2027 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon - Apr 24 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon and what time does it start?

The full marathon is held on the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville race weekend of April 24-25, 2027, with current listings placing the 26.2-mile marathon on Saturday, April 24. The full and half marathon traditionally start together early — around 7:20 a.m. Central Time on Broadway in downtown Nashville. Always confirm the exact gun time on the official site closer to race day.

Q: Is the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon hard? How hilly is the course?

It is a rolling, hilly course — not a flat PR machine. The route gains roughly 1,088 ft (331 m) over the 26.2 miles, with rolling hills throughout the city. The first half is more scenic and crowd-lined; the second half through Metro Center and East Nashville is quieter and more industrial. Most runners describe it as a moderately challenging course where the rolling terrain, not the total climb, is what tests your legs late.

Q: Is Rock 'n' Roll Nashville a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston-qualifying (BQ) course, so a qualifying time run here counts toward Boston Marathon registration. That said, the rolling hills make it a tougher place to chase a BQ than a flat course — if you are targeting a specific time, check your goal against the Boston qualifying calculator and pace your effort by feel on the climbs.

Q: What is the time limit for the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon?

The marathon has a 6-hour course time limit, which works out to roughly a 13:44 per mile (8:32 per km) average pace. Timed cut-off points are enforced along the route — runners who fall behind the required pace are diverted and recorded as a DNF. You can map your splits against the limit with the pace calculator before race day.

Q: How do I register for the 2027 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon and what does it cost?

Registration is handled online through the official Rock 'n' Roll Running Series site (runrocknroll.com/nashville). It is an open, first-come event with no lottery, and prices rise in tiers as the race fills, so the earlier you sign up the cheaper your entry. Many runners also enter through a St. Jude charity team, which adds a fundraising commitment but supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the series' beneficiary.

Q: What makes Rock 'n' Roll Nashville different from other marathons?

The signature is live music — 25+ bands staged along the course, including a concentrated 'Mile of Music' stretch around mile 16 in Metro Center, plus a finish outside Nissan Stadium. It is a St. Jude-benefiting event in the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series (run by The IRONMAN Group), so the vibe leans festival and feel-good over fast times. The 2026 edition drew its largest full-marathon field in 15 years, with a big half-marathon and 5K/10K alongside it.

Q: How many people run the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon?

The full marathon is the smaller of the weekend's races — about 3,189 finishers in 2026, off a registered field of just over 5,000 (its largest in 15 years). The much larger half marathon, plus 5K, 10K and a 1-mile race, push the whole weekend's participation past 25,000 runners. So expect a packed, energetic start even though the 26.2-mile field itself is mid-sized.

Q: What is the weather like for the Nashville Marathon in April?

Late April in Nashville is typically mild and humid, with starts often around 55-60°F (13-16°C) and afternoons that can climb into the 70s°F (low 20s°C). Humidity is usually high and rain is possible. Dress for a warm finish rather than the cool dawn start, and respect the early aid stations before the temperature rises through the back half.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon - Apr 24
City	Nashville
Date	2027-04-24 at 07:20
Field Size	~3,189 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	America/Chicago
Official Site	The Rock 'n' Roll Running Series (The IRONMAN Group)
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	15.8°C / 60°F
Humidity	79%
Wind	17.8 km/h
Rain Chance	43%
Typical Conditions	Mild, humid late-April Nashville morning — can warm up fast by the later miles

What to Prepare: Late April in Nashville usually starts mild and humid around 55-60°F / 13-16°C and can climb into the 70s°F / low-20s°C by late morning. Dress for a warm finish, not the cool start — a singlet and shorts with throwaway arm sleeves work well, and take the early water stops seriously before the sun is up.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 17.8 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	10.7°C	16.1°C	20.8°C
Dew point	5.5°C	11.9°C	17.9°C

