Navigating Race Day

Let us help you have a plan for race day, Saturday, Dec. 4 — participate, volunteer, cheer, be aware and be safe.

 
Marathon runner

Photo taken in 2018
 
 

Race day is Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021

 
 

We'll be updating this page often between now and race day, so please check back to learn about road closures, impacts by neighborhood, best places to park, transportation options, how to get involved, Spectator Guide and more.

 

Road closures and transportation

 

Road closures

Waze

 

 

Road closures

See which Memphis streets will be completely or partially closed, or download a full schedule.

Times are estimates and subject to change. Roads will open as soon as the last runner passes. Please avoid traveling in/out of areas during time of impact. If necessary, go slow, be aware and yield to law enforcement and runners.

  1. Roadway  Section Closed Time Type of Closure
    Union Avenue  4th St. to  B.B. King Blvd.  Noon Fri. - 5 p.m. Sat. Complete
  2. Roadway Section Closed Time Type of Closure
    Union Avenue 4th St. to B.B. King Blvd. 12 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Complete
    B.B. King Boulevard #1 Court Ave. to MLK Jr. Ave. 12 a.m. - noon Complete
    B.B. King Boulevard #2 Vance Ave. to A.W. Willis Ave. 7 a.m. - noon Complete
    Beale Street S. 4th St. to Front St. 7 - 10:30 a.m.  Complete
    Vance Avenue 4th St. to Main St. 7 - 10:00 a.m.  Complete
    2nd Street G.E. Patterson Ave. to A.W. Willis Ave. 6:30 - 10 a.m.  Complete
    Front Street G.E. Patterson Ave. to A.W. Willis Ave. 6:30 - 10:30 a.m.  Complete
    Shadyac Avenue 2nd St. to St. Jude Campus 6:30 - 10 a.m.  Complete
    Huling Avenue Front St. to 2nd St. 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. Complete
    St. Martin St. Huling Ave. to G.E. Patterson Ave. 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. Complete
    G.E. Patterson Avenue Main St. to Butler Ave. 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.  Complete
    E. Butler Avenue G.E. Patterson Ave. to Danny Thomas Blvd. 8 - 10:30 a.m.  Complete
    Danny Thomas Boulevard #1 Union Ave. to Mill St. 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Complete
    Danny Thomas Boulevard #2 Butler Ave. to Union Ave. 6:30 - 11 a.m. Complete
    Court Avenue B.B. King Blvd. to Front St. 6:30 - 10 a.m.  Complete
    Poplar Avenue B.B. King Blvd to Front St. 6:30 - 10 a.m.  Complete
    E. Butler Avenue S. 4th St. to Danny Thomas Blvd. 7:30 - 10 a.m.  Complete
    North Parkway Danny Thomas Blvd. to E. Parkway 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Local Traffic Only
    Avalon Street N. Parkway to Jackson Ave. 8 - 11:30 a.m.  Local Traffic Only
    Stonewall Street  N. Parkway to Poplar Ave. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Complete
    Jackson Avenue Avalon St. to Cypress Dr. 8:30 a.m. - noon Right Lane Closed
    Dickinson Street Jackson Ave. to Tutwiler Ave. 8:30 a.m. - noon Local Traffic Only
    Tutwiler Avenue Avalon St. to McLean Blvd. 8:30 a.m - noon Local Traffic Only
    N. Evergreen Street  Jackson Ave. to N. Parkway  8:30 a.m - noon  Local Traffic Only
    Crump Avenue N. Evergreen St. to Hawthorne St.  8:30 a.m. - noon  Local Traffic Only
    Hawthorne Street Crump Ave. to Varsity Ave. 8:30 a.m. - noon  Local Traffic Only
    Varsity Avenue Hawthorne St. to N. Auberdale St. 8:30 a.m. - noon  Local Traffic Only
    N. Auburndale Street Varsity Ave. to Tutwiler Ave.  8:30 a.m. - noon Local Traffic Only
    Faxon Avenue N. Evergreen St. to Hawthorne St.  8:30 a.m. - noon Local Traffic Only
    West Drive N. Parkway to North Dr.  8:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m.  Local Traffic Only
    North Drive Charles Place to Cypress Dr.  8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Local Traffic Only
    Charles Place North Dr. to Jackson Ave.  8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Local Traffic Only
    Cypress Drive Jackson Ave. to North Dr.  8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Local Traffic Only
    East Parkway N. Parkway to Poplar Ave.  8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Right Lane Closed
    Morrie Moss Lane Poplar Ave. to Veterans Plaza Dr.  8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Local Traffic Only
    Veterans Plaza Drive Morrie Moss Ln. to Golf Dr.  8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Local Traffic Only
    Golf Drive Veterans Plaza Dr. to Running Path  8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Local Traffic Only

See Course Maps

Waze

Use Waze on race day for directions around road closures.

 
 
 

Neighborhood Information

 

Neighborhoods impacted by the race

If your neighborhood is along one of our four race courses, you may be impacted on race day. Find out when and how your neighborhood will be affected, including what streets will be fully or partially closed, what alternate routes we suggest and when the runners will clear out. Please note that mail delivery along the race route on Saturday, Dec. 4 may be delayed.

