Bank nothing at mile 10
Running through the St. Jude campus is unforgettable, and the crowd’s energy is real. Use it for a lift, not a surge. There are still 16 miles to go.
Memphis, TN · Saturday, December 5, 2026
St. Jude Memphis Marathon race guide
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s biggest single-day fundraiser, and its heart is mile 10, a run through the St. Jude campus where patients and families cheer you on. The course starts near Beale Street, runs the bluff and the riverfront downtown, then heads east through Midtown’s neighborhoods to Overton Park before returning downtown. It’s gently rolling, with the course staying between about 225 and 295 feet.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
The marathon and half start together at 8:00 a.m. Later corrals cross the line a few minutes after that.
Splits
Your St. Jude Memphis Marathon02
Average pace
8:01/mi
- First half
- 1:45:01
- Second half
- 1:44:59
- Finish line
- 11:30 a.m.
Hover or tap a bar to see that mile.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|
| Front StreetMile 3 · Should feel easy | 24:05 | 8:24 a.m. |
| Up from Riverside DriveMile 6 · A short climb. Effort, not pace | 48:02 | 8:48 a.m. |
| St. Jude campusMile 10 · Enjoy it, but don’t surge | 1:20:07 | 9:20 a.m. |
| Halfway, MidtownMile 13.1 · Even pace from here | 1:45:01 | 9:45 a.m. |
| East ParkwayMile 17.7 · The high point | 2:21:54 | 10:22 a.m. |
| North Parkway by the ZooMile 21 · Final 5 miles. Race if you can | 2:48:17 | 10:48 a.m. |
| FinishMile 26.2 · Union Avenue by AutoZone Park | 3:30:00 | 11:30 a.m. |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 a.m. CT
- Start
- B.B. King Boulevard at Beale Street
- Finish
- Union Avenue, next to AutoZone Park
- Time limit
- 6.5 hours
- Elevation gain
- About 400 ft
- Official site
- stjude.org
- Profile
- Gently rolling, with a drop to the riverfront early and a rise to Overton Park late
- Best for
- A meaningful race with huge community support
- Biggest mistake
- Riding the emotion through the St. Jude campus too fast at mile 10
- Time limit
- 6.5 hours
The course
Mile by mile, at your pace
- Miles0–2.6
Beale Street & downtown Flat
You start on B.B. King Boulevard near Beale Street and loop south before heading north up 2nd Street through downtown. It rises gently, about 20 feet. The early miles are crowded, so settle in and don’t weave.
8:02 /miMile 2.6 at 20:528:21 a.m.
- Miles2.6–4.9
Front Street & the bluff Flat
Shadyac Avenue takes you to Front Street, which runs south along the bluff above the Mississippi. It’s flat and the river views open up between the buildings. Find your goal pace here.
8:00 /miMile 4.9 at 39:178:39 a.m.
- Miles4.9–6.3
Riverside Drive Rolling
Down Georgia Avenue to Riverside Drive along the river, about 35 feet below the bluff, then back up Court Avenue to Front Street around mile 6. The climb is short. Ease up and let your pace come back at the top.
7:58 /miMile 6.3 at 50:278:50 a.m.
- Miles6.3–9.4
Uptown Rolling
North on Front Street, then a loop through Uptown on Main, 3rd and 4th Streets. Gently rolling and quieter than downtown. Fuel on schedule; the next mile is a big one.
8:01 /miMile 9.4 at 1:15:199:15 a.m.
- Miles9.4–10.3
The St. Jude campus Flat
Through the 4th Street gate and along Danny Thomas Place, you run through the St. Jude campus, where patients, families and staff line the route. It’s the emotional high point of the race. Take it in, and try not to let it pull you into a surge.
8:01 /miMile 10.3 at 1:22:319:23 a.m.
- Miles10.3–15.8
North Parkway & Midtown Rolling
East on North Parkway, where the half marathon turns back, then a series of loops through Midtown’s neighborhoods on Tutwiler, Jackson, Hawthorne and Idlewild. You pass halfway here. The field thins out, so find a group and stay steady.
8:01 /miMile 15.8 at 2:06:3610:07 a.m.
- Miles15.8–18.3
Overton Park & East Parkway Climb
Into Overton Park, then south on East Parkway, climbing gently to the course’s high point, about 295 feet, near Poplar Avenue around mile 17.7. It’s gradual, but it comes as the race gets hard. Run it by effort.
8:04 /miMile 18.3 at 2:26:4510:27 a.m.
- Miles18.3–21
Poplar & back through the park Rolling
West on Poplar Avenue, then through Veterans Plaza and back across Overton Park on its paths to North Parkway near the Zoo around mile 21. Gently rolling, and mostly downhill overall.
