Course Map
About this Race
The Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon is a hilly, music-fueled race through Tennessee's country-music capital, with live bands lining a genuinely undulating course through the city and its surrounds. The constant rolling terrain combined with the warm, often humid spring staging makes it one of the tougher races in the series. It draws a big, spirited field drawn to the Music City atmosphere and the bands along the route. The hills and heat demand respect and conservative early pacing. It suits runners who want a festive, music-rich experience and are prepared for a challenging course over a personal best.
Course Insight
Nashville is a deceptively tough music-city marathon, both hilly and often hot and humid in late spring, a combination that humbles anyone chasing a flat-course time. Pace the relentless rollers by effort and respect the heat from the start. The bands and crowds make it easy to over-run the early miles. This is a strength-and-patience race, not a PB hunt. Run conservatively and the hills and warmth stay manageable rather than ruinous.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to significant climbing (363m), tough late hills, lots of turns.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 363m
- Elevation loss
- 380m
- Highest point
- 190m
- Lowest point
- 122m
- Net elevation
- -17m
- Start
- 8th Avenue and Broadway
- Cutoff time
- 6h 0m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:12:55 — Luke Kibet (Kenya), 2000
- Women's
- 2:28:06 — Irina Bogacheva (Kyrgyzstan), 2003
Race History
The Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon was first held in 2000 as the Country Music Marathon, joining the Rock 'n' Roll series with live bands along a genuinely hilly course through Music City. Its undulating terrain and warm spring conditions made it one of the tougher races in the series. From its founding it grew into a popular, entertainment-rich event. Held each spring, it draws a big, spirited field to the Tennessee capital.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Nashville International (BNA)
- Best area to stay
- Downtown on Broadway for proximity to the music-row course and full hotels, the Gulch for trendy upscale stays, and East Nashville for hip, characterful options.
- Getting to the start
- The start is downtown near Broadway; walk from downtown hotels, as the course centres on the city.