Next race
Saturday, 5 December 2026
7:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 150 m gain
150 m climbing
Race profile
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend draws approximately 1,846 marathon finishers each December through Tennessee's blues capital while raising funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The course passes Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the Mississippi River bluffs on rolling Memphis terrain. December's mild Mid-South winter and the hospital's lifesaving mission make it America's most charitable marathon.
St. Jude Memphis Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 1,846 finishers
Course & terrain
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon is an urban road that starts and finishes in downtown Memphis near the St. Jude campus. Flatter corridors and river valleys offer the easiest miles, while the moderate climbs through hills, bridges, or bluffs are the tougher sections once fatigue builds. Spectators gather at the start-finish festival and at organised cheer zones through the city centre and along the main boulevards.
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 150 metres of climbing and 140 metres of descent, with a net climb of 10 metres from start to finish.
Rolling · 150 m gain — approx. 78 m above sea level
↑ 150 m · ↓ 140 m · net +10 m
Registration
The St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is held on the first Saturday of December. Registration is at https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/fitness-fundraisers/memphis-marathon.html.
Getting there
Frederick W. Smith International Airport (MEM)
13 km / 8 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
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The Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon draws approximately 2,200 finishers each April through Louisville in the lead-up to the famous horse race. The course passes Churchill Downs, the Ohio River waterfront, and the Cherokee Park loop on rolling Kentucky terrain. April's Derby-season atmosphere and the mini-marathon tradition make it one of America's most festive spring marathons.
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Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Match a race to your goals — personal bests, sightseeing, atmosphere, or a major milestone — using course data and realistic expectations.
