St. Jude Memphis Marathon weekend is here! Here's your guide to road closures and the runners' route as drivers prepare to navigate the city

Thousands of runners gathered in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, this weekend for the country's largest fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

On Saturday morning, around 26,000 runners took to the streets, navigating through historic landmarks in Downtown Memphis, as road closures and detours were implemented since Friday afternoon.

The race kicked off in the iconic Beale Street district, and participants completed the run with a downhill stretch on Union Ave near the finish festival at AutoZone Park.

The course showcased various landmarks, including Sun Studio, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the Mississippi River along the revitalized Tom Lee Park.

To facilitate the event, the Memphis Police Department recommended avoiding travel in the downtown area between 6.30am and 3.30pm.  

Road closures affect B.B King Blvd, 2nd Street, Beale Street, Front Street, and Union Avenue until 5pm on Saturday.  

Drivers can enter the downtown area via Jefferson Ave. Drivers may go south then east via E.H. Crump to exit downtown after 10am Saturdays. 

'Go slow, be aware, yield to law enforcement and runners,' authorities said. 

The streets are expected to reopen on a rolling basis as soon as the last participant has passed and all course materials have been removed. 

Excited runners checked in as early as 5.30am Saturday, before embarking on the course that winds through downtown Memphis. 

Leading up to the race, participants shared their fundraising pages on social media, saying, 'I am a St. Jude Hero! I have chosen to run for a reason bigger than myself by fundraising for the kids and families at St. Jude.' 

The hospital announced different routes in the Marathon on its website:  

'Runners in the Marathons start in the iconic and lively Beale Street district and finish with a downhill on Union Ave. adjacent to the finish festival in AutoZone Park. 

'The return of Riverside Drive and the stunning Tom Lee Park gives runners an amazing view of the revitalized Mississippi Riverfront and the Hernando de Soto bridge,'[ it says. 

From the half marathon runners, they are expected to have the same route experience as the Marathon until the earlier turn back on on tree-lined North Parkway to the finish.

Runners in the 10K race are expected to return to an earlier time and pair with participants, families and friends in the 5K. 

The course starts on B.B. King Blvd and finishes downhill on Union Ave, which is  adjacent to the finish festival at AutoZone Park. 

Road closures affected BB King Blvd, 2nd Street, Beale Street, Front Street, and Union Avenue until 5pm on Saturday. 

Vehicle traffic and parking are not allowed in North Court Avenue, East Danny Thomas Boulevard, South Pontotoc Avenue, and West 2nd Street until 5pm.