Run Music City! This unique event is jampacked with authentically Nashville music at every turn. Prepare to be immersed in music culture from the expo to the finish line when you join us for the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville. Experience a legendary tour of Music City filled with iconic landmarks.
The start returns to 8th and Broadway with the finish line location outside of Nissan Stadium with the amazing city skyline within their view. Participants will pass numerous landmarks including Broadway Honky Tonks, Music Row, the Gulch, 12 South and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The course will lead participants past the Schermerhorn Symphony, Music City Center and the Musica Roundabout before finishing outside of Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is the official benefiting charity partner of the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series. It’s because of the generous support of the Nashville community, people across the region and country that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continues to lead the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series’ simple idea of making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams, and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music, and community, race weekends kick off with a free Health and Fitness Expo showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information, and much more. Events culminate with an Encore Entertainment experience featuring eclectic musical artists from a variety of genres. With a goal of helping participants find the Beat in Their Feet™, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series features a Finish Line festival with entertainment including live bands, DJs, dance zones photo ops, food trucks and more!
Avg. Air Temp: 68°F/ °C
Airport: BNA
LESS
carry your own water
Race had some good points: scenery was nice, Nashville had lots of fun things to do, only 900ft of climbing. But, oh my, did some things get dropped: 45 minute … MORE
Race had some good points: scenery was nice, Nashville had lots of fun things to do, only 900ft of climbing.
But, oh my, did some things get dropped:
45 minute lines for the toilets.
Bag check closed BEFORE race start?
No corral management at all. I did notice one volunteer standing at a corral entry, but they weren’t do anything. Also, the corrals weren’t nearly large enough to hold the runners assigned to them!
race start was 70 degrees, yet the first 8 miles had no cups prepped on the water stops.
the Lyft/Uber pick up lot was blocked off, so everyone had to go another 1/2 mile to a gas station to get a pickup.
That the half marathon splits off for 5 miles and then rejoins the marathon was… interesting. So you end up dodging around a whole crowd of slower runners.
Finish line could have done with some shade.
I really hope my next Rock and Roll race is better organized.
Fun Race!
This was my first Rock n Roll race and I had high expectations from what I had heard. I was not disappointed. The packet pick-up and expo were very organized … MORE
This was my first Rock n Roll race and I had high expectations from what I had heard. I was not disappointed. The packet pick-up and expo were very organized and had plenty of space. I don’t usually purchase things at the expo but they totally got me with a race shirt that had my name on it (to be clear the shirts had all participants’ names on them)! So, I bought an expensive tshirt. The start line was easy to find and there were plenty of portapotties at the starting area and throughout the course. The start took about 20 minutes longer than I anticipated. They released the runners coral by coral at 1-minute intervals. I was in coral 17. There are a lot of narrow streets on the course so I understood why they did it that way I just wasn’t prepared for it. The race had a party atmosphere throughout the whole course. There were lots of live bands playing and crowd support was incredible. At one point a homeowner was out spraying runners with his garden hose! The water and food stops seemed to be well placed well marked and well maintained. The volunteers were on top of getting people what they needed. The course does have a lot of hills! The finish area was pretty narrow and crowded. They divided the street into half on one side and marathon on the other side. This seemed unnecessary to me (other than for making it easy for you to get the correct medals) and created quite a crowd approaching the finish which really made it hard for me to sprint to the finish as I had planned. Also, the volunteers should have been set up farther past the finish line to prevent people from getting backed up at the finish line. I literally ran into a guy who had stopped on the timing mat because he was waiting to pick up his medal. So, if there is anything that I would suggest for improvement it would be to move the volunteers with the medals and the water etc father back from the finish line. They were giving away chocolate milk at the finish as well as crackers and bananas. The finish party had a good number of options for food and drinks and also live music. One thing to note about this race that was not clear to us. There is NO parking at the stadium (which is the end of the race). The website said no “free parking” which made me think there was paid parking. Also, cell service sucked at the finish party so if you are meeting people set up a meeting point ahead of time. We just walked about 3 blocks down to a 7-11 and told our ride to pick us up there. The trolley was too expensive for my taste especially when my husband was with us and not running. Over all it was a great experience and I would definitely run another Rock n Roll Race.
Rock and Roll
Rock and Roll is a phenomenal cause and I am so happy they raise so much money for the kids. There were lots of hills on this one and emotions … MORE
Rock and Roll is a phenomenal cause and I am so happy they raise so much money for the kids. There were lots of hills on this one and emotions when seeing the kids photos of how they’ve grown since getting treatment. If crowds are your thing, this is your race!
