TUPELO - Nathan Hall and Bryan Miller thought Tupelo Mayor Jack Reed's Mayor's Marathon program was a great idea, and now they want to take it a few steps further.

The Mayor's Marathon goes through the end of November and consists of participants logging 26.2 miles of walking or running by the end of the month. Reed said that's the equivalent of walking about 15 minutes a day.

Hall and Miller will then be offering a program to Tupelo residents, Marathon Makeover, to help them run and complete a half or full marathon after taking part in almost 10 months of training that starts in January.

It's part of a larger statewide effort that's been organized in other cities in the state, including Brandon, Clinton, Hattiesburg and Vicksburg.

"We really thought it was great that Mayor Reed was promoting people getting out and exercising," said Hall, who is cross country coach at Tupelo High School. "We knew about the Marathon Makeover program and wanted to do it. It seemed like a great progression from the Mayor's program. I've run 12 marathons and completing one is the greatest feeling of accomplishment you can have. I wanted to be a part of sharing that feeling with other people."

Marathon Makeover is a 40-week wellness program that promises to help transform your life - mind, body and spirit - through the process of training for a half and/or a full marathon.

With weekly Saturday meetings, online support, a proven training schedule, and the accountability of a community sharing a common goal, Marathon Makeover moves its participants through an entire training regimen to prepare for a competitive distance run

Hall said the program is open to as many people who want to join and you don't have to be currently running to join - in fact couch potatoes are encouraged to sign up.

"We training gradually and it will build up," Hall said. "It is a great thing to do with a group or a team from your church or work place. Doing it together makes it easier."

Registration is open online at marathonmakeover.com with the Tupelo training set to start Jan. 17. The cost for beginners is $500, with reduced fees for previous participants. Those who register before midnight Dec. 31 will receive a free sport jacket, a $75 value.

In addition to fully staffed and supplied training runs for 40-weeks, marathoners will receive a training kit that includes: sport duffel bag, technical shirt, cotton T-shirt, water bottle, participants guide, work-out/stretching videos and more.

Anyone 21 years and older who does not have any disqualifying medical conditions - consult your physician - can participate in Marathon Makeover. "This is going to be a total wellness program," Hall said. "It's going to be fun working together as a group to make positive changes in lifestyle that will last long after the running. People can move from a sedentary lifestyle to an active lifestyle and they can do it together."

Click here to follow Journal Online Editor Todd Vinyard, who will be taking part in the Marathon Makeover program. He will be blogging about the program. Click here to register for the Marathon Makeover program.