I'm (Not) Going to Graceland (race report)

Hipster Doofus

St. Jude Half-Marathon, Memphis

My second race in Tennessee this year, and so far as I know my last race for the year. After the disappointment of not doing so at the Quad Cities half, I wanted to get this one under two hours.

The races begin on the famous Beale Street, which is in the downtown part of Memphis. The weather at racetime was about 47* and cloudy. The rain that was forecast overnight fortunately didn't materialize, nor did the moderate winds for the morning. The race heads south, then west, for the first two miles and is the only part that is in an industrial - somewhat run-down area. But you then get to Riverside Drive - downhill, along the Mississippi for a mile or so. A stretch of park points you in the direction of downtown and the Pyramid. A right turn takes you back to Beale Street up probably the only steep hill on the race to downtown again. You run on the Main Street trolley line, among other streets, and get to North Parkway.

North Parkway is a long stretch of four and a half, five miles, with a slow but pretty consistent (or persistent, depending on your attitude) rise, which I will take any day over one steep hill. At about the eight-mile mark, we head off Parkway into Overton Park, where the Memphis Zoo is located. I saw no zoo - this part is much like the Vilas Arboretum part of Mad City, or the Green Bay Trail I often train on (though not in a straight line).

Out of the zoo, and it's a two mile run down Poplar This stretch just drained me - it was a bit more hilly than Parkway, and I did get chilled around here, but despite that I was still picking off runners. (I apologize for not mentioning this sooner, but for about 12 1/2 miles marathoners and halfers run together - the split comes nearly at the end for the halfers.) The elevation chart indicated this part was a relatively noticable decline - if there was, it wasn't there for me Evil or Very Mad

. A run around a large park, past Sun Studios, and back to downtown. For those never there, Memphis has a minor-league baseball team - the Redbirds, who play for Akern's favorite team Wink

. The race ends in the stadium - through the centerfield entrance, around the warning track, and finishing at first base.

My splits were consistent, but the came in different bunches. Not pleased with that latter part, nor the problems on Poplar.

9:14.28 (usual crowd at the beginning)
8:45.37
8:45.38
8:40.43
8:41.81
8:48.12 (the run up North Parkway starts)
8:47.37
8:46.33
8:58.06 (the run up Poplar starts)
9:33.01
9:11.48
8:37.28 (past Sun - this was motivation Mr. Green

)
9:15.63
0:57.36

Official time 1:56:57 - objec!ive met. In fact, the clock at the finish gave me a gun time of 1:59:12 - and I don't think I've gotten both in a half! Very happy with the placing - all way under the top 40% Overall 901 of 3680. Males 611 of 1586. AG 54 of 173.

The race was very well organized, and very scenic. A nice spread after the race, but no post-race party. Instead, racers and friends are encouraged to go to Beale Street, only a block or two from the ballpark. And hitting the one warm day of the weekend certainly made for a good showing for this race.