Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half

The 2022 running of this race was the final Loop event for Altis Endurance Sports. Altis Endurance Sports has some ideas on how to improve this wonderful event if there is a desire for some other organization to take it over. If interested contact Mike at altisendurancesports@gmail.com.

The ninth annual Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half Marathon in February 2022 was another fun one indeed with good running weather following the ice storm that almost forced the cancellation of the race. Hopefully another entity will take over this race and conduct this event for many years to come.

The marathon starts at 8:00 AM, and the half marathon starts at 8:30 AM. The race will take place on closed paved road at Meeman Shelby Forest State Park in Millington, TN. The start/finish is located at 736 Piersol Rd Millington, TN 38053.

The race has experienced wonderful running weather in 2019 allowing 8 or 43 marathon finishers to record a BQ time. In 2020, 8 of 46 marathon finishers recorded a BQ time. On a warm and humid day 6 of 43 finishers in the 2021 race earned a BQ.

Both races are USATF Certified. The marathon course certification code is TN14002MS, and the half marathon course certification code is TN14001MS. For those of you interested in qualifying for Boston, the Loop Marathon is a good race to run!

Registration

The race has filled.

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Race Location/Info

The race takes place at Meeman Shelby Forest State Park. The start/finish is located at the Piersol Rd picnic area located at 736 Piersol Rd Millington, TN 38053.

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Packet Pickup

Saturday night packet pickup is at the Pig-n-Whistle restaurant from 5:00-6:00PM at 8800 HWY 51 in Millington,TN. I note that the restaurant is on the north side of town about a quarter mile past the Arby’s, a stones throw away from the Hampton Inn and a half mile from the Holiday Inn Express. Pick up your race shirt and bib and enjoy some great food! You can pick up shirts and bibs for friends/relatives at packet pickup also. The restaurant menu is at http://www.pig-n-whistle.com/menu/

Packet pickup will commence on race day at 7:00 AM at the race start/finish.

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Parking

Parking is at the start/finish.

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Directions

For directions to the race site at Meeman Shelby Forest State Park click here. In addition, an image of the roads leading to the race start/finish can be seen below. Highlight the map and paste into a blank Word document to view a lager version of the map.

Loop Map

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Travel

The best airport to fly into to run the Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half is the Memphis International Airport (MEM). The Travel Math nearest airport to Millington, TN link is http://www.travelmath.com/nearest-airport/Millington,+TN.

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Hotels

A list of Millington hotels as of January 2021 can be found at

https://www.google.com/maps/search/Hotels/@35.3332043,-89.9630752,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!2m7!3m6!1sHotels!2sMillington,+TN+38053!3s0x887f7a4c329d8255:0x1a29e187b5d88746!4m2!1d-89.8973084!2d35.3414744

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Course Info

This is a road race on paved road that has been closed off to cars for many years. Marathon runners run nearly 13 complete loops of the course. There are no 180 degree turns on the marathon course. The half marathon consists of six and half loops of the course with one 180 degree turn shortly after the start. The course loop is fairly flat with the high point of the loop 20 feet higher than the low point. This is a fast PR type course.

Both races are USATF Certified. The marathon course certification code is TN14002MS, and the half marathon course certification code is TN14001MS.

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Course Map/Map Link

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Volunteer

If you would like to be a race volunteer please contact Mike at events@altisendurance.com. Volunteers earn free race entries for themselves (or to donate to a friend/relative) in any Altis Endurance race and/or donations to a favorite charity/non-profit organization.

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Awards

An image of the 2021 Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half Marathon award is above. The 2022 finisher award will be similar.

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Weather

Historical average high and low temperatures in Millington, TN on February 27th are 57 and 38 degrees.

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Results

All race results from the Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half Marathon from 2014 to the present can be viewed at ultrasignup.com.

The 2022 marathon results are linked here, and the 2022 half marathon results are linked here.

The 2021 marathon results are linked here, and the 2021 half marathon results are linked here.

The 2020 marathon results are linked here, and the 2020 half marathon results are linked here.

The 2019 marathon results are linked here, and the 2019 half marathon results are linked here.

The 2018 marathon results are linked here, and the 2018 half marathon results are linked here.

The 2017 marathon results are linked at https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=41496, and the 2017 half marathon results are at https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=41497

The 2016 marathon results are at https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=34447, and the 2016 half marathon results are at https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=34448.The 2015 marathon results are here, and the 2015 half marathon results are here. The 2014 marathon results are here. The 2014 half marathon results are here.

The 2015 Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half squeaked in between ice and snow before and after the race. 42 runners started the event, and 42 race finishes were recorded on a cold day at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. Chris Rayder and Rachel Arthur set new marathon course records while Benj Lance and Caroline Blatti lowered the half marathon course records. Several Boston Qualifying times were run, Chris Rayder set the TN state marathon age group record for 15 year olds, and Robert Rayder completed his 100th marathon! It was another super day of running!

The 2014 Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half were run in nearly perfect weather on February 23, 2014. 29 runners entered the event, 26 runners started, and 26 fantastic runners finished the event! Fourteen year old Chris Rayder ran two minutes faster than the current TN state marathon record for fourteen year olds and also finished first in the marathon! Carol Earles was the first female marathon finisher. Since 2014 was the inaugural year for the race, both Chris and Carol set course records. In the Half, Damie Roberts finished first to set the current Loop Half overall and female course records. Alan Presson finished second overall and set the male course record in the Half. Thanks to the Memphis Runners Track Club (MRTC) for certifying the course. Thanks to the runners and volunteers for making the race a success and allowing nine hundred dollars to be donated to non-profits.

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Aid Stations

There is an aid station approximately each mile.

The usual race food will be provided at the aid stations, ie. cookies, chips, water, and Gatorade. It is recommended that runners bring their own energy gels, electrolytes, and water bottle to the race as needed.

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Cutoffs

Runners have seven hours to complete the marathon and six and half hours to complete the half marathon.

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Refunds/Transfers/Miscellaneous

As is the case with most races, there will be no refunds of entry fees to entrants. Transfers of race bibs from one runner to another is also not allowed. There are cabins and campgrounds at Shelby Forest State Park. Information on the State Park accommodations can be obtained by calling 901-876-5215.

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Questions

If you have any questions please contact Mike at altisendurancesports@gmail.com

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