You will get a good hill work out
Marathon and Half started after 5 and 10K and ran into the hotter part of the day. Very hilly course. Minimal food at the finish line. For the price and … MORE
Marathon and Half started after 5 and 10K and ran into the hotter part of the day. Very hilly course. Minimal food at the finish line. For the price and sponsors would have expected better. Great music and aid stations. Beautiful scenery. Wished the marathon and half courses would have stayed separate after they split instead of rejoining them at Mile 16 of the Marathon
Terrible Oversight by Rock N Roll Mngmnt
Likes- Love the City of Nashville! Great crowd support!! Dislikes- Very weak Expo, cluttered race website with actual important race day info scattered and difficult to find, NO CORRAL MANAGEMENT! … MORE
Likes- Love the City of Nashville! Great crowd support!!
Dislikes- Very weak Expo, cluttered race website with actual important race day info scattered and difficult to find, NO CORRAL MANAGEMENT! First corrals 1-10 jammed with walkers and slow runners blocking/slowing down entire running field, Extremely inadequate number of portable toilets at start for huge number of 14,000 runners with 45 min wait lines, Course hilly with large hill at the very end, course extremely crowded for entire half marathon, course funnels runners into very narrow gaps along course along with many tight, crowded turns, Water stations out of water and not enough volunteers, Finish line very narrow and crowded with runners running into stopped runners at finish line. Timing info very inadequate with lack of details and breakdown typically provided. Rock N Roll does terrible job overseeing this event. Absolutely ruining what used to be a wonderful event in every aspect.
Expect crowded, hilly course with many tight turns right up to finish line. Weather is typically warm to hot. Support crowds are great for half marathon but not many for second half of full marathon. Most of second half of full marathon is down and out in unattractive industrial part of town. Nashville has many wonderful, scenic neighborhoods that could easily tie into the full marathon course, it is unfortunate they are not utilized for race.
Fun Run in Music City
I had heard this was a fun run to do so it’s been on my list for a while. We turned it into a fun weekend (my friend ran the … MORE
I had heard this was a fun run to do so it’s been on my list for a while. We turned it into a fun weekend (my friend ran the 10k). We stayed at one of the reasonably priced partner hotels (Fairfield by Hilton in The Gulch). They were great & provided grab bags the morning of the race. Because of our location we were able to walk to the expo & to the start line with no problem. The expo was fine. I liked the race shirt but it is nice when you get some other goodies as well & this didn’t have any other vendors giving out samples or anything. The half marathon started with the full after the 5k & 10k so not until after 7am. I was in one of the later corrals so we probably didn’t start until later than that but they did a good job of having people move through quickly. The course was really fun but definitely more hills than I had anticipated & hotter than is ideal to run in. Most of the water stations didn’t have cups of water sitting out & you had to wait in line while people poured them. Luckily I brought a handheld water bottle so I skipped the first several. I thought this might have been because there were races before us and it was hot but my friend who ran the 10k said they didn’t have anything set up for them either. It was a little weird because I know this is an annual run but it felt like the course support was not what it should have been. I’m not sure if they didn’t have the right amount of volunteers or what the deal was but it did not feel well organized. The course itself was beautiful to run through- all of the different neighborhoods & the support from the community & people in neighborhoods watching was great! The music was fun but I run with earbuds anyway. The medal is really cute. The t-shirt was fine – general tech fabric shirt. The after party was ok. It was very crowded so we didn’t stay for very long. I think the whole thing was good overall but I definitely get the feeling they’re just trying to get you to sign up for more of their races vs. making it a great unique experience. I’m trying to hit every state so I don’t plan on repeating this race but it was a good one!
Hillier then expected
Nashville has many rolling hills. The course ate most runners up. I was not used to the heat in the morning, coming from a cool climate. I finished not my … MORE
Nashville has many rolling hills. The course ate most runners up. I was not used to the heat in the morning, coming from a cool climate. I finished not my best time, but was relieved and sore going across the finish.
Very disappointed
Water stations were not prepared! I have run many half marathons and this has never been an issue. The finish line was too congested. People just stopped running-no room to … MORE
Water stations were not prepared! I have run many half marathons and this has never been an issue.
The finish line was too congested. People just stopped running-no room to break through if you wanted to cool down to prevent hypotension.
Not enough portable toilets at race start. Lines were insane.