Times are estimates and subject to change. Rest assured, roads will open as soon as the last runner passes.

Downtown Memphis

Movement around downtown Memphis will be greatly impacted during the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend.

 
 
 
 
 

Race day parking and downtown access

 

Parking and accessing downtown

Due to road closures, participants and spectators should plan to be downtown and parked prior to 6:15 a.m. Please refer to the parking map below for the areas we strongly recommended for parking (within green).  These areas will be accessible all day, and allow for a timely exit from downtown. Parking is also available in the yellow areas, but with significant delays and wait times for exits. 

Please click the colored areas and individual icons for additional information specific to those locations.

The average charge for parking is $10. Go slow, be aware and yield to law enforcement and runners. Let’s make it a safe race day for everyone.

Download Downtown Parking Map

 
 
 

Spectator guidelines and tips

Plan ahead, cheer loud, experience Memphis and have fun! Here’s how:

AHEAD OF TIME

DURING THE RACE

  • Cheer for everyone, and greet them by race number and name. All participants need support and appreciate encouragement!
  • Stay on sidewalks or curbs. It's important to stay off the roads and course routes.
  • Be respectful of our Memphis neighbors and businesses by not leaving behind any cheer items or trash.
  • Please remember that portable toilets are for registered participants only.

Law enforcement and race officials will be stationed at the start, finish and along the routes. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. If you see something, please notify a law enforcement officer or race official. Drones are not allowed.

 

Best places to watch along the course

Having family, friends and community members along the route providing encouragement to runners makes race day even more special. Here are a few locations we suggest:

  1. 5K

    Time: 7 a.m. start (wheelchair start at 6:55 a.m.)
    Location: B.B. King  Blvd. and Court Ave.

    10K/HALF MARATHON/FULL MARATHON

    Time: 8 a.m. start (wheelchair start at 7:55 a.m.)
    Location: B.B. King Blvd. and Beale St. at 8 a.m.

    Parking: Please see parking guide, and plan to arrive downtown no later than 6:15 a.m.

  2. Family-friendly cheer station with coffee, hot chocolate, water, snacks, and St. Jude cheer items.

    5K (first mile)

    Time: 6:00 – 11:00 a.m.
    Location: B.B. King Blvd. and Washington Ave.

    10K/HALF MARATHON/FULL MARATHON (just after first mile)

    Time: 6:00 – 11:00 a.m.
    Location: 2nd St. and Washington Ave.

    Parking: Park in the CJC Parking Garage (245 Washington Ave.) prior to 6:15 a.m.

  3. Lively neighborhood party with food and beverages, a DJ, and St. Jude cheer items.

    FULL MARATHON (miles 13.5 and 17.2)

    Time: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    Location: 572 Center Dr. (corner of Center Dr. and N. Parkway)

    How to get there: Madison Ave. east and then north on East Parkway. Park in the vacant lot at the corner of North Parkway and East Parkway (southeast side) then walk west across East Parkway toward the intersection of North Parkway and Center Dr.

  4. All are welcome at this fun cheer station that features drinks, snacks, music, St. Jude cheer items, and a warming bus (of course!) in case it’s chilly out!

    FULL MARATHON (mile 11.2 and 21.6)

    Time: 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
    Location: North Parkway at Evergreen St.

    How to get there: Head east on Madison Ave. and then north on Evergreen St. Park along Evergreen or an adjacent side street (staying south of North Parkway). Walk to the cheer station.

  5. Show Your St. Jude Spirit to all runners and help them finish strong in support of the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

    5K/10K/HALF MARATHON/FULL MARATHON

    Time: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
    Location: Intersection of Union Ave. and Danny Thomas Blvd.

    How to get there: Walk from your downtown parking ramp location.

Estimated runner arrival times by mile marker

This year’s runner arrival time windows are much longer due to the staggered start of each race. Below are the approximate times that the first and last participants in the half and full marathon will pass the mile markers.

  1. Mile Time
    Start to Mile 2 Wheelchair start at 7:55 a.m.
    8 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
    Mile 2 - Mile 4 8:12 a.m. - 10 a.m.
    Mile 4 - Mile 6 8:22 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
    Mile 6 - Mile 8 8:32 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
    Mile 8 - Mile 10 8:42 a.m. - Noon
    Mile 10 - Finish (Half Marathon) 8:52 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    Mile 10 - Mile 12 8:52 a.m. - 11:18 a.m.
    Mile 12 - Mile 14 9:03 a.m. - 11:46 a.m.
    Mile 14 - Mile 16 9:15 a.m. - 12:14 p.m.
    Mile 16 - Mile 18 9:27 a.m. - 12:42 p.m.
    Mile 18 - Mile 20 9:39 a.m. - 1:10 p.m.
    Mile 20 - Mile 22 9:51 a.m. - 1:35 p.m.
    Mile 22 - Mile 24 10:03 a.m. - 2:03 p.m.
    Mile 24 - Finish (Marathon) 10:15 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Runner Tracking

For the marathon, half marathon and 10K, runner tracking is available for friends and family to keep track of their runner on the course. Runner tracking will provide updates at several splits, as well as estimated finish times. 

 
 

Questions? Contact sjmmwneighborhoods@stjude.org.

 

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