The gear pick-up needs to be improved, but super ending and nice course. Your food is the best of the 3 marathons we run annually. We also run the Nashville's Music City and the Chicago Marathon. Both of these marathons do a better job marketing their marathon. Also, Memphis is the smallest of the marathons. I have to seek your marathon's site out in order to register, due to the fact I know it is held the first Saturday in December. I have received the registration information for the April 29, 2006 Music City Marathon already. My buddy and I have not received anything on the St. Jude's Marathon in the mail for registration and it's late August. I ran the Memphis Marathon for the first time in 1996 and have run every year it was held since. In 2001 the marathon was not held, if I am correct.

This was my first marathon that was not a huge one (Chicago and San Diego were previous races) and I really liked the smaller size. The start was good, with only a 4-minute difference from gun to crossing the start; within less than 1 mile I was able to run at my desired pace without having to run around runners that seeded themselves poorly. The course was decent; the only problem I had was that 2nd half of the course was confined to half the width of the street, and the many of the streets had a pretty good camber to them, so in order to find flat footing you had to run either outside the cones or in the flat section by the gutter. There are some hills here, with a tough one for the final mile. It seems that about 2/3 of the starters opt for the half-marathon, so very clear running in the 2nd half; spectators are limited, but very enthusiastic and after 13.1 you have them cheering explicitly for YOU (I usually was 10 yards from the nearest runner).

Great finish in the baseball park, good food afterward, choice of beers (I just ran 26 miles, forget the 'light' crap) and a fun town to hang out in. Weather last year ('04) was fantastic but I don't think it was the norm.

The weather was perfect. The course was well marked and well manned with support staff. Very flat course 'almost' an easy run. Too bad there weren't more spectators after the 14 mile point.

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon was a fun run to do. The organization was good, especially for us St. Jude Heroes. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a wonderful organization, and they took care of their volunteer runners very well. It was a pleasure to work with St. Jude's to raise money for their kids. The water stops every mile were nice, and finishing inside the baseball stadium was good too! The course took you past some of Memphis' best known landmarks, and being entertained by an Elvis impersonator while running was great. The Christian band playing next to St. Judes was also very good. I wouldn't change a thing.

This was one great race!! I read some negative comments on the medal. I thought it was very classy - not real large, but neat, just like the race. The first couple of miles were open enough to allow passing as needed. The ballpark finish, particularly the shower facilities are the best I've ever seen. Gave the runners a chance to wind down and talk to each other.

The ONLY negatives: the bars listed as having discounts for runners after the race had never heard of it. Several others expressed the same thing. Also, the spectators were great, but I don't know how they knew about it. There was nothing on the evening news the two nights before the race.

What a great race! This was my first marathon and I can't imagine a more perfect first. The volunteers were wonderful, from the packet pickup to the start/finish and at every aid station in between. The sights were wonderful and made the route pass fast. I wasn't prepared for quite so much traffic--there were a few places where traffic had built up enough that you were breathing in a lot of exhaust--and there seemed to be a lot more hills than I remembered from the elevation map, but a fantastic experience regardless. Can't wait till next year!

Great goody bag and shirt. You also get a nice Nike running cap if among first 2,000 to register. Be sure to bring ID to pick up race # and chip if you pre-register. I left mine in the car, and they absolutely would not bend that rule despite my pleas. Reasonably flat but somewhat dull city marathon course. Need a better system at the start to keep slower runners from pushing up to the front. Plenty of water stops, but only two gel stations. Post-race food and showers a plus.

First of all, what's with these people complaining about the size of the medal and not enough bands on the course? Are you there to run or are you there to collect big medals and listen to music? This is a first-class, intimate, extremely well-organized event. They must have listened to comments last year as every mile marker was accurate with a digital clock in front of it and a volunteer there to insure no one moved them. There were aid stations every single mile with volunteers even holding up signs a hundred or so yards ahead of it alerting runners to the stations. It's a bit hillier than the elevation profile (especially the first half) but not difficult. Great finish area inside the ballpark finishing by first base and having your name called out on the p.a. is unforgettable as well as wonderful volunteers. Loved the post-race food also of bagels, pizza, cookies, etc.

The race is just the right size with plenty of running room (I did the full) and passing the kids in front of St. Jude's Children's Hospital is a moment I will never forget. I recommend this race whole-heartedly. If you want a big medal, go elsewhere or to a trophy shop; if you want to run a well-organized, intimate course with good course support and a spectacular finish and proceeds going to a worthy cause, run Memphis.

Great marathon!! There is no better way to support a great organization like St. Jude. The layout of the course makes it a great way to see the city. The course was, however, a little hillier than I expected, but overall a fast course. Every mile ? like clockwork, pun intended - there was a volunteer with a sign to let you know that an aid station was ahead. Clocks, water, PowerAde, toilets, etc... were stationed at every mile, which was a nice touch. The finish down the first baseline was cool and the steps were not too hard to climb.

The packet was very informative ? your ?Miss Manners? page should be standard for all race packets. Also, the website had everything you needed. There was a map with hotel locations, parking lots, sights to visit and more. Be forewarned, the hotels fill up quickly! I ended up staying in West Memphis (across the river). It was only a 10-minute drive to the start line. Plus, I parked on a side street 3 blocks from the start/finish for FREE!!

The expo is not very large, but it?s adequate. The packet pickup was very organized and there were no waiting lines. I got my packet, verified my chip and got my t-shirt in less than 5 minutes. Overall a great marathon! Keep up the good work and a big THANK YOU to the race committee, Memphis? finest, and especially, all the volunteers! This is a must-do marathon!!

Water at every mile, toilets every mile, clocks at every mile; all that is great! The medal was terrible, but the cause is great. Good weather and good police support. Course was a little bit hilly but nothing too severe... but I did think it had more hills in the 2nd half than the race profile showed. With music having such an influence in Memphis, I would have thought they might have more bands along the course. This marathon should grow and I don't see why the Memphis Marathon can't become as large as Nashville - it's better!