Running in the rain at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon 5K

It was a rainy Saturday morning, but runners from across the country still got up early for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon 5K.

This was the third year for the 5K that takes place in Biloxi. The race began at 8 a.m. at Point Cadet.

Despite the rain, around 1,000 people came out to participate in this yearly event. Director Patrick Fellows said, “For most people, it’s kind of an entry level race. For many it is their first run, maybe the farthest they have ever run. It’s also a good opportunity for local people who don’t want to run a full marathon and support the event. The 5K for us is usually just a big kickoff for the weekend.”

The champion of the 5K was 26-year-old Francis Steib.