The Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon and Half Marathon scheduled for Saturday has been canceled due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the area.

The 21st annual event, which starts on Lower Broadway and finishes at Nissan Stadium, originally was scheduled for April 25, but was postponed because of the pandemic.

In October, race officials announced the event, which routinely draws about 50,000 participants and spectators, would be scaled down this year and not include the 6.15-mile run, 5K, 1-mile run/walk and Doggie Dash.

On Monday, however, the announcement came that the race has been canceled altogether and will return April 25, 2021.

Ironman, owner of the marathon, released a statement:

"In meetings leading up to the event, the regional safety and health authorities were satisfied that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series’ proposed health and safety measures were well designed, and that participants, staff and the wider public would have been sufficiently protected from potential COVID-19 transmission. However, following a recent increase in cases across the greater Nashville region, we regret to share that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville event cannot take place in 2020."

Registered participants of the 2020 Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon and Half Marathon will receive an email with further details.

posted Monday November 16th