Event Description

A trail run on the Longleaf Horse Trail in the De Soto National Forest just south of Laurel. 100 Miles, 50 Miles, 50 Km, or 20 Km. Gently rolling pine forest, mostly single track with some double track logging roads. Packet pickup at the the trailhead on Friday night for the 50M, 50K, 20K and on Friday morning at 10 a.m. for the 100M. Post race food on-site at the start/finish line. Finisher mementos. Belt buckles to 50 Mile finishers and 100M finishers. Held annually since 1996. The 100 mile event is an all or nothing event. The 100 milers only start at noon Friday and either finish 100 miles by the cutoff at 6 pm Saturday or get a DNF. In the other events runners start on Saturday morning and will be allowed to switch races after one or more loops (anyone who switches during the race will not be eligible for a trophy, but will be counted as a finisher). This makes the Mississippi Trail 50 a great place to try a first 50K or 50 Mile. If you get part way into the run and decide you have bitten off more than you can chew, just switch down to a shorter distance. The only way to get a DNF in the shorter events is to not complete at least one loop. There is a 12 hour time limit (dictated by the NFS permit) for both the 50K and 50 Mile events. The cut-off for the 50 milers to finish three 12.5 mile loops and start their first of two 6.1 mile loops is 8:45 elapsed, 2:45 pm, and the cutoff for everyone to start their last 6.1 mile loop is 10:15 elapsed time, 4:15 pm.