Running In Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - As part of St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend presented by Juice Plus and Memphis Runners Track Club, AutoZone Park for the 12th consecutive year will host more than 20,000 runners and walkers for five races benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Gates will open at 6:00 a.m. at AutoZone Park, granting participant and spectator access to designated areas inside the seating bowl. The Memphis Grizzlies House 5K race begins at 7:15 a.m., followed by the Half, Full, and Relay Marathons starting at 8:00 a.m. The one-mile Family Fun Run at 1:30 p.m. will culminate the special day of races.

Due to a record 20,000 participants this year and increased security measures, everyone is advised to arrive early to secure parking and clear security. All spectator bags will be inspected prior to entering AutoZone Park.

Ten Memphis Redbirds employees are racing this year, including a five-member team assembled to participate in the Marathon Relay. Training and preparing for the race have been a rewarding and gratifying experience for the runners to benefit Team Ava. Ava is the daughter of an employee of Running Pony, a long-time partner of the Redbirds.

Rockey the Redbird will also be in attendance to cheer on participants and welcome spectators. Runners will have an opportunity to see the 35-foot holiday tree currently on display in Rockeyfeller Center at AutoZone Park Plaza as each race concludes on Saturday.

Participants and spectators are encouraged to join AutoZone Park in support of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend this Saturday while enjoying the weekend in Downtown Memphis and assisting in spreading awareness about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

All proceeds from the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend races benefit the lifesaving research and treatment conducted at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. For detailed information about race weekend, please visit stjudemarathon.org.

Runners and fans participating in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend who are on social media can follow St. Jude (@StJude) and AutoZone Park (@AutoZone_Park) on Twitter. Join the social conversation using #MemphisMarathon and #SJMMW.

About Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation: The Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation is the first and only not-for-profit charitable organization in the United States to own and operate a professional baseball franchise, the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. AutoZone Park - the finest ballpark ever built in the United States below the Major League level - is the home of the Redbirds and has served as the cornerstone of development in downtown Memphis. Incorporating the Memphis Redbirds as not-for-profit entity allows the community to own the team and facility. For the first time in history, Mid-South residents, corporate leaders and baseball fans are able to give back to the community - and at the same time enjoy first class entertainment - by supporting Memphis Redbirds Baseball.

About Global Spectrum: Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the Memphis Redbirds, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world's largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.