This was my second St. Jude and it was even better the second time around. The expo was well run, the course is fun but challenging, the spectators (especially the kids) are great, and it's just an overall awesome time. The race size is just right (not as large as the Country Music Marathon). The race, along with all the good food and fun Memphis has to offer, makes for a fun weekend.

This was my first marathon and is something I will never forget. The race was very well organized and I LOVE Memphis but it was the crowd (especially the kids at St. Jude) that made it so memorable. It was truly a highlight of my life. There is no better cause. I will definitely be running this one every year!!

What a great event for such a great cause. This is one race I will try to make year after year. It was windy and there were some hills, but I think what got the best of me was the 85% humidity. Still, a great race. I don't think you could go an entire block without having someone cheering for you. Even the local police officers, who were great at traffic control, were cheering us on. And some folks, in their cars at traffic lights, would roll their windows down and encourage you. Great race, great fans, great expo. The finish in the Radbird's baseball park was great as well.

Ran St. Jude Memphis Marathon in 2004 and 2005. Although the race is twice as big as the last time I ran it, it still is very well organized and the course is outstanding. I especially enjoyed running through the St. Jude hospital campus. Everything was outstanding - even the weather. The only dim point is my tech shirt. Although I am 5' 7" and weigh 145 lbs., the medium is too small. At least my wife can wear it.

I would definitely recommend this race to both first-timers and seasoned marathoners. I will be back!

Awesome race! Organization was amazing - wave start worked perfect, and aid stations were located where planned and were stocked with enthusiastic volunteers and described supplies. Spectators (especially on the St. Jude campus) were plentiful and exuberant. The course was deceptively hilly - especially the last 10K. Hills were not steep, but rolling - and lots of them.

Would run this one again for the cause alone - but a great race to boot.

Imagine a race with a water station at every mile, digital clocks astride every well placed mile marker and a stadium finish where the name of each finisher is broadcast over a PA system to a throng of cheering fans. Imagine bands lining the streets and scores of fans calling you a hero for supporting St. Jude as you run. Imagine all this and running through a world=class children's cancer hospital campus where the smiling, pint-sized patients hold their hands out to receive "five" as you run by.

This race is not a figment of your imagination. They call it the Memphis- St. Jude Marathon, and there is no marathon on earth where you feel better about yourself for running than here. The St. Jude mission is to fight childhood cancer and a part of your registration fee is donated directly to St. Jude. All along the route people are thanking you for being there and supporting this most noble cause.

The race itself is well organized from start to finish and the on course support is second to none. While there are a few small hills the course is not all that difficult and this could be a PR course for many.

The wave start system works well to decompress the early miles but does make the second half of the race (where the halfers break off at mile 12) a little desolate at points.

Still, this is one really fun race to be a part of and ranks as one of my all-time favorites.

This was my first marathon (St. Jude Hero) and I am so happy, grateful and thrilled to have been part of something so wonderful. There was so much to see along the way and the best part was going through the St. Jude campus and the amazing support throughout the whole race made it worthwhile to keep going, no matter how much it hurt. This is one marathon to make your first. I am going to make it my second (marathon).

My first half marathon - a PR and a great experience. What else is there? A little chilly - 29 degrees - but it's in December, so you can't complain. And it's a great cause to boot.

I love the expo, wave start, fans, finish, and beer stand that those nice people have in their yard every year (about 16 or 17 miles in).

I've run the full twice ('08 and '09) and will be back. Nice, medium-sized race, and the wave start is great. I particularly want to thank the 3:30 pacers from 2009 - they were right on target and very courteous about explaining how water stops and bathroom breaks would be handled. Although they pulled away from me at the end, because of them I reached my personal goal and had a great time doing it!