TAMPA, Fla./NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 19, 2019) – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series® will celebrate 20 Years Running in Nashville with course updates and enhancements for the 2019 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, taking place Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28. This year runners will be treated to an All-American edition of running, music and football thanks to a partnered weekend with the NFL Draft.
Taking in all that Nashville has to offer, participants will enjoy a brand-new start line experience, course adjustments based on runner feedback, and improved music engagement along Broadway, Music Row, and the Nashville Sounds Stadium, all before an epic finish at Nissan Stadium. Additional details on the finish line festival and the headline concerts in conjunction with the NFL Draft will be released at a later date.
“This year’s St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon weekend is going to be special in a number of ways as we celebrate 20 Years Running in this amazing city,” said Keats McGonigal, Senior Regional Director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “As we keep the key components that have made this such a successful race over the years, we will be making some positive modifications, which when paired with the NFL Draft will create what is undoubtedly going to be a one-of-a-kind running weekend. With something for everyone, we are excited for people from all over the world to experience the magic of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series and this event in Nashville.”
Event week for the 2019 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon kicks off with a free and open to the public Health & Fitness Expoat the Nashville Music City Center on Thursday, April 25 and continues into Friday, April 26. 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. On Saturday, April 27, runners will take to the Nashville streets with the 5K presented by Brooks at 6:45 a.m. followed by the marathon and half marathon at 7:15 a.m.; unchanged from last year.
The weekend events conclude on Sunday afternoon with a one-mile race starting at 12:00 p.m. where participants can earn a third, bonus medal for taking on the Remix Challenge™ – two days of running over the weekend. Finally, starting at 1 p.m. more than 2,500 junior racers in grades K-7 will have their chance to complete the final mile of their modified marathon challenge during the KiDS ROCK® Nashville, presented by the YMCA of Middle Tennessee.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital returns as the title partner and official charity of the 2019 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 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.
Marathon & Half Marathon Courses:
- The 5K, marathon and half marathon courses will no longer come back on Broadway to run along the corrals for the marathon & half marathon, so entering start corrals from both sides of the street alleviating congestionat the start.- With the removal of the early turn off Demonbreun Street from last year’scourse, participants can expect more road width and less turns at the start.- The best highlights on course remain, such as passing the famous Honky Tonk Bars on Broadway at the start, cruising past the Country Music Hall ofFame and Music City Center plus running tours through Music Row, Belmont University and The Gulch.- Both courses will continue to run through lively Belmont/Hillsboro and 12South neighborhoods tying in the local community to celebrate and to cheerrunners at their personal block parties.- Continuing the 2018 trend, the half marathon course will run through beautiful Bicentennial State Park before ending with an epic view as runnerscross the Woodland Street bridge into the finish at Nissan Stadium.- The marathon course will offer some additional highlights through historicGermantown, Metro Center featuring a Mile of Music, fun and funky East Nashville, and beautiful Shelby Park.- Top highlight of the marathon course stays – an exclusive opportunity torun on the field at First Tennessee Park! Make sure you take a selfie!- New and improved corrals systems for runners to start with their fellow runners!
5K Course:
- All the necessary race morning elements will be offered to 5K participantswith a separate start from the marathon and half marathon next to the iconicNashville Music City Center.- With the removal of an early turn from last year’s course, additional roadwidth and less turns at the start, allowing runners to catch their stride and get on pace early in the race.- A slight change in 2019, athletes will have the opportunity to take in thebeautiful view of Capitol Hill.
For more information on the event, visit runrocknroll.com and follow St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon on Twitter RunRocknRoll with hashtag #RnRNashville. Media may contact pressrunrocknroll.com.