475 runners prepare for the 32nd annual Starkville Frostbite Half Marathon, 10k and 5k benefiting the Starkville Police Department at 9 a.m. Saturday in Downtown Starkville.
Although the half marathon is an annual tradition, it has not always been focused on incorporating and promoting Starkville. In the past, the marathon was hosted by and benefitted the Oktibbeha County Hospital Regional Medical Center; however, last year, Brad Jones, manager at Regions Financial Corporation in Starkville, and Wes Gordon, director of planned giving at Mississippi State University, began hosting the event with support from the Greater Starkville Development Partnership
Since then, the route for the half marathon, 10k, and 5k goes completely through Starkville, ending with a loop through MSU back to downtown Starkville.
“Historically, the half marathon has been ran outside of Starkville and through Pheba,” Gordon said. “We wanted to make it more of a Starkville event and incorporate all of Starkville in the routes.”
According to Gordon, the event usually attracts an average of 400 participants; however, this year, 475 people have signed up. Gordon expects to have 550 participants by the end of the week. Last year, the race drew up to 575 people partially due to the high of 70 degrees the day of the run.
Because there are so many runners, helpers are needed to make everything happen the day of the race. Many MSU organizations have volunteered to help such as Exercise Science, NAACP, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Lambda Sigma Honor Society, Ideal Women of MSU, the volunteer center and many more.
The race accumulated sponsors to help cover some of these costs. Chick-Fil-A is one of the main sponsors for the event. Since Jones and Gordon began hosting the event in 2016, different entities in the Starkville area benefit from a portion of the proceeds from the event. Last year, the run benefitted the Starkville Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Baptist Student Union; however, this year, a portion of the money received will benefit the Starkville Police Department.
“We try to keep spending for the run as low as possible to be able to give most of the money to the place it’s benefitting,” Gordon said. “However, that is very difficult to do when you take into consideration everything purchased for the run.”
In addition to running the half marathon, 10k, or 5K, runners will receive t-shirts, socks, cups, bags, and food after the race. There will be water stations set up throughout the route, and runners can also expect a sign at every turn.
After the race, there will be a post party held inside of Moe’s Original BBQ where lunch will be served and awards will be distributed to the first, second and third place runners.
