Nashville is weirdly hilly. If you’ve ever walked from Broadway up to the Gulch in boots, you know. Now, imagine doing that for 26.2 miles while a bluegrass band blasts banjo music in your face.
The Music City Marathon 2025—officially known as the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville—celebrated its 25th anniversary on April 26-27, 2025. It wasn't just another race. It was a massive, sweat-soaked birthday party for over 25,000 runners. But honestly, if you didn't check the elevation charts or the new route changes, you probably had a much rougher morning than expected.
The 2025 Route Shake-up and Why it Mattered
Most people think of Nashville as a flat river town. It isn't. For the 25th anniversary, the organizers decided to mess with the course, and not everyone was thrilled. They introduced a revised full marathon route that added some serious "character"—which is runner-speak for "brutal inclines."
The biggest surprise? Shelby Park. In previous years, this section was manageable. In 2025, the back half of the marathon featured three significant hills right when your legs usually turn to lead. Specifically, miles 23 through 25 were basically a vertical test of faith. Some veterans claimed it added over 200 feet of total elevation gain compared to the 2024 version.
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Start Lines and Logistics
The logistical footprint for the Music City Marathon 2025 was spread across the city.
- 5K and 10K: Started bright and early at 6:30 AM on Saturday at 8th and Demonbreun.
- Marathon and Half Marathon: These kicked off at 7:20 AM from Broadway at 8th Avenue.
- The Finish: Everyone funneled toward the Victory Way finish line outside Nissan Stadium.
The weather actually cooperated for once. We saw a mean temperature of about 61°F, though the humidity did that "classic Tennessee" thing where it creeps up by 10:00 AM. If you weren't finished by the four-hour mark, you were definitely feeling the sun.
More Than Just a Run: The 25th Anniversary Vibe
You can't call it the Music City Marathon without, well, the music. The 2025 lineup was specifically curated to celebrate the quarter-century milestone. The Health & Fitness Expo at the Music City Convention Center kicked things off on Thursday, April 24, with performances by Jillian Cardarelli and Greg Pratt.
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By Saturday, the course was lined with stages. August Christopher took the Music Row Roundabout spot, while the Eaglemaniacs headlined the post-race concert at the finish line stage. Honestly, the "Encore Entertainment" is usually the only thing keeping half the field moving toward the finish.
Real Talk on the Marathon "Dead Zones"
There’s a common complaint about this race that held true in 2025: the split. When the half marathoners veer off toward the finish line, the full marathoners are left to face the "lonely miles."
Once you passed the 13.1-mile mark, the crowds thinned out significantly. The stretch heading toward the Cumberland River Greenway and through Shelby Park felt remarkably quiet compared to the chaos of Broadway. If you’re planning for a future run here, you’ve got to be mentally prepared for that shift. It’s a psychological grind.
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Money, Charity, and the St. Jude Connection
The race remains the flagship fundraising event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In 2025, the "We Love Nashville" promotion in February dropped registration prices down to $145 for the full and $135 for the half, though late-bloomers were paying closer to $180 by race week.
It's expensive. No doubt. But seeing the St. Jude "Heroes" on the course—people running specifically to hit fundraising goals—usually makes the entry fee a bit easier to swallow.
Practical Advice for Future Music City Runners
If you missed 2025 and are looking toward the next one, don't just trust the official elevation maps. They tend to smooth out the bumps.
- Hill Repeats are Mandatory: Don't train on a treadmill at 0% incline. You need to simulate the rolling hills of 12 South and the late-stage climbs in Shelby Park.
- The Shuttle is Your Friend: Parking near Nissan Stadium is a nightmare. Use the Old Town Trolley shuttle service from Opry Mills or the airport hotels. It’s worth the twenty bucks to avoid the traffic jams on James Robertson Parkway.
- Hydrate Early: The Nashville humidity is deceptive. By the time you feel thirsty at Mile 10, it's already too late.
- Check the Cutoffs: The city doesn't stay closed forever. In 2025, the half marathon had a strict cutoff at Mile 8.3—you had to pass it by 9:40 AM or be rerouted.
The Music City Marathon 2025 proved that even after 25 years, this race can still surprise people. Whether it was the Landon Parker set at the finish or the unexpected quad-burners in the final miles, it stayed true to Nashville's "work hard, play harder" reputation.
If you're looking to run this event in the future, start your hill training now. You’re going to need it. For those looking for official results or wanting to lock in early-bird pricing for the 2026 edition (scheduled for April 25-26, 2026), head over to the official Rock 'n' Roll Running Series website to check your stats or sign up before the next price jump.