Overall, poorly run and not safe for runners. Nashville is not easy with hills and humidity.
Neglectful Conditions
The issues were pervasive, ranging from disorganized corrals to a scarcity of food at the finish line. However, my primary concern was the dangerously inadequate water stations. Runners were forced … MORE
The issues were pervasive, ranging from disorganized corrals to a scarcity of food at the finish line. However, my primary concern was the dangerously inadequate water stations. Runners were forced to stop running and wait in long queues for a cup of water—a situation I have never witnessed in my twenty years of running. Some runners reported they had to pour their own water. Given the sweltering heat of the day, this neglectful oversight by the Rock & Roll marathon organization placed countless participants at risk.
There is simply no excuse for the egregious mismanagement of something as fundamental as water distribution.
Running up hills, Race gone downhill
I am a couch to marathon runner over the last 18 months. I ran my first half marathon here last year and enjoyed it so much that i decided to … MORE
I am a couch to marathon runner over the last 18 months. I ran my first half marathon here last year and enjoyed it so much that i decided to train and do the full marathon this year.
This year’s race was a nightmare compared to last year.
Last year there was ample support, excellent crowds, great weather, good music, free organized parking and nice expo. This year was the opposite. In addition the race route was changed on race day to add an additional third of a mile. May not sound like a lot, but when you’re running 26.5 instead of 26.2 that last part makes a huge difference.
1. Water and aid stations not staffed well or placed where it was stated on route map. There was no water or Gatorade available for most of the first half of the race. You had to stop and wait for the volunteers to fill cups of water.
The poor volunteer, single person at each table, had to lay out cups and fill them one at a time as runners got to the table. There were only 3 tables available at each station for over 20k participants.
They changed electrolytes providers without communicating to the runners. Previous year was Gatorade endurance which I trained with. Race route map touted Mortal hydration at every other station. Actual race day had SIS Electrolyte Go. The lack of communication and availability at stations plus hot weather cause many of the runners to cramp up and bonk.
2. This year there was much less crowd support. I would believe it was due to the weather being warmer than expected. The ones that were there was actually amazing and provided additional water and Gatorade that race organizer missed. In additional many that saw the heat, had setup garden hoses to help cool down runners.
3. Weather was much hotter than expected and hit 82 degrees. Expected was 75 degrees and most training was done from 50-70 degrees. Race coordinators doesn’t control weather. Just unlucky this year.
4. Previous year music was provided by live bands. This year was music buses that you see downtown Nashville with speakers. There were some live music but for music CITY run recorded music in a bus is a sad representation of Nashville.
5. Parking last year was at the finished line at Nissan stadium. That was awesome, post race and recovery, can go to your car and drive home. This year no parking at Nissan stadium. Many roads to available parking around the area was closed for the marathon. This reduced availability and increased demand. Parking lots and garages saw this as an opportunity to price gouge and did so accordingly.
6. Expo was terrible. Did not have that excitement we had previous year. In addition this is about st Jude’s mission to help fundraiser for kids with cancer. The message was totally missed this year replaced with targeted upsell for future races.
Overall this will be my last race in Nashville. I expected and trained for the hills, but was disappointed by the downhill slide of the race.
Fun Race, Tough Ending
This was my first every marathon! I just wanted to finish, B goal was to finish in 5:30. I fundraised for St. Jude and that made this race really meaningful. … MORE
This was my first every marathon! I just wanted to finish, B goal was to finish in 5:30. I fundraised for St. Jude and that made this race really meaningful.
The first 15 miles was a blast. Stages were fun, crowd was exceptional, and ran through some fun parts of the city that, as a tourist, I was happy to see. By the time the half splits off, it gets a little strange- you go through some industrial areas, wooded areas, and generally desolate spots.
The final 5-6 miles were pretty sparse and brutal. The last section of the race was mostly uphill, so that was tough.
Not sure I’d run this as a full, maybe a half. The expo was a blast, and the pasta dinner for fundraisers was also very cool.
Nashville Gets It Done
This Rock’n’Roll Nashville race is a winner. Some rolling hills but not too bad. It’s consistently fun with lots of bands and fun spectators throughout the course. MORE
This Rock’n’Roll Nashville race is a winner. Some rolling hills but not too bad. It’s consistently fun with lots of bands and fun spectators throughout the course.
