Location
B.B. King at Lt. Lee Ave. (in front of FedExForum)
Memphis, TN
Date and times
Sat., Dec. 5, 2020
8 a.m.
Wheelchair start 7:55 a.m.
Registration fee
$75 program fee before June 1.
Prices increase June 1. See pricing and registration options.
Help St. Jude kids, like Joanna
Registration fees help us put on a great race, but fundraising is the best way to support the kids of St. Jude.
The marathon follows a scenic Boston-qualifying course through the city of Memphis, starting outside FedExForum. Near mile 5, the course passes through the St. Jude campus, where patients, their families and other onlookers gather to cheer. Runners will also pass through Overton Park, scenic neighborhoods and several Memphis historic areas before finishing in front of a crowd on Union Avenue. After the race, participants can join the finish festival at AutoZone Park.
The start and finish lines are in the heart of downtown Memphis, located near a dozen hotels, plenty of restaurants and historic Beale Street. There are 24 hydration stations, all with fluids and portalets. Spirit stations are throughout the course, featuring Memphis music and other entertainment. See restrictions.
All marathon participants will receive a race number with timing tag, a clear gear bag, an official long-sleeved tech shirt and a finisher medal, among other amenities. See full list.
Race day weather: Average high/low: 56°F/38°F
Age requirement
Marathon participants must be 16 years or older as of race day.
Course time limit
The marathon course limit is 6½ hours.
Course elevation
Start elevation: 236 ft.
Finish elevation: 236 ft.
Highest elevation: 295 ft.
Lowest elevation: 220 ft.
The marathon and half marathon have a staggered wave start. All participants will be assigned a corral based on their projected finish time. Your corral will be printed on your race number.
Walkers are strongly discouraged from participating in the marathon.
Pace teams for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend are coordinated by volunteer members of the Memphis Runners Track Club (MRTC). Teams will be organized for 17 target finish times.
If you’re an experienced marathoner and interested in leading a pace team, please contact our pace team coordinator, David Tuttle, at tutt.dr@gmail.com.
While prize money is not offered, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend will waive the entry fee in the marathon and half marathon for elite athletes.
Wheelchair athletes will receive the following:
- early start with police escort
- special restroom facilities near start, finish and throughout course
- special parking near finish (contact race office for details)
- trophies to the top three male and female finishers in each race
See wheelchair specifications.
If registering as a wheelchair athlete, please contact marathon@stjude.org.
There will be a full emergency field hospital at the finish. There will also be medical support on the course, with nurses at several of the hydration stations throughout the full and half marathon courses.
A course doctor will be in the race director's vehicle throughout the race and will be able to respond to emergencies within a few minutes. There will also be 15 ambulances mobile on the course.
Runners who must drop out will be picked up at one of the hydration stations, all of which are in radio contact with the main medical unit.
We use two timing methods:
- gun time – the time it takes you to finish the race based on when the start gun is fired
- chip time – the time it takes you to finish the race based on when you cross the start line
Results for the Open (Overall) Division will be based on gun time. For all other divisions, age groups and races, the results will be based on chip time. Runners will be eligible for awards only in the specific race they registered for.
Final official race results will be posted on our website no later than December 10, 2020.
Overall and age group awards will be presented to the top finishers in their respective categories. See award categories.
Please contact Best Times CCT with any timing/results questions at results@besttimescct.com.
Our complete 18-week training plan — which includes a full schedule, expert tips and training videos — has everything you need to get to the finish line.
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend has teamed up with Breakaway Running to offer free group training runs on Saturday mornings. See time and location information on the Breakaway Marathon Training Group Facebook page.
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is proud to be a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon. Runners who finish with a qualifying time will receive an exclusive St. Jude Memphis Marathon Boston Qualifier T-shirt. Qualifying standards for the Boston Marathon are defined by the Boston Athletic Association. See qualifying times.
You may also be interested in ...
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Half Marathon
The St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile run through the heart of downtown Memphis benefiting the kids of St. Jude.
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10K
The St. Jude Memphis 10K is a 6.2-mile run through Memphis benefiting the kids of St. Jude.
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5K
The St. Jude Memphis 5K is a 3.1-mile run through downtown Memphis benefiting the kids of St. Jude.
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Kids Marathon
The St. Jude Memphis Kids Marathon is a great way for kids 11 and under to participate in the marathon weekend.
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Course maps for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend
See the course maps for all of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend races.