The Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Course

Start Times:

Wheelchair Invitational: 6:45 am
Marathon & 1/2 Marathon: 7:00 am

Course Information:

Course Changes for 2009 Race

A new twist for year 10! The Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon courses have been modified. Runners will be treated to a more scenic route extending their run down Broadway past the honky tonks, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and back up Demonbreun passing the Country Music Hall of Fame and the restored Cummins Station. This addition of mileage on Broadway will not only be asthetically pleasing, but it will allow more time for runners to spread out on the course in turn alleviating congestion on Belmont Blvd.

Marathon and Half Marathon Course Changes:

Both courses will continue on Broadway to 4th Avenue, turn right on 4th Avenue, right on Demonbreun and head back towards Music Row.
From Clifton, we will turn left on Granny White and then left on Battlefield opposed to the route extending to Lealand

Half Marathon Course Changes:

From Rosa Parks, turn right on Harrison and then right on 6th Ave. at traffic circle
Make u-turn at James Robertson and 7th Ave.
Runners will stay on James Robertson and then turn right on 3rd Ave.
From 3rd, turn right on Deaderick.
Left on 4th Avenue
Left on Union and head to the finish line

Marathon Course Changes:

Continue on Rosa Parks as course has been.
After exiting from Greenway, runners will turn left on Great Circle Rd as opposed to right in previous years
To exit Metorcenter, runners will turn right on Athens Way and then left on Rosa Parks
Final change for the Marathon course will be in Shelby Park. Runners will no longer run around the lake, but will turn right before it taking them between the lake and the baseball fields.

Wave Start Implemented for a Comfortable Run

In an effort to provide every one of our participants with as comfortable a run as possible, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon introduced a Wave Start program to accommodate its growing numbers.

Entrants’ competition numbers and starting waves are assigned in the order of the projected finish times they submit on their entry. Due to the numbers involved, though, there are multiple waves assigned to several of the “time groups.” Please, note that only the first wave of each time group is listed on the timeline in the Event Guide. All participants and spectators should be aware of this when organizing their viewing schedule for the day.

When the gun fires, the first corral will be released. The rest of the participants will be held at the start line.
At pre-determined intervals (every 1:30 - 2:00) the next corral will be released.
By using this staggered starting method, the pack will be spread out and allow every runner to settle into their racing rhythm from the first step right to the finish line.

Course Descriptions

Mile-by-mile descriptions of both the Marathon and Half-Marathon courses can be found by choosing one of the following links:

Course Time Limits

Due to road closure time constraints, all Marathon participants who reach the 11-mile mark (the location where the Marathon and Half Marathon courses separate) at 10:40 am or later (16:30 per mile pace / 7:12 marathon) will be directed to finish the ½ Marathon course. All participants planning to run the Marathon are encouraged to train to complete the race in less than 7 hours – the official course time limit.

Road Closures

Be sure to plan your route on race day to avoid road closures. For a detailed look at the road closure information, visit our Road Closures page.

Course Support

Water - Water will be provided at the start and finish lines, as well as 20 refreshment stations along the marathon and half-marathon courses. Daily’s bottle water will be served at the finish.

Cytomax will be the official course drink for the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon. Studies show that refueling with Cytomax provides you with optimal hydration and energy to help keep you going from start to finish. Cytomax can be purchased at GNC, specialty running stores or www.cytosport.com

GU Energy Gel - GU Energy Gel will be available on the marathon and half marathon courses at miles 7.9 and 20.3. Flavors served will be Vanilla, Tri Berry, Lemon Sublime, Orange, Straw Banana, Roctane Blueberry Pom, Roctane Vanilla Orange*. GU provides just what you need for premium exercise fuel and none of the extras that slow you down. Find out more about GU Energy Gel.

*Flavors subject to change.

Medical Support - Our medical teams provide top-notch care at the start and finish as well as at 17 sites on the course.

Live Results on Race Day

You’ll never be out of touch with your runner! Every participant's progress will be recorded at the 5k, 10k, and 10-mile marks with updates to the LiveResults site every 60 seconds.

If you are running the Marathon, your time will also be taken at the 13.1 mile and 20 mile marks on the course. If you can’t make it to watch the race, check the progress of your friends and family online.

Pace Groups

Pace groups provided by the Nashville Striders and the Pace Team Coordinator, Peter Pressman. Be sure to visit the Pace Team clinics at the Health & Fitness Expo to meet your pacer and to learn more about being a part of a pace group.

Pace Team Expo Clinic Schedule

4:00pm Thursday, April 23
"Pace Basics" – Peter Pressman, Nashville Striders President, discusses basic pace strategies and race day logistics for running with a pace group.

4:00pm Friday, April 24
"Meet Your Pacer" – A panel of all pace leaders, moderated by Peter Pressman.
Each pacer will talk briefly about strategy for each group - water and pit stops, walk breaks, hill pacing, corrals, etc. This is the time for Q&A.

Marathon Pace Groups

3:30 - Vance Poss
3:45 - Dean Phillips
4:00 - Paul Scalisi
4:15 - Jenny Magill
4:30 - Jane Salem
4:45 - Mike Montgomery
5:00 - Shelly Cawthon
5:30 - Diane Taylor

Half Marathon Pace Groups

1:30 - Jeff Edmonds
1:45 - Doug Renfro and Billy Wallace
2:00 - Jeannine Renfro and Bob Buchholz
2:15 - Denise Piefke and Brent Peterson
2:30 - Freda Miller and Kell Black
2:45 - Tyrone Roberts

Course Information

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