Nashville Marathon 2015: Route, Course Map, Times, Event Details

One may not normally associate the summertime jams of country music with the rigors of running a marathon, but the 2015 St. Jude Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee, has combined the two.

Over 30,000 people are expected to run in this year's race, according to Julie Edwards of WKRN.com, but it remains to be seen if potential inclement weather will deter anybody from taking part.

This marks the fourth year that St. Jude Children's Hospital will sponsor the event. While not one of the major marathons on the circuit for runners, the great cause that fuels the runners certainly gives the event some notoriety.

It should be a great day—despite the possible bad weather—given the charity and storied city of Nashville.

Where: Downtown Nashville, Tennessee

Date: Saturday, April 25

Watch: Fox 17 Nashville (local coverage)

Live Stream: Fox 17 Nashville

Course Map and Routes

The event's course map can be found here, at the race's official website.

While this race traditionally begins at Centennial Park, this marks the second year in a row that runners will start on lower Broadway in downtown Nashville. The finish line is located at L.P. Field.

USAMarathonList.com highlighted some of the stops runners will see along the way:

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Runners are treated to a scenic route that takes them down Broadway, past the honky tonks, past the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and back up Demonbreun before passing the Country Music Hall of Fame and Cummins Station. ...

Runners are directed in the direction the Cumberland River along the riverfront and back along Rosa L. Parks Blvd to downtown Nashville. Passing close to LP Field they cross the river, pass along 5th Street and Davidson Street take a short loop through Shelby Park before being sent back westwards towards the finish area. 

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A mostly flat course, the only hills runners will encounter come in the form of small ones early in the race.

Start Times

Event	Start Time (ET)
5K	6:45 a.m.
Wheelchair Marathon	7 a.m.
Half Marathon	7 a.m.
Full Marathon	7 a.m.

Weather Forecast

Country music is best enjoyed in the warm summer weather, but Country Music Marathon participants must overcome wet conditions on Saturday, as National Weather Service meteorologist Sam Shamburger told Andy Humbles of The Tennessean: "Right now it looks like showers and storms at the beginning of the marathon and by the late morning hours it should be dry and warming up quickly."

Shamburger also said the temperatures should range between 61 and 72 degrees for the race.

Event Details

This year will be the 16th running of the Nashville Marathon, and while it has changed sponsorship several times in its young history, the basic theme remains the same. 

Charity is what brings those to Tennessee for this run, but it's the music that entertains along the way. The home of country music will be hopping throughout the day with a vibe that should help lift the spirits of those bothered by the rain and humidity.

As VisitMusicCity.com notes, 28 stages are spread across the race's route. Live bands will perform on these stages throughout the race to help motivate runners to keep moving. Blues, jazz, rock, country and more will be played by the live acts.

This makes the race truly unique. Some might even consider it a party throughout the streets of Nashville—but with a good bit of cardio mixed in.

The music doesn't stop when the race is over, however. Following the conclusion of the race at 7 p.m., the Bridgestone Arena will host music star Martina McBride in the annual post-race concert.

Nashville is home to hospitality and music; you can add charity to the list on Saturday. Mix all those things together and you've got the 2015 Country Music Marathon.

Kenny DeJohn is a Breaking News Team Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter.