Hernando Water Tower 10K, Half Marathon Run Saturday
Runners from across the Mid-South will gather on the historic Hernando Town Square Saturday morning, Oct. 10, for the 17th annual Hernando Water Tower 10K and Half Marathon. The half marathon starts at 8 a.m. and the 10K follows at 8:05 a.m., with both races starting and finishing on the square.
The course winds through tree-lined neighborhoods and past the 1925 Hernando water tower, the Mississippi Landmark that gives the race its name. Proceeds benefit Hernando Excel By 5’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which mails free books every month to local children from birth to age 5.
Hernando Water Tower 10K Packet Pickup and Start Times
- Early packet pickup: Today, Friday, Oct. 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Landing at Delta Landing, 885 Tunica Trails, Suite 111, across from the new Hernando High School on McIngvale Road.
- Race-day packet pickup: Saturday from 7 to 7:45 a.m. at Hernando City Hall, 475 West Commerce Street, on the side facing Elm Street.
- Half marathon start: 8 a.m.
- 10K start: 8:05 a.m.
- Course closes: Noon. Half marathon runners must reach the 10-mile marker by 11 a.m., which works out to about an 18-minute-per-mile pace.
Registration Still Open
As of Friday, spots remained in every race on the RunSignup registration page. Current prices, before sign-up fees, go up after 11:59 p.m. Friday:
- Half marathon: $85 for ages 21 and older, $75 for ages 16 to 20 (rising to $90 and $80 on race day)
- 10K: $45 for ages 21 and older, $40 for ages 10 to 20 (each rising $5 on race day)
- Spirit Runner (shirt, goody bag, and after-party access, no race): $30
Online registration closes at 9 a.m. Saturday. Members of Run Oxford, the Memphis Runners Track Club, and the Tupelo Running Club get a $5 discount.
Plan for Rain and Wind on Race Morning
Runners should be ready for wet conditions. The National Weather Service in Memphis has DeSoto County under a Flood Watch from 1 a.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Sunday as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias move through the region. The Saturday forecast for Hernando calls for rain showers, a high near 67, and northeast winds of 10 to 25 mph with gusts as high as 45 mph. Three-quarters of an inch to an inch of rain is possible during the day.
Organizers had not posted a weather change on the race page as of Friday afternoon. Runners should check the race’s RunSignup page and the Hernando Water Tower 10K Facebook page for any updates before heading out.
After-Party and Awards
All registered runners and Spirit Runners are invited to the post-race party, which includes free food, drinks, beer, live music, and door prizes. Awards go to the top male and female finishers in each age group once results are final.
Related: 2025 Hernando Water Tower 10K/Half Marathon race results | DeSoto County Flood Watch set for Isaias remnants
Source: Hernando Water Tower 10K and Half Marathon (RunSignup); National Weather Service Memphis
