This was my first St. Jude's Marathon. The experience overall was very good. The expo and packet pickup were organized and informative. Marathon morning was also very organized. The race had a wave start, with new waves starting every two minutes. The course was challenging. There were quite a few long, gradual uphills that slowed you down a bit. The aid stations were at every mile and were fully stocked with water, Gatorade, GU and a lot of enthusiastic volunteers. The spectators were very supportive but were a little thin in some areas. However, when you hit an area with spectators, there were tons. The finish was in Autozone Park, which was cool because you had your name announced as you crossed the finish line in a baseball stadium full of spectators. The food area was a little disappointing. Cold pizza, sweets and drinks, but no plates. You had to hold everything in your sweaty hands, which I didn't like. The overall experience was very good, and I would run this one again - especially when you consider that the proceeds go to help St. Jude's children.

It is hard to say something bad about a marathon with such a wonderful cause, but it has to be said. The roads were in terrible shape, and the coned off lanes were way too narrow to allow passing, so many runners cut into on-coming traffic. There were too many miles of just nothing. There was very little to no fan support after the half marathon split. The volunteers were very helpful and friendly, and the race was well organized, but the course was just awful.

I am from Memphis, so I have done the half or cheered the past several years. I always wanted to do the full in my home town, so this was the year. The organization was great, and I loved the aid stations at every mile. I am a slower runner (finished in 5:30), but I always had people around me running, so I didn't feel totally isolated (I was prepared just in case). True, the spectators drop off after the half, but there were enough people around to keep me going. Seeing the families or signs about the children from St. Jude was overwhelming at times, and made me realize that I could keep going for them. My only complaint is that I didn't like the marathon tech shirts. They were men-sized, so even the medium is too big for me. I have seen people around town showing off their long-sleeve tees from the half-marathon and 5K, yet I didn't get one like that to wear around. Also, by the time I was done, there was no pizza or soup left. Just donuts and fruit, which was ok, but I really wanted something more sustaining than that.

My son was diagnosed with cancer at St. Jude when he was three. He was treated there for a year and has been in remission for three years. We have been involved in the St. Jude Marathon for four years, but this was my first year to run the full marathon. It was an emotional experience for me! I echo all of the positive comments on the site. Specifically, though, it was phenomenal to run through the gates of St. Jude and onto the grounds. So many patients and their families were lined up cheering for us. It was an emotional boost that lasted the rest of the race! The course was challenging, the staggered start was great, the corrals were clearly identified, and the spectators were amazing!

My first marathon, and all I wanted to do is break 4 hours. I ran 3:58:42, so I did that; but my watch said that the course was 26.4, and so did all of my buddies who had the same GPS watch.

Now my thoughts are how many people didn't qualify for Boston because of a long course. To me this should have never happened. Also, I signed up in June and they ran out of shirt sizes. They only had large and extra large. Wow.

Overall, a great race. My first. Crowd support was great from start to finish. Very good race to run.

I've run this race six times - five marathons and one half - and it remains as great as ever. It's exceptionally well-organized. The course is solid, neither too hilly nor too flat. And the water/aid stations at every mile are very much appreciated. Best of all is the enthusiastic crowd support. That makes this race. It's deeply satisfying to know and be so often reminded that you are supporting a great cause like St. Jude's, and boy, do people show their appreciation to you! Having downtown Memphis all around you makes for quite a fun weekend besides. Plenty of places to celebrate! One note: the race is getting quite big, and for that reason the organizers are especially concerned about moving people along (through the expo, through the chute, through the stadium). This is understandable, but can also be carried too far. My family and I were enjoying a few moments together in the stands after the race (I ran the full 26 miles) - surrounded by empty seats and away from the aisle - and were told by a race official that we couldn't stay there. We had to leave in order to control "crowd flow." There was no crowd right there. There was absolutely no one around us fighting for that space in the stadium. It left an unfortunate aftertaste in what otherwise was a terrific day at an exceptional and meaningful race. I feel very sorry about the tragic death of a half-marathoner - for her sake of course, but also because the organizers do absolutely everything they can to make the race as safe as possible. They do more in that regard than any other race I've ever participated in. One of the very many things they do so right.

I did the half-marathon in Memphis on Dec. 5 and it was fabulous. It was my first half after two full marathons, and I sort of thought we'd be treated like... well, halfers. No. We were treated excellently. Organization was wonderful! Great food, snacks and water/Gatorade at every mile. The course is interesting, there's good fan support, and it would be an excellent race for a first-timer. IF ONLY it had been 5-10 degrees warmer!

This was my 21st marathon (15 different cities). There is something for everyone: 5K, half, and full. There is much to see and do in Memphis - from Beale St., to Graceland, to college and pro basketball. The course was a great mix of urban and residential environments, with just enough challenging, rolling hills. The start was well organized; with a wave start and chip it doesn't matter where you line up. I had yet to experience so many fluid and portable toilet stations. Traffic control was great. The spectators were enthusiastic and vocal. The finish into the baseball park is incredible. Reuniting with friends and family was a breeze. Post-race amenities were outstanding.

Every aspect of the event came together despite the very cold conditions. I want to give special thanks to the medical staff who treated me after the race. They recognized that I had issues beyond fatigue and did not let me leave until fully recovered. All around kudos to the St. Jude Memphis Marathon organizers, fund raisers, and, especially, ALL of those volunteers who endured the frigid weather just so we could run around and indulge ourselves!

Excellent race and race day temperatures. Great crowd/route support and assistance.

Only sad event was the passing of the 30-year-old female half marathoner. I observed the EMT staff transporting this young woman out of the elevator at Autozone Park and was sincerely hoping for a different result. My prayers and sympathies are with her family.

The last 100-yard switchback hill at the 26-mile mark was masochistic... but the finish was exciting.

You should not make runners climb 50-plus stairs to take elevators down to the locker rooms, though. That is brutal and avoidable....

The volunteer staff in every venue was outstanding. I would hold the 5K separate (different day) from the marathon/half; way to congested downtown with these recreational runners.

I ran this race in 2004 and again this year and I was really impressed at how they've improved every aspect of it. Not that it was bad before. The organization was terrific; the re-route through the hospital campus was a great idea; the pace group leaders were well-prepped and did a phenomenal job (at least the ones I ran with - thanks Scott, Billy, and ______, sorry but I forgot your name!). Great police support on the course, too.