Shelby Forest Loop Marathon and Half

Registration

Registration for the 2016 race is not open yet. To view previous year race results please click here.

2015 Entrant fees: $35 for the half/$50 for the marathon until January 22nd;  $50 for the half and $65 for the marathon after January 22nd. Online registration closes at 9:00PM Friday February 20th. Runners can also register race morning starting at 7:15 at the race finish line.

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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

Packet pickup will commence on race day at 7:15 AM at the 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.

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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

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:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&latlongtype=findit&address=Yale%20Rd%20%26%20Memphis%20Arlington%20Rd&city=Bartlett&state=TN&zipcode=38134&country=US&latitude=4naZZDtRhrXdGESNoPhqiw%3d%3d&longitude=33LoxzRmtAq2sOqkq2hIUg%3d%3d&cat=Hotels

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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

All finishers will receive a finishers awards. There are no age group awards or first finisher awards. The finisher award image is above. Thanks to Running Awards – runningawards.com – for making the race finisher awards.

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Proceeds

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.

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Weather

Historical average high and low temperatures in Millington, TN on February 21st are 55 and 36 degrees.

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Results

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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Swag

This race is a no shirt race. 2015 race swag is the keyring/bottle opener pictured above.

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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 events@altisendurance.com.

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