Latest reviews by John Horton

(2019)
"A Hidden Gem on the Mississippi Coast "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management

"All right, y'all," the dude in charge said. "We're going to start this race in a minute ... right when the sun finishes its rising."

Damn if he didn't call it.

The horn sounded as that big orange ball popped over the horizon, sending the runners in the Bay Saint Louis Half Marathon straight into a postcard scene. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself, so let’s start at the beginning.

A work conference brought me to New Orleans at the end of March, and the timing lined up perfectly with the Bay Saint Louis Half Marathon. All it took was a short drive over the state line from Louisiana to Mississippi to knock another state off my to-run list.

Bay St. Louis is a small town on the Gulf Coast that took a heavy hit when Hurricane Katrina roared ashore in 2005. Scars from the storm still pockmark the landscape, and concrete pads here and there show the ghosts of old homes.

Of special note, make sure to search out the Angel Trees of Bay St. Louis. These carved masterpieces – and the story behind them – are sure to give you goosebumps.

Since the storm, a great little district of restaurants has risen along the water in the city’s Old Town area. Packet pickup took place at Buoy’s Bar. It’s a low-key experience – basically, a friendly face at a table to hand over your bib and a great bag of swag. (The haul included a fabulous visor from a local triathlon.)

If you haven’t guessed yet, this race is small. Just over 130 people completed the half marathon. Less than 100 did the 10K.

The limited crowd made for easy parking right at the starting line on race morning. Honestly, you will never have a shorter walk to a race. The vibe was fabulous, too… probably due to the glowing sunrise over the water.

As mentioned, the actual start was maybe the most unique of any race I have ever run. The guy letting us go honestly waited for the son to completed rise above the horizon before blasting the horn.

The course runs along the coast before turning onto a bridge – make that a loooooong bridge - connecting the cities of Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian. More than two leg-burning miles of the race passes over the sparkling waters.

The race route in Pass Christian includes an out-and-back along the water and then a loop through a residential area. My only complaint about the course would be the lack of directional markers at one point in the loop. Runners were asking each other which way to go… because nobody wants to make a wrong turn 10 miles in.

A return trip over the bridge brings you back to Bay St. Louis and the finish line.

The course offers more climbing than you’d expect given the bridges, but there’s no significant hill to conquer. The heat and humidity can be challenging, though: The morning of the race, it was 70 degrees with 84% humidity. I used the car wipers to clear the “air” off my windshield.

The after-party is at Buoy’s Bar, where they had plenty of food and beer for those who wanted to hang out. A very chill atmosphere.

My time wasn’t great but I placed in my age group – a perk of a small field. The race also posts photos on Facebook that can be downloaded, a nice extra. Finisher medal could use some improvement.

This is a race worth doing if it fits in your travel plans and you enjoy a small-town vibe. The organizers clearly put a lot of care into the event, which definitely has some unique and memorable features.

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