7:59 /miMile 21 at 2:48:1710:48 a.m.
- Miles21–23.4
Stonewall Street Flat
A short out-and-back on Stonewall Street, past Overton Park Avenue to the turnaround and back. You’ll see runners around you in both directions. Take your last gel here.
8:00 /miMile 23.4 at 3:07:2911:07 a.m.
- Miles23.4–26.2
North Parkway to the finish Downhill
West on North Parkway past I-40 and south on Danny Thomas Boulevard, gently downhill about 30 feet. You take the exit ramp onto Union Avenue around mile 26 and finish beside AutoZone Park. If you’ve paced well, this is where to race.
7:59 /miFinish at 3:30:0011:30 a.m.
Every mile split for 3:30:00
| Mile | Terrain | Pace /mi | Elapsed | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:08 a.m. |
| 2 | Flat | 8:02 | 16:03 | 8:16 a.m. |
| 3 | Rolling | 8:03 | 24:05 | 8:24 a.m. |
| 4 | Flat | 8:03 | 32:08 | 8:32 a.m. |
| 5 | Flat | 7:57 | 40:05 | 8:40 a.m. |
| 6 | Flat | 7:57 | 48:02 | 8:48 a.m. |
| 7 | Rolling | 8:02 | 56:04 | 8:56 a.m. |
| 8 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:04:04 | 9:04 a.m. |
| 9 | Flat | 8:03 | 1:12:07 | 9:12 a.m. |
| 10 | Flat | 8:01 | 1:20:07 | 9:20 a.m. |
| 11 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:28:07 | 9:28 a.m. |
| 12 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:36:08 | 9:36 a.m. |
| 13 | Flat | 8:01 | 1:44:09 | 9:44 a.m. |
| 14 | Flat | 8:01 | 1:52:10 | 9:52 a.m. |
| 15 | Flat | 8:03 | 2:00:13 | 10:00 a.m. |
| 16 | Flat | 7:59 | 2:08:11 | 10:08 a.m. |
| 17 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:16:12 | 10:16 a.m. |
| 18 | Rolling | 8:08 | 2:24:20 | 10:24 a.m. |
| 19 | Flat | 8:02 | 2:32:22 | 10:32 a.m. |
| 20 | Flat | 7:58 | 2:40:20 | 10:40 a.m. |
| 21 | Flat | 7:58 | 2:48:17 | 10:48 a.m. |
| 22 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:56:19 | 10:56 a.m. |
| 23 | Flat | 8:00 | 3:04:18 | 11:04 a.m. |
| 24 | Flat | 7:57 | 3:12:15 | 11:12 a.m. |
| 25 | Flat | 8:00 | 3:20:16 | 11:20 a.m. |
| 26 | Flat | 7:59 | 3:28:15 | 11:28 a.m. |
| Finish | Flat | 8:00 | 3:30:00 | 11:30 a.m. |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the St. Jude Memphis Marathon
Run the rollers by effort
The course rarely stays level for long, with short climbs from the riverfront and through Midtown and a gradual rise to East Parkway near mile 18. Steady effort works better than chasing exact splits.
Use the last 5 miles
After Overton Park the course trends gently downhill to the finish. If you’ve saved something, North Parkway and Danny Thomas Boulevard are the place to pick it up.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Do long runs on gently rolling routes rather than perfectly flat ones.
- Put a long, gradual climb around miles 15 to 18 of your longest runs.
- Train in the cold. Early December mornings in Memphis are often chilly, and you’ll want to know what to wear.
Race-day weather
Early December in Memphis is usually cool to cold, with race mornings often in the 30s or 40s°F. Rain and wind are possible, and occasionally it’s mild. Check the forecast in race week.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- The marathon starts at 8 a.m. on B.B. King Boulevard at Beale Street; the 10K and 5K start at 7 a.m. on B.B. King at Madison Avenue, so downtown is busy early.
- Downtown hotels are a short walk from the start and the finish by AutoZone Park.
- Bring a throwaway layer for the corral; early December mornings are often cold.
Questions runners ask.
Why does the course go through the St. Jude campus?
The race is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s largest single-day fundraiser. Around mile 10, the route runs through the campus, where patients, families and staff cheer runners on. For many, it’s the reason they run.
What is the time limit?
Six and a half hours for both the marathon and the half.
How hilly is the course?
Gently rolling. The course stays between about 225 and 295 feet, with a short climb up from Riverside Drive near mile 6 and a gradual rise on East Parkway near mile 18. The last 5 miles trend downhill.
Where should friends and family watch?
The start near Beale Street, Front Street and Riverside Drive downtown, Overton Park, and the finish beside AutoZone Park are all good spots. Spectators can also register to cheer along the course.
Last checked October 21, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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