2026 Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon - Dec 13 Countdown

Q: When is the 2026 Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon and what time does it start?

The full marathon is held on Sunday, December 13, 2026, with a 7:00 a.m. Central Time start. It is part of a two-day racing festival: the 5K, kids' marathon and beer mile run on Saturday, December 12, while the full and half marathons share the Sunday morning along the coast.

Q: Is the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is genuinely flat — one of the flattest marathons in the South. The point-to-point route follows Highway 90 along the beachfront with almost no elevation change, apart from a single noticeable climb late in the race where the course goes up an on-ramp and over a bridge. That makes it a strong PR and Boston-qualifying option, but the bridge near the end deserves respect after miles of flat running. Use the pace calculator to plan even splits.

Q: Is the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The marathon course is USATF-certified (MS20007MS) and an official Boston qualifier, and the race reports all finishers to the BAA, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston Marathon entry. Combined with the flat profile and cool mid-December weather, it is a course many runners pick specifically to chase a BQ. Check your target with the Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: Where does the course go?

It is a point-to-point course from Pass Christian to Biloxi. Runners start in Pass Christian and head east almost entirely along Highway 90, the beachfront boulevard, passing through Long Beach and Gulfport with the Gulf of Mexico on the right for nearly the whole way, before finishing at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi. The half marathon starts later in Gulfport and shares the same coastal road into the same finish.

Q: What is the time limit, and what is the weather like?

The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit from the 7:00 a.m. start, roughly a 13:45 per mile pace. Mid-December weather on the Gulf Coast is usually mild and runnable — a cool start in the mid-50s degrees F (around 13 degrees C) — but the beachfront is fully exposed with no shade and little wind protection, so a Gulf headwind can be the real variable. Try the race time predictor to set a realistic goal.

Q: How do I register, and how big is the race?

Registration is handled online through RunSignup; there is no lottery — entry is first-come, first-served, and prices rise as race day approaches (the early full-marathon fee is around $95). The full marathon is a mid-sized race — roughly 600 finishers in recent years — within a weekend festival that draws over 3,700 participants across all distances from dozens of states. The full marathon and 5K have sold out in recent years, so register early.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon - Dec 13
City	Biloxi
Date	2026-12-13 at 07:00
Field Size	~614 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	America/Chicago
Official Site	Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	13.1°C / 56°F
Humidity	85%
Wind	20.3 km/h
Rain Chance	35%
Typical Conditions	Mild, often-pleasant mid-December morning on the Gulf Coast — typically a cool, breezy start in the mid-50s degrees F (around 13 degrees C) that stays comfortable for racing, with a sea breeze off the Gulf

What to Prepare: A December morning in Biloxi usually starts mild, around the mid-50s degrees F (13 degrees C), and is some of the most runnable PR weather in the U.S. for a winter marathon. The catch is the open beachfront: there is no shade and very little wind protection on Highway 90, so an onshore or headwind stretch can sap your pace. Pack throwaway arm sleeves you can shed, a cap or sunglasses for the glare off the water, and check the wind forecast as carefully as the temperature.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 20.3 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	7.4°C	12.8°C	19.2°C
Dew point	2.2°C	9.6°C	18.2°C

Wet-day chance: 35% Runnability: 70/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point (Pass Christian to Biloxi)
Elevation Gain	30m
Terrain
Profile	This is one of the flattest, most genuinely PR-friendly marathons in the South. The point-to-point course starts in Pass Christian and runs almost entirely along Highway 90, the beachfront boulevard, tracing the Gulf of Mexico shoreline east through Long Beach and Gulfport before finishing at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi. For nearly the whole 26.2 miles you have flat, open road with unobstructed beach and water views on your right. Total elevation change is minimal — the route is effectively pancake-flat apart from a single noticeable climb late in the race, where the course goes up an on-ramp and over a bridge that tests legs that have been cruising on the level the whole way. It is USATF-certified (course MS20007MS) and an official Boston qualifier, with all finishers reported to the BAA, which makes it a deliberate target for runners chasing a Boston time or a personal best. The trade-offs are exposure and wind: there is essentially no shade and the only real defense the open coast offers against a Gulf headwind is pacing discipline. Run the flat early miles by feel rather than banking too much time, respect the bridge near the finish, and this is a course built for fast, even splits.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon - Dec 13

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon and what time does it start?

The full marathon is held on Sunday, December 13, 2026, with a 7:00 a.m. Central Time start. It is part of a two-day racing festival: the 5K, kids' marathon and beer mile run on Saturday, December 12, while the full and half marathons share the Sunday morning along the coast.

Is the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is genuinely flat — one of the flattest marathons in the South. The point-to-point route follows Highway 90 along the beachfront with almost no elevation change, apart from a single noticeable climb late in the race where the course goes up an on-ramp and over a bridge. That makes it a strong PR and Boston-qualifying option, but the bridge near the end deserves respect after miles of flat running. Use the pace calculator to plan even splits.

Is the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The marathon course is USATF-certified (MS20007MS) and an official Boston qualifier, and the race reports all finishers to the BAA, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston Marathon entry. Combined with the flat profile and cool mid-December weather, it is a course many runners pick specifically to chase a BQ. Check your target with the Boston qualifying calculator.

Where does the course go?

It is a point-to-point course from Pass Christian to Biloxi. Runners start in Pass Christian and head east almost entirely along Highway 90, the beachfront boulevard, passing through Long Beach and Gulfport with the Gulf of Mexico on the right for nearly the whole way, before finishing at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi. The half marathon starts later in Gulfport and shares the same coastal road into the same finish.

What is the time limit, and what is the weather like?

The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit from the 7:00 a.m. start, roughly a 13:45 per mile pace. Mid-December weather on the Gulf Coast is usually mild and runnable — a cool start in the mid-50s degrees F (around 13 degrees C) — but the beachfront is fully exposed with no shade and little wind protection, so a Gulf headwind can be the real variable. Try the race time predictor to set a realistic goal.

How do I register, and how big is the race?

Registration is handled online through RunSignup; there is no lottery — entry is first-come, first-served, and prices rise as race day approaches (the early full-marathon fee is around $95). The full marathon is a mid-sized race — roughly 600 finishers in recent years — within a weekend festival that draws over 3,700 participants across all distances from dozens of states. The full marathon and 5K have sold out in recent years, so register early.