Fun Place to Hang Out
Nashville is a fun city to visit, lots of things to do. The race was very well put together. The only complaint I have is the lack of food trucks … MORE
Nashville is a fun city to visit, lots of things to do. The race was very well put together. The only complaint I have is the lack of food trucks after the race. There were only a couple for several thousand people. The entertainment was awesome! Several bands performing along the course and at the post race party. I will definitely be going again.
Great production, entertaining course
Enjoyed my quick trip to Nashville to check off Tennessee. I drove from Atlanta on Friday which was a hair under four hours. I tried to get through the expo … MORE
Enjoyed my quick trip to Nashville to check off Tennessee. I drove from Atlanta on Friday which was a hair under four hours. I tried to get through the expo as quickly as possible which was a bit of a challenge given the a) volume of people and b) labyrinth the built to trap you with the vendors.
Easy to get to the start: parked at Nissan and walked just over a mile to the line. Course was quite narrow at times but I just relaxed and embraced it. The other complication was, like many other big marathons, they released the half at the same time (easily ~80% of the total participants. llot of walkers). Between narrow roads and the absolute flood of people this one might be tough to PR unless you get in the first corral. Great race production with a band every mile and lots of volunteers with water / gatorade…always appreciated. Was a little weird at mile 16 where the half rejoined the full and it became a zoo again. Nashville was hillier than expected so it was a good fun challenge.
Nash-Hills Did Not Disappoint
I've now done 5 RnR races and this BY FAR has been the smoothest run, best supported of them. The Expo was well organized and flowed freely without feeling like … MORE
I’ve now done 5 RnR races and this BY FAR has been the smoothest run, best supported of them. The Expo was well organized and flowed freely without feeling like you were funneled out the door, and was equipped with the standard Runners fare. The free admission to Musician’s Hall of Fame was a nice added touch!
My only real complaint is the corral system RnR uses…ZERO accountability as walkers and slower runners got in where they wanted. I literally bumped into 3 walkers in the first quarter mile (avoided several others) and I was in Coral 6. The Hills were constant but not insurmountable, the race support from music to water to cheering crowds was fantastic! The downhill finish was great but all the turns once we got to Titan stadium were unnecessary.
Would highly recommend and definitely would do again!!!!
Scenery is awesome.
Confusing when at 16 mi full and half share the same road. You find yourself running quite faster than a crowd of runners running the half marathon. MORE
Confusing when at 16 mi full and half share the same road. You find yourself running quite faster than a crowd of runners running the half marathon.
Better than Vegas
The crowd participation was some of the best. Overall great race. Swag wasn’t too great. Nice shirts as usual. Medals are great. I found it easy to find my way … MORE
The crowd participation was some of the best. Overall great race. Swag wasn’t too great. Nice shirts as usual. Medals are great.
I found it easy to find my way on the course and the start went relatively smooth.
Great City for a Run Vacation
This is more than jus a race. It is a weekend party. The city of nashville can best be described as party central. so may restaurants and bars to visit … MORE
This is more than jus a race. It is a weekend party. The city of nashville can best be described as party central. so may restaurants and bars to visit before and after the race. The event itself is very well organized. Plenty of water stations, gels, 2 biofreeze stations. Plus plenty of local residents giving water, beer, fruit, shots to runners as they pass bye. Route definitely had more hills than most runners anticipated. It was a nice challenge
Great event and fun course - Bad Corals
This is an excellent event and race. The course was amazing. The shirts were really nice. #1 VERY BAD thing about ALL of the Rock N Roll races is the … MORE
This is an excellent event and race. The course was amazing. The shirts were really nice.
#1 VERY BAD thing about ALL of the Rock N Roll races is the START!
– They assign corrals that are 100% FALSE and not true.
– Walkers are in the 1st corral, and then runners run into them or have to stop and wait until an opening appears.
– Why have corrals if they do not start the corrals 30 to 45 seconds apart???
– These guys do such a nice job on everything else, and then they DROP the ball when it comes to starting the races. Start the runners in waves. 1 minute apart, depending on the size of the wave.
– Assign the corrals according to speed, NOT when a person signs up for the race. They need to take a lesson from Hot Chocolate events.
Such a good event, and they need to get runners up front, and the walkers need to be in the rear, not upfront. So many people were running into walkers at the start of the race and falling down.
Tough Race
I run this race most years, but this year it was so hot my legs started cramping pretty early on. They had volunteers hosing the runners down with water as … MORE
I run this race most years, but this year it was so hot my legs started cramping pretty early on. They had volunteers hosing the runners down with water as we ran by. I had to run/walk the last few miles, but overall this is a good race to add to your bucket list.