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St. Jude Memphis Marathon
Race Details:
- Location: Memphis, TN, USA
- Race Date: 12/05/2026
- Race Distances: Full Marathon, Half Marathon
Qualifying Race For:
Boston: Yes
World Major Qualifier: Yes
St. Jude Memphis Marathon Description
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon is the signature fundraising event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising millions each December to fight childhood cancer. The course passes Beale Street, the Mississippi River, and Sun Studio before winding through the St. Jude campus itself, where patients and families cheer runners on in one of the most moving moments in road racing. A half marathon and other distances run the same weekend in downtown Memphis.
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St. Jude Memphis Marathon Additional Details:
Twenty-four aid stations support the course, starting at mile 1.5 and then appearing every mile from mile 3 through 25, backed by some of the most enthusiastic volunteers in the sport. Spirit stations add Memphis music and entertainment throughout, and the race finishes inside AutoZone Park, home of the local AAA baseball team, for a genuinely stadium-worthy ending. The finisher medal is glittery and detailed, featuring the St. Jude logo and a Memphis bridge, with an optional iTAB insert to engrave your name and finish time. Running as an official St. Jude Hero adds another layer entirely, complete with a Hero shirt that reviewers say makes you feel like a rock star for the weekend.
Course Information
Profile: Rolling Hills
Type: Mostly Loop
Surface: Road/Pavement
Pace Groups: Yes
Time Limit: 6 hr 30 min (full), 4 hr 20 min (half)
# of Finishers
6,500+ Half Marathon
1,800+ Marathon
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: Unknown
Elevation Loss: Unknown
Average Temperature
- Low: 43°F
- High: 63°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Things to Do in Memphis, TN, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Zoos, Aquariums & Gardens
Memphis Zoo
See more than 3,500 animals at the Memphis Zoo, consistently rated among the top five zoos in the country — a flat, self-paced walk that’s gentle on recovering legs.
Shopping
A. Schwab
Browse three floors of store relics, retro toys, and the city’s largest hat collection at A. Schwab, Beale Street’s oldest surviving business — an easy, flat stroll for a post-race souvenir.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Overton Park
Wander the 70 acres of paved and unpaved trails at Overton Park, an urban forest surrounding the Memphis Zoo — a relaxed, flat way to spend a rest day after racing.
Outdoors & Trails
Shelby Farms Greenline
Bike or walk the Shelby Farms Greenline, connecting Overton Park to Shelby Farms Park for miles through the heart of Memphis — an easy option for tapering or recovering legs.
Museums & History
National Civil Rights Museum
Explore the interactive exhibits of the National Civil Rights Museum, tracing the history of the Civil Rights movement — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop after race day.
Landmark
Beale Street
Walk three blocks of Beale Street, where W.C. Handy penned the first blues song amid restaurants, nightclubs, and neon — an easy, flat, low-impact stop after race weekend.
Sports & Entertainment
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
Trace the roots of Memphis music at the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, steps from the Memphis Music Hall of Fame — a relaxed, indoor way to spend an afternoon after race day.
Food & Drink
Beale Street Restaurants
Sample Memphis barbecue and live blues at one of the restaurants lining Beale Street — a relaxed way to celebrate the finish line after race day.
Arts & Culture
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
See rotating exhibitions at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, set in the middle of Overton Park — a relaxed, indoor way to spend a taper day.
Hotels & Lodging Near the St. Jude Memphis Marathon
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