Support a good cause by participating in the Memphis Marathon. Every year, St. Jude Children’s Hospital helps thousands of children fighting for their tender lives, and every December thousands of runners show up in Memphis to support that fight.
If you are looking for a worthwhile cause to help you make it through marathon training, just look up a picture of a child helped by the St. Jude Children’s Hospital and keep that face in your mind. That should be all the inspiration you need to get through our training and off to the race, where you will feel accomplished rushing past the finish line.
Walkers and runners are welcome at the Memphis Marathon.
This is an ideal race for elite runners as well as those training for their very first marathons.
The course is followed with tons of excitement and entertainment leading racers to the finish line. It is an exciting atmosphere that can lead beginners right to the party at the end.
Marathon Registration
The Memphis Marathon experience starts with registration. The race is open to participants at least sixteen-years-old and registration can take place online, with packet pick-up occurring the weekend of the event at the associated expo.
You have to think in advance, because this is one of the most popular marathons in the United States and it does have a cap on registrations.
By October, the race is completely full most years. Plan to register at least in September in the year you would like to race. It is always great to register early anyway, because you will have plenty of time to train for the marathon and improve your speed for an excellent race time.
Memphis Marathon Training Plan
When training, keep in mind that the Memphis Marathon course is only open for six hours on race day. There are pace teams available that will help you keep an acceptable pace on race day, but you will need to train for a race day pace that allows finishing within that time frame.
If you can make it to the end, you will be well decorated with memorabilia to prove that you endured the marathon. All finishers receive a t-shirt, metal and certificate.
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Marathon Race and Accommodation
When you arrive in Memphis for the race, you will have free access to the associated Expo, which is where you will pick up your packet that includes your race number.
There is an optional pasta dinner the night before the race, for those who wish to mingle with other racers and load up on those valuable carbs before the big race day. There is an extra expense for this, but it is entirely optional. Not all racers will be able to get tickets as seating is limited as well.
The top three finishers in all divisions are awarded at the finish line and there is a big celebration for racers and their supporters. This is where the fun of the marathon really begins. Not only do you cross that finish line feeling accomplished and bursting with pride, but you get to celebrate with thousands of other runners who are feeling the exact same way.
Finding accommodation for the race weekend should not be a problem. The race starts and ends downtown Memphis, and there are many hotels and motels located in the area. You can easily find accommodation within walking distance of the start and end points, so you can easily get to and from the marathon without worrying about transportation.
Memphis Marathon Course
The course could double as a tour of Memphis, since it goes by the Mississippi River as well as many of the site seeing attractions of the city. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus is also on the route, so racers can remember what they are fighting for as they struggle through the intense marathon. The ending point is AutoZone Park, which is the major baseball field of Memphis.
There are some hills along the course, but it is all downtown running on pavement. There are no trails through the woods or other difficult terrain that should be trained for, but racers do have to train to complete the race within a six hour pace. Pace groups are available to help racers keep the right pace, but training for the desired pace is essential as well.
The best part of running the Memphis Marathon is watching the supporters line up along the course. Loved ones come out to support their runners and supporters of the charity show up as well. This adds encouragement for those running their first marathon or struggling to make it to the end.
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