St. Jude Country Music Marathon Runs Through Nashville on Saturday

The St. Jude Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon presented by Nissan takes place on Saturday, April 28 and continues the tradition of adding some country flavor to the city’s largest running event.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will join race officials and running enthusiasts to officially kick off the weekend events on Thursday (4/26) with a gathering at Union Station Hotel. The Competitor Group’s free Health and Fitness Expo 4/26-27 at the Nashville Convention Center. Participants will pick up race materials there, and the public can browse the expo for gear, nutrition, and information on running and fitness.

Rodney Atkins will headline the post-race concert at Bridgestone Arena, with special guests Gloriana and Darren Warren. Runners can use their race numbers as concert admission, and tickets are also on sale to the general public for $35. The show begins at 7 pm.

Over 30,000 runners and walkers are expected to participate in the race, which starts at 7 am from Centennial Park. New this year, the course offerings also include a 2.6 mile mini-marathon. Many streets in mid and downtown Nashville will be blocked in the morning hours, so check the Competitor website for closure information.