Rules of Competition
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon (MGC) is produced by FRESHJUNKIE Racing (FJR). FRESHJUNKIE Racing events are organized and directed under USA Track & Field (“USATF”) rules and regulations. Entrants must also comply with Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon and FRESHJUNKIE Racing rules and regulations.
SAFETY
Event Officials: All participants must follow the instructions of event officials (MGC staff and volunteers). For participants’ safety, no skates, skateboards, bicycles, hand crank cycles, push rim chairs or animals are permitted. Costumes covering the face, or any non-formfitting bulky outfit extending beyond the perimeter of the body, are not permitted. Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon reserves the right to change the details of the event, including delaying, canceling, or suspending the race due to inclement weather or other potential safety risks. Participants must retire at once from the race if ordered to do so by event officials, medical staff, or any governmental authority, including firefighters and police officers.
Sportsmanship: Any participant who conducts himself or herself in an unsportsmanlike manner or who is offensive in action or language to event officials, other participants, volunteers, or spectators may be disqualified. Protests concerning the conduct of participants will be accepted for up to 24 hours after the posting of results by contacting an event official or sending an email to info@msgulfcoastmarathon.com
PARTICIPANT ENTRY AND RACE BIB
Application: All participants must provide accurate information, including age, gender, and emergency contact information, when filling out the event application. A participant may not change or add a team affiliation after an event has started.
Race Bib: Your official participant bib (running number) must be fully visible at all times and worn on the front of your torso. The timing device is attached to the back of your running number; in order to ensure an accurate time, please do not fold or wrinkle the bib, or cover it with a jacket, runner belt, water bottle, or any other item. Participants who run the race without their bib properly attached and displayed risk not having their finish time and split times recorded, and not being listed in the results. Runners without race bibs may be stopped and prohibited to enter the finishing chute. If your bib is lost on the course, please report it to an event official after the race.
Transfers Permitted: Race registrations are now transferable to other participants and your race registration can now be transferred to other FJR events. There are restrictions, potential fees, and timing requirements related to these options. Any and all transfers MUST be completed using our RunSignUp registration site. Instructions can be found in our FAQs. Recording official transfers is important and mandatory as it ensures race officials have accurate emergency contact information and correct insurance waivers for all participants in the event. A participant who does not wear his or her assigned race bib/tag, or who is found to have transferred, bought, or sold entry without completing the official, required process in RunSignUp will be disqualified and suspended from subsequent FJR events.
No Refunds: Entry fees are non-refundable. Participants may defer entry to the following event year within a specified time frame for a fee. Participants may change race distances for the current event year within a specified time frame at either no charge, or for a fee depending on the time frame and what distances the participant is moving between.
THE START
Start Corrals: Participants are responsible for arriving at the start corrals and entering at the designated corral entry points before the corral closing times. Any participant who climbs over a barricade or otherwise enters improperly may be disqualified. For participant safety, once a corral is closed for entry, late-arriving participants must report to the last corral. Please follow the instructions of event officials when entering corrals.
Race Start: The race will be started by an air horn or cannon unless otherwise noted. All participants must be behind the starting line at the start of the race and must follow the instructions of the race starter.
TIMING
Official Times: Your official (net) finish time is recorded by the timing system from when you cross the starting line to when you cross the finish line. This time determines the order of finish and award winners—except the two overall first-place awards, which always go to the first man and woman to cross the finish line. Start timing mats will be removed 15 minutes after the start of the race unless the size of the field warrants keeping the start open longer. After the start has closed, no runners will be allowed to start the race. If a runner chooses to start, they must forfeit their bib and will not be considered an active participant in the event.
THE COURSE
Course Marking: FJR events (except for kids’ races) are conducted on USATF-certified courses. Participants must stay within course boundaries, as designated by barriers, traffic cones, delineation, and/or other markings, at all times; must recognize and understand event signage and symbols relating to the course, directions, and facilities; and must follow the instructions of course marshals. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.
Course Monitoring: If you have not completed the entire course, do not cross the finish line. Participants with missing or irregular split times at official timing checkpoints will be reviewed and may be disqualified. If you must leave the course, rejoin it only at the point at which you exited. No participant, after leaving the course, will be allowed to rejoin the race either for the purpose of gaining a place or to pace or assist another competitor.
Assistance: Unofficial pacers or other unregistered participants are not permitted. A participant who receives outside assistance during an event from anyone other than official medical personnel or designated water stations may be disqualified.
Bandits: No individual who is not officially registered may join the event or accompany any participant in the event. Any person without an official bib will be directed to leave the course immediately. Any registered participant receiving assistance or pacing from a bandit may be disqualified.
THE FINISH
Time Limit: In the interest of safety, and to allow streets to reopen as scheduled, participants should be prepared to adhere to the published pace standards and course cutoff times. Those participants who are not able to maintain the required pace should be aware that fluid stations and other course amenities may not be available. Participants behind the required pace in races staged on city streets will be asked to board a follow vehicle, be leap-frogged ahead on the course, or moved to the sidewalks and forfeit their race bib. Late participants may be able to cross the finish line, but they are not guaranteed to be timed and recorded as official finishers.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items are prohibited from all FJR events and race venues:
A weapon of any kind, including firearms, knives, Mace, et cetera
Any dangerous item or “dual-use” item that could be considered dangerous, including hammers, saws, sharp objects, et cetera
Flammable liquids, fuels, fireworks, toxic chemicals, and explosives
Unmanned aerial devices, drones, survey balloons, photography mini-copters, and any flying device with an on/off switch.