Wet-day chance: 43% Runnability: 71/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	City point-to-point
Elevation Gain	331m
Terrain	Road (rolling downtown and neighborhood streets, paved throughout)
Profile	A rolling, genuinely hilly tour of Music City rather than a flat PR track — expect roughly +1,088 ft (331 m) of climbing with a near-net-flat finish. The race starts on Broadway in the heart of downtown Nashville and threads past iconic neighborhoods back to back: Music Row, The Gulch, 12 South, Belmont-Hillsboro, the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, Germantown, Metro Center, East Nashville and Shelby Park, before finishing outside Nissan Stadium across the Cumberland River. The first half has the best spectator support and most scenic streets, while the back half runs quieter and more industrial through Metro Center and East Nashville. With 25+ live bands staged along the route, it leans festival over fast — the rolling terrain makes it a tougher Boston qualifier than the flat Midwest courses, so most runners come for the atmosphere and the St. Jude cause rather than a guaranteed PR. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston-qualifying course.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon - Apr 24

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

Convert uphill or downhill running pace to flat-equivalent GAP in one click. Free grade adjusted pac...

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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon and what time does it start?

The full marathon is held on the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville race weekend of April 24-25, 2027, with current listings placing the 26.2-mile marathon on Saturday, April 24. The full and half marathon traditionally start together early — around 7:20 a.m. Central Time on Broadway in downtown Nashville. Always confirm the exact gun time on the official site closer to race day.

Is the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon hard? How hilly is the course?

It is a rolling, hilly course — not a flat PR machine. The route gains roughly 1,088 ft (331 m) over the 26.2 miles, with rolling hills throughout the city. The first half is more scenic and crowd-lined; the second half through Metro Center and East Nashville is quieter and more industrial. Most runners describe it as a moderately challenging course where the rolling terrain, not the total climb, is what tests your legs late.

Is Rock 'n' Roll Nashville a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The marathon is USATF-certified and a Boston-qualifying (BQ) course, so a qualifying time run here counts toward Boston Marathon registration. That said, the rolling hills make it a tougher place to chase a BQ than a flat course — if you are targeting a specific time, check your goal against the Boston qualifying calculator and pace your effort by feel on the climbs.

What is the time limit for the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon?

The marathon has a 6-hour course time limit, which works out to roughly a 13:44 per mile (8:32 per km) average pace. Timed cut-off points are enforced along the route — runners who fall behind the required pace are diverted and recorded as a DNF. You can map your splits against the limit with the pace calculator before race day.

How do I register for the 2027 Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon and what does it cost?

Registration is handled online through the official Rock 'n' Roll Running Series site (runrocknroll.com/nashville). It is an open, first-come event with no lottery, and prices rise in tiers as the race fills, so the earlier you sign up the cheaper your entry. Many runners also enter through a St. Jude charity team, which adds a fundraising commitment but supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the series' beneficiary.

What makes Rock 'n' Roll Nashville different from other marathons?

The signature is live music — 25+ bands staged along the course, including a concentrated 'Mile of Music' stretch around mile 16 in Metro Center, plus a finish outside Nissan Stadium. It is a St. Jude-benefiting event in the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series (run by The IRONMAN Group), so the vibe leans festival and feel-good over fast times. The 2026 edition drew its largest full-marathon field in 15 years, with a big half-marathon and 5K/10K alongside it.

How many people run the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon?

The full marathon is the smaller of the weekend's races — about 3,189 finishers in 2026, off a registered field of just over 5,000 (its largest in 15 years). The much larger half marathon, plus 5K, 10K and a 1-mile race, push the whole weekend's participation past 25,000 runners. So expect a packed, energetic start even though the 26.2-mile field itself is mid-sized.

What is the weather like for the Nashville Marathon in April?

Late April in Nashville is typically mild and humid, with starts often around 55-60°F (13-16°C) and afternoons that can climb into the 70s°F (low 20s°C). Humidity is usually high and rain is possible. Dress for a warm finish rather than the cool dawn start, and respect the early aid stations before the temperature rises through the back half.