission to the King of the Blues, B.B. King! The presentation was made at the unveiling of the latest Blues Trail Marker in the town of Kilmichael, Mississippi where King lived as a young child.
Each year, proceeds from the race benefit the Blues Commission and since 2008, the race has donated $50,000 to the Commission. This year’s gift was designated to the Blues Musicians Benevolent Fund, which helps established blues musicians in time of need.
You can help keep the blues alive with a donation as part of your registration! Come on down and get the blues with us, and we look forward to seeing you in January!
July 31, 2012
The Blues Touted as one of the "Great Races That Don't Break the Bank"
The Mississippi Blues Marathon and Half-Marathon continues to earn praise and is now being recognized as one of the don’t miss events of the year! The Road Runners Club of America’s ClubRunning magazine published an article in its September edition highlighting races around the country offering a substantial value in entry fees, race swag and more. The Blues were praised for a well-organized event, hospitable volunteers and an “unparalleled medal.”
Register today and come see for yourself why the Blues are alright!
Click here to read the article in the online edition of ClubRunning
July 03, 2012
Racing from Mississippi to London - Two-time MBM Champ
Cherobon On Her Way to the 2012 Olympics as Part of Team USA
When it comes to running, you could say she grew up in Mississippi. As the winner of the inaugural Mississippi Blues Marathon women’s division in 2008, Janet Cherobon-Bawcom also bested an elite field of female runners in 2010, setting the course record. Now, she’s headed for the 2012 Olympic Games in London!
Cherobon-Bawcom qualified for the summer games during the U.S. track trials on June 22 in Eugene, Oregon. She will compete in the women’s 10,000 meters event (10K), having previously achieved the Olympic “A” Standard of 31:45 in the 10,000 meters event.
Cherobon-Bawcom is a native of Kenya and currently resides in Rome, Georgia. She moved to the U.S. after receiving a scholarship to attend Harding University in Arkansas.
By the time she graduated in 2005, she had claimed eight NCAA All-American titles and three Division II national championships.
Cherobon-Bawcom competed in her first USA Championship event in 2011 and won her first national title in the USA 20 km event. She subsequently won the women’s title in the 2011 USA Running Circuit.
Cherobon-Bawcom’s course record of 2:37:44, which she set in 2010, still stands.
You can read more about Janet’s journey to running glory from the USATF athlete spotlight.
Blues News! Archive
2012 Mississippi Blues Marathon News Archive
2011 Mississippi Blues Marathon News Archive
2010 Mississippi Blues Marathon News Archive
2009 Mississippi Blues Marathon News Archive