Endurance Running Events
The fifth annual Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half Marathon is set for Sunday February 25, 2018. The marathon will start at 8:00 AM and the half marathon will start 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.
Both races are USATF Certified. The marathon course certification code is TN14002MS, and the half marathon course certification code is TN14001MS.
To register click here. $40 for the half marathon and $55 for the marathon until January 24th; $55 for the half marathon and $70 for the marathon after January 24th. Online registration closes at 8:00PM central time (9:00PM eastern time which is the time zone that Ultrasignup uses) Friday February 23rd.
↑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.
↑Packet pickup will commence on race day at 7:15 AM at the start/finish.
SATURDAY NIGHT PACKET PICKUP: The 2017 race swag is an Altis Endurance pint glass. Runners who pick up their race packets on Saturday night also have a choice of taking home a second Altis pint glass, a Shelby Forest Loop key ring/bottle opener (limited quantity), or an Altis Endurance car charger. Pre-race packet pickup is Saturday February 25th at Three Guys Pizza Pies from 5:30-6:30PM at 9045 HWY 64, STE 105 Memphis, TN 38016. Pick up your packet and enjoy some good pizza, spaghetti, etc. The menu can be viewed at http://www.3guyspizzapies.com/menu/. Three Guys is located a mile east of I-40 off of Exit 18 next to the Kroger. Please note that Three Guys is located 35 minutes from the race site.
↑Parking is at the start/finish.
↑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.
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.
↑There are a number of hotels clustered around the I-40 Sycamore View Rd about 30 minutes from the start line. A listing of those hotels can be found at the following link:
↑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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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.
↑An image of the 2017 finisher award is at the top of this web page. The new award looks super – thanks to Steel Images!!! There are no age group awards or first finisher awards.
↑Thanks again to the 2015 race volunteers and entrants who made it possible to raise more than $600 for non-profit organizations by conducting the Little Race That Could so named because the race was bookended by winter weather ice and snow.
Thanks to all the 2014 race volunteers and entrants who made it possible for the race to donate $900 to four non-profit organizations including the Friends of the Forest, www.shelbyfriends.org.
↑Historical average high and low temperatures in Millington, TN on February 26th are 57 and 37 degrees.
↑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.
↑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.
↑Runners have seven hours to complete the marathon and six and half hours to complete the half marathon.
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This race is a no shirt race.The 2017 race swag is an Altis Endurance pint glass. Runners who pick up their race packets on Saturday night also have a choice of taking home a second Altis pint glass, a Shelby Forest Loop key ring/bottle opener (pictured above, limited quantity), or an Altis Endurance car charger.
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.
↑If you have any questions please contact Mike at events@altisendurance.com.
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