The Blues now has a full, half, 10K, and 5K associated with this race. It's held every January, when the weather can be freezing cold with sleet,really warm, or just plain rainy. I've run the half and full a combined 5 times and 2015 was the last time I ran the full. I'm not sure why I keep doing that. This is a hilly course! And, sad to say, the roads in the area are awful. I've run a good portion of the course as a training run. When the streets aren't even partially closed off to traffic, that's a bad idea because of how much the road tilts (it actually injured me one year and I had to DNS a race). With partial closures, as they do for the race, it is better because you can move towards the center some. And the hills. Oh the hills. If you're running the full, you have a few here and there during the first half, but I felt like the worst climbing came in the second half of the race. The second half is also where the course can get a bit boring, scenery-wise. During the first half you're running through lots of neighborhoods, along major roads with lots of businesses and lots of people out and about cheering you on (if they still do it, the Jackson State Sonic Boom marching band at the beginning is the best thing of any race I've ever done!), but the second half doesn't have much to see. The finish line experience, if you finish early enough (I never did) is good, with lots of food and entertainment. Plus, they line up a lot of local entertainment for the evening after the race, giving people something to do before leaving the following day.

I know people around here absolutely love this race, but I think I'm biased because I've just never done well at it. I wavered on whether to recommend this race, but if I'm being honest, I would not. Not because it's a bad race, but I can't wholeheartedly say, "YES! Do it!!" Still, if you want a hilly course to challenge you, this is it.