The 20th running of the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and ½ Marathon will take over the streets of downtown Nashville on Saturday, April 28. On January 1, the Race registration fee for the marathon will increase by $20 and the half marathon will increase by $10. Race week activities will return to Music City on April 26-29 with over 30,000 runners expected take to the streets for the annual iconic race.
The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and ½ Marathon week kicks off Thursday, April 25 with a free and open to the public, two-day, Health & Fitness Expo at the Nashville Music City Center. All race participants will visit the expo to pick up their race numbers and browse over 100 exhibitors featuring free samples, the latest in running gear and sports apparel, as well as a series of interactive clinics.
The marathon, half marathon, and 5K are all returning on Saturday, April 27. Runners will tour some of Music City’s most notable hot spots and attractions, with spectators lining the course to cheer on participants. Saturday’s races will once again start in downtown Nashville and travel through some of Nashville’s iconic locations such as Belmont University, Music Row and past the Tennessee State Capitol Building and the Country Music Hall of Fame, before finishing at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans. Marathon runners again get the chance to run through and around the warning track at First Tennessee Park. Over 50 of Nashville’s favorite live bands will perform along the course, interspaced with cheerleaders and themed water stations.
Race weekend includes a partnership with the NFL Draft with details to follow in 2019. The event concludes on Sunday afternoon with KiDS ROCK Nashville presented by the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, where more than 3,500 junior racers from grades K-7 will complete the final mile of their modified marathon. For the third year, race week festivities include a One Mile Run that will be held along with the KiDS Rock this year due to the NFL Draft festivities.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital returns as the title partner and official charity of the 2018 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and ½ Marathon. Last year more than 3,000 St. Jude Heroes participated in the race, raising over $2 million for the hospital by securing donations from family, friends and co-workers. Funds raised from St. Jude are instrumental in supporting the $2 million per day it takes to operate the hospital and allows families to never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
For more information on the event, visit and follow St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and ½ Marathon on Twitter @RunRock nRoll with hashtag #RnRNashville.
