Lately, I’ve been tracking which marathons are selling out and how early they’re reaching capacity. This week, another race joined that list: the 2025 St. Jude Memphis Marathon.
At the beginning of the month, race organizers noted that the race was at 95% capacity. This week, it officially sold out. This was after selling out last year for the first time in recent history.
Like many races, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon peaked in 2012-14. Participation tapered off slightly after that and it was seriously disrupted by COVID. But in the last few years, the race has rebounded strongly and it is on an upwards trajectory.
“We’re thrilled to see such strong enthusiasm for this year’s race,” said Chris Boysen, Senior Vice President of Experiential for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“The continued support from runners across the country, and around the world, speaks volumes about the power of the St. Jude mission and the unique experience our race offers. From the energy of the Memphis community to the emotional moments running through the St. Jude campus, it’s truly a race like no other.”
Keep reading for some more details about when the race has sold out, how big it has been over the years, and what makes this particular race special.
When Has the Memphis Marathon Sold Out in the Past?
Last year was the first year in recent history that the Memphis Marathon has sold out. Although race organizers indicated that it has sold out several times over the course it’s 24-year history, the race did not sell out in 2019. And it took several years after COVID for participation to fully rebound.
| Year | Sellout Date | Race Date | Days Before Race |
| 2019 | – | 12/07/2019 | – |
| 2022 | – | 12/03/2022 | – |
| 2023 | – | 12/02/2023 | – |
| 2024 | 10/10/2024 | 12/07/2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 09/18/2025 | 12/06/2025 | 79 |
In 2023, the marathon field was at over 90% capacity in early November. But it didn’t quite fill up before registration closed at the end of the month.
Last year, the marathon did sell out in early October – about two months prior to race day. This year, the race was on pace to sell out much earlier and it reached capacity this week – on or around September 18.
That’s about three weeks earlier than last year. This fits with the pattern of other races which have been reaching capacity earlier than in previous years.
How Big Is the Memphis Marathon?
The first Memphis Marathon took place in 2002, with a little under 1,000 finishers. The race grew over the next decade to a peak of over 2,500 finishers.
However, as with much of the running industry, things plateaued from there and participation started to taper off. By 2018-19, there were just over 2,000 finishers per year.
COVID resulted in the 2020 race being virtual. The first year back, 2021, had a reduced field size, but by 2023 the field was back to almost 2,000 finishers.
Organizers anticipate having over 2,000 finishers this year – a modest increase from 2024-25. And they’re looking forward to even more robust turnout next year for the race’s 25th anniversary.
The full marathon distance is also just a small part of the marathon weekend. Last year, there were about 7,000 more participants in the half marathon and another 5,000 each for the 5k and the 10k.
In total, they expect about 22,000 finishers across all race distances this year.
What Makes the Memphis Marathon So Special?
The thing that makes the Memphis Marathon so special is right there in the name: St. Jude’s.
Organizers noted that they have a lot of repeat runners who return to this race year after year, and they credit the power of the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children®.
The course runs through the campus of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where runners are cheered on by patients, families, and doctors. It’s more than just a fundraiser – and it’s certainly more than just a race.
You can feel the vibe in the video below from last year’s race.
Although the full marathon is sold out for 2025, there are still spots available for the 5k, 10k, and half marathon. You can register for any of those races here. All of the events are on Saturday, December 6, 2025.