From a downtown Nashville country music marathon to the forested trails in Percy Warner Park, learn more about these six destination races in Nashville.

(Feature image: Photo courtesy of St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville)

There’s so much to see in the country music capital, and perhaps one of the most unique ways to explore the city is by participating in a Nashville destination race. In the early morning hours, with the streets absent of cars, run past local tourist attractions such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Music Row, and the Tennessee State Capitol.

The annual Hot Chocolate Run, St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville, and Run Nash ½ Marathon, Marathon & 5K deliver on downtown sightseeing expectations. But there’s plenty more to see in Nashville outside the city center.

Two St. Patrick’s Day-themed races take runners along Nashville’s riverside greenways. And a more intimate marathon that’s been running for nearly 20 years navigates a challenging, mixed-surface course through the forested and expansive Percy Warner Park.

Explore details of these six destination races in Nashville, listed by calendar date:

• Hot Chocolate Run
• Nashville St. Paddy’s 5K & Half Marathon
• Publix St. Patrick’s Music City Half Marathon
• St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville
• Run Nash Nashville ½ Marathon, Marathon & 5K
• The Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathons

Looking for more information on running in Nashville, including the local running stores and group runs? Check out the Nashville City Guide.

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Hot Chocolate Run

February | Nashville | 15K, 10K, 5K
Downtown Nashville is among the stops of the Hot Chocolate Run series. The 15K takes you past city sites, including the Tennessee State Capitol and a full-scale replica of the Parthenon. After you cross the finish line of this winter race, there’s hot chocolate and chocolate fondue to keep you warm, plus the full-zip hoodie that’s included in your race registration. Feeling fast? The top three male and female finishers in each distance and the first-place finishers in each age group receive free entries to next year’s race.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 54 degrees; low of 33 degrees; average of 43 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: Not listed
• Historical Results: https://raceday.enmotive.com/#/events/2024-hot-chocolate-run-nashville/results
• Time Limit: The course doesn’t officially close but there’s no guaranteed course support for those averaging over a 15-minute mile pace.
• Race Swag: Free high-res photos, full-zip hoodie, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 15-minute drive from Nashville International Airport

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Nashville St. Paddy’s 5K & Half Marathon

March | Nashville | Half Marathon, 5K
This half marathon course navigates Nashville’s Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Stones River Greenway, just east of downtown. You’ll find a few hills, with the steepest ones just before Two Rivers Mansion and at Shorebird Pond. The race swag is top-notch with a choice between a cotton T-shirt and a fleece hoodie. Plus, finishers receive a pint glass and a festive medal (half marathon runners only). Proceeds support Tennessee’s Special Olympics division.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 63 degrees; low of 40 degrees; average of 52 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: Not listed
• Historical Results: https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=20003&RId=417
• Time Limit: 3:30 (half marathon); 1:30 (5K)
• Race Swag: T-shirt or fleece hoodie, pint glass, finisher’s medal for half marathon runners
• Distance from Airport: 10-minute drive from Nashville International Airport

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Publix St. Patrick’s Music City Half Marathon

March | Nashville | Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
Wear your green and line up at the start line to run along one of Nashville’s most popular routes — Shelby Park and Shelby Bottoms Greenway. This East Nashville race awards finishers with St. Patrick’s Day-themed medals and a beer garden at the finish line. Proceeds support Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms organization.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 63 degrees; low of 40 degrees; average of 52 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: 238-foot gain (half marathon); 153-foot gain (10K); 72-foot gain (5K)
• Historical Results: https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=20003&RId=419
• Time Limit: Not listed
• Race Swag: T-shirt, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 15-minute drive from Nashville International Airport

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St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville

April | Nashville | Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
This annual event brings in tens of thousands of runners to downtown Nashville. With the streets closed to auto traffic, it’s a unique perspective of Music City. The hilly half and full marathon routes run down Broadway and Music Row, around Vanderbilt University, through The Gulch, and past the Tennessee State Capitol. The full marathon course covers Germantown, East Nashville, and part of Shelby Park along the Cumberland River. All race distances enjoy plenty of live music along the course and finish at the Tennessee Titan’s stadium.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 73 degrees; low of 49 degrees; average of 61 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: 958-foot gain (marathon); 575-foot gain (half marathon); 228-foot gain (10K); 115-foot gain (5K)
• Historical Results: https://www.runrocknroll.com/nashville-results
• Time Limit: 6 hours (marathon); 4 hours (half marathon); 2 hours (10K); 1 hour (5K)
• Race Swag: T-shirt, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 15-minute drive from Nashville International Airport

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Run Nash Nashville ½ Marathon, Marathon & 5K

October | Nashville | Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K
October is a great month to run in Nashville, and the Run Nash half marathon and marathon courses take runners on a tour of downtown Nashville and Music Row. Expect some hills in the first 5 miles. From downtown, runners follow an out-and-back riverside greenway to Shelby Park in East Nashville; full marathon runners continue north along the Cumberland River Greenway for another out-and-back. All distances finish on the field of First Horizon Park, home to the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 74 degrees; low of 50 degrees; average of 62 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: Not listed
• Historical Results: https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/g9xjks5u6ksg29va/results
• Time Limit: 6 hours (marathon); 4 hours (half marathon); 1 hour (5K)
• Race Swag: T-shirt, finisher’s medal
• Distance from Airport: 15-minute drive from Nashville International Airport
• Registration Discount Code: Save 10% with code RUNLIFE10

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The Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon

November | Nashville | Marathon, Half Marathon
If you’re looking for a unique race experience that’s intentionally opposite of the large marathons that close down city streets, this one’s for you. As the race website states, “There will be no bands, cheerleaders, wave starts or crowds.” The marathon is held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and the half marathon is earlier in the month. The courses are not certified. You’ll navigate a mix of road, grass, and trail within Percy Warner Park, and the full marathon has more than 7,200 feet in overall elevation change. Registration for both races is based on a lottery system after the first 300 registrants, and proceeds benefit the Friends of Warner Parks organization.

• Average Race Month Weather: High of 61 degrees; low of 39 degrees; average of 50 degrees
• Course Elevation Change: More than 3,600-foot gain (marathon)
• Historical Results: https://www.harpethhillsmarathon.com/Runners.html
• Time Limit: 4 hours (half marathon); no full marathon time limit
• Race Swag: Wooden finisher’s medal, T-shirt (or opt to donate the T-shirt money to Friends of Warner Parks), optional pint glass
• Distance from Airport: 30-minute drive from Nashville International Airport

*Average Race Month Weather is based on the National Weather Service’s historical data.

Visit the Nashville City Guide for more information about places to run, running stores, running groups, and where to eat and drink in and around Nashville.

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