Lane Purser Memorial Road Race Series

2026 Lane Purser Memorial Road Race Series

Presented by the Memphis Runners Track Club

Join us for the 44th annual Road Race Series!  The Road Race Series is:

• Two 5ks in July, Cancer Survivors Park

• Two 5 Milers in August, WJ Freeman Park

• Two 10ks in September, Shelby Farms Park 

• Two 10 Milers in October, Meeman Shelby Forest State Park

• Two Half Marathons, Martyrs Park

Click HERE for specifics on race dates and locations.  All of the races take place on Sunday mornings with a start time of 7:00 AM with the exception of our 2nd Half Marathon (& Big River Crossing), which will be on a Saturday at 8:30 AM.

12 & Under: Children's mini-series
13-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+

2026 RACE DATES 

1st 5k - Sunday, July 12 - 7am start
2nd 5k - Sunday, July 26 - 7am start
1st 5 Miler - Sunday, August 9 - 7am start
2nd 5 Miler - Sunday, August 23 - 7am start
1st 10k - Sunday, September 13 - 7am start
2nd 10k - Sunday, September 20 - 7am start
**Please note that the 10ks are back to back weekends this year**
1st 10 Miler - Sunday, October 4 - 7am start
2nd 10 Miler - Sunday, October 18 - 7am start
1st Half Marathon - Sunday, November 1 - 7am start
2nd Half Marathon/Big River Crossing Half Marathon - Saturday, November 14 - 8:30am start

RACE LOCATIONS

5K ( Map): The 5Ks are located at Cancers Survivor Park in East Memphis. There is plenty of parking on the grass north of the Botanic Gardens off Cherry Rd. You may also park in the field located at the northeast corner of Audubon Park (intersection of Southern and Perkins extended). Please look to the volunteers in the Hi Viz vests to assist you. Please do not park on the grass at Theatre Memphis. USATF-Certified Course TN19001MS

5 Miler ( Map): The 5 Milers are located at WJ Freeman Park in Bartlett (closest major intersection is Bartlett Blvd. & Stage Rd.) The course this year will have new start and finish lines near the new Keith McDonald Pavilion.  The course is the same basic route as before and will wind through the nearby Bartlett neighborhoods. There is parking within the Park if you arrive early enough; however, runners also park along the side streets. Please be cognizant of the fact that we are VISITORS in these neighborhoods and at such an early hour, so be respectful of the neighborhoods and the people who call the area home. USA Track & Field #TN22028MS

10K (Map): The 10Ks are located at beautiful Shelby Farms Park*.  The folks at Shelby Farms Park have asked that runners enter only at Gate One off of Farm Rd. OR the entrance at Coastal Fish Co. off of Walnut Grove.  There is another large event taking place on the days of our 10ks and this will help to alleviate traffic issues. Parking will be in the gravel lot and grass field above the Visitor Center. The Start and Finish Lines are located near the horse stables at gate 10 off of Mullins Station Road. USA Track & Field #TN25014MS

10 Miler AKA THE BEAST ( Map): Arguably everyone's favorite races are located at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park in northern Shelby County. The temperatures begin to drop, the leaves start to change and you get to run in the majestic Forest through it all. Allow yourself at least one hour and 15 minutes drive time as it takes that extra 15 minutes once you get near the park, to drive to shelter six, find parking, and make it to the start line on time. Carpooling is strongly recommended for runners and volunteers. USA Track & Field #TN11047MS

Half Marathon: (Map)  Downtown Memphis course that will take you across the Mississippi River's longest public pedestrian bridge. The start will be on Channel 3 Drive near Martyrs Park. Please allow at least 10 minutes for parking. USA Track & Field #TN21072MS

Registration for the Road Race Series includes:
1st 5k
2nd 5k
1st 5 Miler
2nd 5 Miler
1st 10k
2nd 10k
1st 10 Miler
2nd 10 Miler
1st Half Marathon
2nd Half Marathon/Big River Crossing Half
Entry to our annual Holiday Party in January

You may also register for any individual race within the series. 

