I am not an experienced marathoner (only 4 so far) but the St. Jude's Marathon is tops in my book. It does not have the bands that the PF Changs, Country Music or Suzuki Rock and Roll had, but there were plenty of spectators and entertainment along the way. Yes, doing loops can get boring but, there is not that much in the way of scenery in Memphis. I thought the volunteers did an excellent job and finishing in Autozone Park was a nice touch. Also, the food/drinks at the end were great. Plus, St. Jude's is one of the greatest charities in the US. Every dollar donated to this race is worth it. Look forward to making this marathon an annual event.

This was my 4th marathon and in general I really enjoyed the run and experience.

Positives: the crowds along the course, with music at about 4 locations was great! They also provided GU stations from mile 10-24, which was also great. And the scenery was ok as well. Only real drawback was the course was not quite the same as on the web. Many more rolling inclines with elevation changes that I did not anticipate. So the course is a little more difficult than advertised. The charity is an awesome bonus. Only other problem was no pasta party and the restaurants in downtown Memphis were NOT prepared for so many runners. Top to bottom a solid 4 out of 5.

-epm

This was my first marathon, and I thought the entire experience was great. The support along the route was fantastic and much more frequent than what I expected. Finishing along the first base line at the baseball stadium was a very nice touch. The post-event on Beale Street was a blast. I have many great memories from this run and the entire weekend and plan to run this race again in 2004.

My 4th marathon (Chicago/San Diego/Twin Cities) and this was as good an experience as the previous three. Nice people, nice goodie bag. Great course (sort of a double-loop, but you only retrace 4-5 miles). Some rolling hills but none too long or too steep (more than Chicago but less than SD or Twin Cities). Good entertainment along the way. Sparse spectator support in places but enthusiastic and plentiful aid stations. Great hotels within walking distance of start and finish. Nice weather. Running on the field of the Liberty Bowl (Mile 21) and entering Autozone Park through the center field fence to finish were great. I would highly recommend this marathon.

This marathon is one you must add on your list 'to do'. It is very well organized and for a very worthy cause. St. Jude's Research Hospital is on the course and as I ran by I prayed for every patient that has ever entered or will enter the hospital, for every patient's family and for every physician, nurse and medical personnel who administers to these critically ill patients. All the while, giving thanks to God for my healthy body and ability to run!

The course was awesome, beginning with running along the riverfront, to running through the park, into Mid-South Coliseum while the band was playing, and I LOVED finishing inside Auto Zone Stadium. This was marathon number 12 for me and I definitely will return to this one. Thanks to all the volunteers and especially to Memphis' finest police department for keeping the course open.

The course is a little deceiving with the semi-double loop but this made the spectators more accessable. The support on the course was excellent with mile splits and water stops. There are more hills (overpasses/underpasses) than the elevation chart would lead you to believe.

As stated above, I ran the half-marathon, and it was a wonderful experience! The crowds were somewhat sparse outside the downtown area, but were quite enthusiastic and certainly kept me going at times. The aid stations were plentiful and the volunteers were very friendly. It's likely I'll be back in 2004 to make this event my first full marathon. And to top it all off, it benefits a wonderful organization! Cheers to Memphis.

I enjoyed the marathon and Memphis. High points include: Traffic control, well stocked and staffed aid stations, and central location of hotels, expo, start, and finish. The uplifting song and dance numbers you pass twice in the park, running through the stadium and the finish at the ball park that allowed for friends and family to have a clear view of the finish (they even called out your name as you enter) were simply outstanding. A very positive experience!

Great course through the heart of downtown Memphis. Starting at 8:00 am I thought traffic control would be a problem by the time I finished. But no! The Memphis Police controlled the route so very, very well.

The volunteers were awesome! The water stops were located almost every mile and were all well staffed. Course marshalls held signs at all turns (this is in addition to police traffic control) and there was a manned timer at every mile.

The course took in all the major downtown sites. Running on the field through the Liberty Bowl was a nice touch.

When you run marathons at my speed (4:47), it's the little extras that make them special and Memphis had all the extras.

My wife and I wanted to run another marathon in 2003 but were having trouble finding one near Wisconsin this late in the year so we decided to head south to Memphis.

While some southerners were complaining slightly about it being cold (in the 40s) we thought it was perfect running weather. This appears to be a pretty average temp for the time of year.

The course takes you by, or through, pretty much everything noteworthy in Memphis - Beale Street, the national Civil Rights Museum, The Pyramid, Sun Records, the zoo, Mississippi River, Liberty Bowl, Autozone Park, etc., etc. It does a great job of showcasing the city. The only Memphis landmark it misses is Graceland, but only because it is not located that close to town.

The aid stations and time clocks appeared about every mile which was very nice. The aid station by the zoo has to be the most energetic aid station I have ever encountered. Plus you get the added bonus of going by it twice.

The rolling hills near the end were a bit unwelcome but I have to remember people do not run marathons because they are easy.

The post-race food consists of the usual: bagels, oranges, bananas, etc., but also includes pizza, beer and Krispy Kreme donuts.

All in all a great event.