Saturday, April 29, 2000

Country Music Marathon (Tennessee)

April 29, 2000
Marathon 11, State #6 (Age 31)
Nashville, Tennesee
3:18:36
https://www.runrocknroll.com/Events/Nashville


 


Accommodations at Nashville's finest and most conveniently located hotels have been reserved for participants at special discounted rates.  For official hotel listings and to make a reservation at the special discounted rate, participants must call Sweet Magnolia Tours at 877-CMM-NASH (266-6274) or book online.  The discounted rate is not available by calling the individual hotels directly.

For additional information on Nashville sites and sounds, please call the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-657-6910.



The Expo is open to the public and free!  The fitness & Music Expo is held at the beautiful Nashville Convention Center.  The downtown location is easily accessible by car.  All participants must pick up there race numbers, computer-timing chips, goodie bags and T-shirts at the Expo.  This Expo Rocks!  Plan a few hours to peruse the booths.  There will be great buy buys in running shoes and apparel, plus lots of free samples, sweepstakes, interactive displays as well as, of course, music.  Get nutrition, health, fitness, financial and high-tech information.


$80,000 in cash and prizes await the men's and woman's marathon invitational fields.  Commemorative awards will be presented 3 deep in 13 age divisions for both men and women in the marathon and 15 age divisions in the 1/2 marathon.  All marathon and 1/2 marathon participants will receive an official event T-shirt and goodie bag.  All finishers in both races will be rewarded with a commemorative medal at the finish line and a Finisher's Certificate by mail.



Much more difficult (hilly) than the newest course design!  The Country Music Marathon starts at the Adelphia Coliseum, the new home of the Tennessee Titans.  Along the way you'll pass many of Nashville's scenic and historic points of interest including the Ryman Auditorium (original home of the Grand Ole Opry), Music Row, Belmont University, Bicentennial Mall, the state Capitol building and beautiful Shelby Park.  The course has a number of rolling hills; however, there is a 120-foot net elevation drop between the start and the finish.




With 50 bands playing live on 27 stages, hundreds of cheerleaders and thousands of spectators along the course, this event always will rock Nashville in a city-wide party.  Jazz, country, rock 'n' roll, swing and more will pulsate the course and get you to the finish line...don't worry the party doesn't stop there.  Enjoy live music at the finish line sate, sponsor exhibits and more food and drink at this rockin' post race party.



 http://www.50states.com/tennesse.htm   All About Tennessee

http://nashville.citysearch.com/profile?id=11340382  City Search: Nashville

http://www.nashvillecvb.com/  Nashville Convention and Visitor's Bureau

http://www.opry.com/  Grand Ole Opry

http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/  Country Music Hall of Fame

This was my 2nd marathon I traveled out of town with my good friend John.  We drove to Nashville from Columbus, Ohio with his girlfriend Teresa.

All marathons I travel out of town for are fun and memorable in some way.  This marathon was especially fun and a jam packed weekend.  We arrived in Nashville Saturday and picked up our packets at the grand expo.  With so much to do in such a lively city we were able to visit the Nascar Cafe for lunch, the Country Music Museum, and then the Old Spaghetti Warehouse for our pre-race pasta loading dinner.

The marathon was amongst my fastest and I greatly enjoyed turning every corner waiting to hear the next band playing.  I'm a music fanatic and very energized by the live music along the course!  After the race we met up with some friends for dinner and later live music at one of the local taverns.

Sunday was a long ride home after a day of running and a late night of drinking!