Salute Red, White, and Blue 2026 — Hattiesburg, MS

Freedom Isn't Free - Earn Every Mile Salute Red White & Blue will start and finish in Hattiesburg, Mississippi at Camp Shelby in front of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum (Building, 850 Forrest Ave W, Hattiesburg, MS 39407). Athletes can choose to run or walk the challenging 11 mile course, the 11K course, or the 5K course. All three courses will be on paved roads. All finishers will earn a medallion/medal. Schedule of events: The race starts this Saturday, Nov. 7th at 8:00 am in front of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum, 850 Forrest Ave W, Hattiesburg, MS 39407. Here is the race day schedule: 6:30-7:30 am packet pick up 7:35 am group photo of all the participants in front of the museum where it has MS Armed Forces Museum letters on the building 7:40-7:45am all distances line up at the starting line (fast runners up front, then party pace runners, and lastly all walkers. Ruckers may line up where they feel will adequately put them in the right pace placement). 7:45- 7:59am - opening ceremony with opening remarks, prayer, flag presentation, and the national anthem 8:00 am - race start with the blast of a cannon 10:00 am awards for 5K and 11K 10:30 ish awards for 11 Miler *Must be present to get your award or have someone get it for you at the awards ceremony. Awards will not be shipped. PACKET PICK UP: We have three chances for you to grab your packet for race day: Wednesday at Fleet Feet Hattiesburg - 2902 Hardy St Suite 120, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 4-6:00pm Friday at Camp Shelby - South Gate Armory is located at 471 Southgate Road. This is right before you enter the South Gate on your right hand side. There will be a Kinda Gritty flag in the parking lot unless it is too windy. 4-6:00pm Saturday at Camp Shelby - South Gate Armory is located at 471 Southgate Road. This is right before you enter the South Gate on your right hand side. There will be a Kinda Gritty flag in the parking lot unless it is too windy. 6:30-7:30 am PACKET PICK UP WILL CLOSE AT 7:30 am on Saturday as the volunteers will need time to get to the start line along with our athletes. ENTERING CAMP SHELBY: Getting on base at Camp Shelby will be easy for our athletes. YOUR bib number is your entrance into the SOUTH GATE. If you have family and friends coming with you and riding in the same car, they will be able to enter by YOU showing your bib number at the gate. If they are coming separately, they will need to stop at the visitor center, which is a small brown building to the right before entering the gate. They must show a valid ID and get vetted by the visitor center. Then and only then will they be able to enter Camp Shelby. The guard at the gate will direct you towards the parking area along with volunteers stationed on the roads. The parking lot is about a 5 minute walk to the start line so plan accordingly. Finish Line Party: The Finisher's party is on the parade field at the finish line. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for our athletes and have chips and an array of beverages. There will be a POP UP bar compliments of Southern Beverage will alcoholic beverages. YOU MUST BE 21 to drink the adult beverages. Family and friends are welcome to enjoy the finisher's party with you. However, the food and beverages are just for the athletes so make sure your family plans accordingly. Additional Information: The parade field is a BIG open grass field so please feel free to bring a towel, blanket, or chair. *The museum is free to all including friends and family and will open at 9:00 am. **Please note, we will be marking courses, manning packet pick ups, and setting up for race day starting Wednesday, Nov. 4th so if you have a questions PLEASE REFER TO THE WEBSITE or PHONE A FRIEND. This race supports the Mississippi Youth ChalleNGe Academy at Camp Shelby. The Youth Challenge Program is a program for at-risk youth run by the National Guard of the United States (which is why the NG in ChalleNGe is either: Capitalized, Italicized, Bolded or all of the above), which consists of Youth ChalleNGe Academies (known as YCA's) in each participating state. The stated mission of the Youth Challenge Program is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." The program accepts 16- to 18-year-old male and female high school dropouts who are drug-free and not in trouble with the law. The program lasts for 17½ months. The first 5½ months are part of the quasi-military Residential Phase. The last 12 months are part of the Post-Residential Phase. Most participants will earn their GED or a high school diploma by the end of their Residential Phase. The program is one of many programs administered by the National Guard Bureau that address leadership, life skills, and physical training. See YOU at Camp Shelby on 11-7-26.