• No awards given at individual races. Awards are Male/Female three-deep in Overall, Age Group, Master, Sr. Master and Grand Master, based on fastest cumulative time using the best time per distance.

• To be eligible for a competitive award (overall, age-group or masters) you must complete at least one race of each distance. To be a "Road Warrior" you must run all 10 races. To be considered a "series finisher" you must complete either one race of each distance or any six races (Note: If you run any six races, but do not run at least one of each distance, you are not eligible for an age group or overall award.) Series Finishers will receive a special Finisher's Gift. Road Warriors will receive the Finisher's Gift plus a personalized trophy.

• NO strollers are allowed in the Series.

• NO dogs are allowed in the Series.

• Single-race participants WILL NOT receive a technical shirt OR a *Finisher’s Item* but will be eligible to win a competitive award if he or she completes one race of each distance.

• In view of MRTC's commitment to health and fitness, we have created a children's Mini-Series for children ages 12 and under, consisting of the two 5K's, two 5-Milers and two 10K’s. Many health care professionals agree that pre-adolescent children should not run distances greater than 10K. Therefore, children ages 12 and under will not be allowed to compete in the 10 mile or half marathon distance events. Any runner 12 years and under who runs any of the last four races (which includes two 10 mile and two half-marathon races) will not receive an official time and will be disqualified from age group placement, Finisher, Road Warrior, and/or Mini-Series awards. All participants who register for the entire Mini-Series will receive a shirt. Mini-series awards will be Overall, 3 deep, there will not be age group awards.

• Questions on scoring or other rules may be directed to the MRTC Board of Directors where all decisions are final.

• Time Limits ~~ For the safety of participants and to reduce the burden on our volunteers, all participants in the 10 Mile and Half Marathon distances will be required to maintain a minimum pace of 20 min/mile in order to be allowed to complete and receive a finishing time for those distances only. In the 10 Miler, those participants who do not reach the 8 mile water station by 2 hours 40 min after the start (approx. 9:40 am) will be offered a ride back to the finish area. Volunteers will start taking down the finish structure 3 hours 20 min after the race start (approx. 10:20 am). For the half marathon, volunteers will start taking down the finish structure 4 hour 22 min after the race start (approx. 11:22 am). Those participants who are not in a position to finish by that time will be offered a ride back to the finish area. Participants who intend to walk the entire RRS (or otherwise may not be able to maintain a 20 min/mile pace) are encouraged to do the first 6 events to guarantee their status as an ‘Official Finisher’.

• Participants acknowledge that they are responsible for following the designated race course and all posted or marked route indicators. The race organization, its directors, volunteers, and sponsors are not responsible for course deviations by participants, whether due to runner error, missing or altered markings, or other conditions. All race results and placements are final as determined by race officials.

ROAD WARRIOR: The Road Race Series consists of ten total races. If you complete all ten races, you will be a Road Warrior!! Road Warriors receive a personalized trophy, as well as an additional gift once the series is complete.

FINISHER: If you finish one race of each distance OR 6 total races, you will be a Series Finisher. Finishers will receive a special additional gift once the series is complete. 

All Road Warrior and Finisher trophies and gifts are given at the annual MRTC Holiday Party, which takes place each year in January. 

We do not allow substitute or virtual races for the Road Race Series. 

For our 2nd Half Marathon and final race of the series, we will combine forces with Peer Power's Big River Crossing (BRX) Half Marathon. This means that when you sign up for the full Road Race Series you are also automatically signed up for the BRX Half Marathon. You do not need to register for that race separately and it will count as your second half marathon of the series.

MRTC is proud to partner with the beneficiary of this race, the Peer Power Foundation. Peer Power's mission is to empower and inspire scholars through their innovative student-to-student tutoring program. Peer Power is active in schools throughout Memphis, serving more than 1,000 students every year. Since its inception in 2005, the program has resulted in significant increases in test scores, scholarship awards, and graduation rates for students involved in the program.

The first half marathon will be on Sunday 11/1 - business as usual for the RRS participant.

The BRX Half/2nd Half Marathon of the RRS is on a SATURDAY (11/14) and not a Sunday like the other races in the series.