Nashville is a city of stories, but on April 26, 2025, the story wasn't being told on a stage at Tootsie’s. It was written in sweat across 26.2 miles of rolling Tennessee hills. If you were looking for the Nashville TN marathon results on race day, you likely saw a sea of spreadsheets and bib numbers, but those digits don't quite capture the humidity that sat like a wet blanket over Broadway or the roar of the crowd near Nissan Stadium.
David Gregory absolutely dominated. He crossed the finish line in 2:32:06, a time that basically left the rest of the field fighting for second place before the race was even halfway through. Honestly, watching him pull away was a masterclass in pacing on a course that is notorious for chewing up runners who start too fast.
The big winners: 2025 Nashville TN marathon results breakdown
While Gregory took the men’s crown, the women’s side saw Kate McAndrew take the top spot with a finishing time of 3:06:38. It wasn't just about the elites, though. This year felt different because it marked 25 years of the Rock 'n' Roll series in Nashville, and the energy reflected that milestone.
The podium for the men was rounded out by Harrison Morris (2:44:11) and Matt Davis (2:44:22). That eleven-second gap between second and third? That’s the kind of drama people stay for. On the women's side, Madison Smith locked in second at 3:12:46, followed by Emilie Wilson at 3:16:32.
🔗 Read more: Inter Miami vs Toronto: What Really Happened in Their Recent Clashes
Breaking down the top 5 men
First place went to David Gregory at 02:32:06. Harrison Morris followed quite a bit later at 02:44:11. Matt Davis was right on his heels at 02:44:22. Fourth place was Anders Sonnesyn finishing in 02:46:31. Jesse Wray secured the fifth spot with a 02:47:15.
Breaking down the top 5 women
Kate McAndrew took the win at 03:06:38. Madison Smith earned second with a 03:12:46. Emilie Wilson came in third at 03:16:32. Sophia Bertot took fourth in 03:17:58, and Janel Simonelli rounded out the top five with a time of 03:18:19.
Why the Nashville course is a different beast
People think Nashville is flat because it's in a river valley. They're wrong.
💡 You might also like: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
The course is a "rolling" nightmare for those who haven't trained on inclines. You start on Broadway, which is iconic and loud, but by the time you hit the miles winding through Metro Center or the steep sections near Belmont University, the music starts to fade into the background. You're just breathing.
One thing most people get wrong about the Nashville TN marathon results is looking at the times in a vacuum. A 3:05 in Nashville is often equivalent to a sub-3:00 in a flat-as-a-pancake race like Chicago or Berlin. The humidity in late April is the real wildcard. In 2025, the start was a decent 56°F, but it didn't stay there. By the time the mid-pack was hitting the 20-mile mark, the Tennessee sun was out in full force.
Beyond the full 26.2: Half marathon and 5K highlights
Not everyone was there to run the full distance. The half marathon is actually the bigger draw for the "casual" Nashville crowd, and the 2025 results there were just as competitive. Casey Bohrer took the men's half marathon title with a 1:12:45, while Lydia Grady led the women at 1:22:38.
📖 Related: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
Then there's the 5K, which happened the same morning. Matthew Grundy (17:27) and Elsa Steer (18:29) showed that speed matters just as much as endurance in Music City.
What we can learn from this year's data
If you're looking at these Nashville TN marathon results because you're planning for 2026, take note of the "wall." Most runners this year saw a significant pace drop after mile 18. This is where the course leaves the shade of the neighborhoods and heads toward the industrial areas and the stadium.
- Pacing is everything: David Gregory’s win wasn't just about speed; it was about not blowing up in the first 10 miles.
- Weather prep: If you aren't training in humidity, Nashville will break you.
- The "Vibe" Factor: With 25 years in the books, the crowd support at 12 South and the Gulch is now legendary. Don't wear headphones; you won't need them.
Actionable insights for your next Music City run
The 2025 results prove that Nashville remains a "runner's race." It’s not a PR course for most, but it’s a badge of honor. To prepare for the 2026 event on April 25:
- Prioritize hill repeats in your training block, specifically focusing on tired-leg climbs.
- Study the 2025 split times to see where the field slowed down; it’s almost always the stretch between Shelby Park and the finish.
- Book your hotel early—with the finish line at Nissan Stadium, stay near East Nashville or the North Capitol area to avoid the Broadway traffic nightmare.
You can find the full, searchable database of every runner's time on the official Rock 'n' Roll Running Series website or through SportStats. Whether you finished in two hours or seven, you conquered one of the toughest urban marathons in the South.