NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Thirty thousand runners are carbo- loading in preparation for Saturday's big event, the Country Music Marathon.
While runners treat themselves to pre-race pasta, organizers made sure everything is ready. So far the marathon has raised $700,000 for St. Jude, this year's charity.
Dan Cruz, one of the race organizers, spent the day Friday plotting how Saturday's waves of runners will follow the race.
"All the work is really happening today to make this really what's Nashville 26.2 mile block party," he said.
The route is expansive starting at Centennial Park winding through nearly every part of Music City and eventually ending up at LP Field. All over the city, streets have been closed to allow runners to pass. But Cruz promised for those who aren't part of the 30,000 expected to run or be along the sidelines they should have streets re-opened as soon as possible.
"Our goal is to open those roads and be the best community partner that we can be and cause the least impact on the streets of Nashville," said Cruz.
That means the setup is massive. The city is expecting to make between $8 and $10 million dollars this weekend alone.
Benton Stokes who just bought his cafe Nashville on the Round About near Music Row a few months ago was also hoping s to cash-in.
"I think that it is really great for the economy. I think it's going to be a boom to small business like myself who are going to be open and trying to offer something to the folks who are going to be down here," said Stokes,
Anyone not running in the race was invited to come down and participate in race day festivities.
"If you're not running come on out tomorrow, see what it's all about. We'll have little mini concerts setup at each mile along the course. It's a great time," said Cruz.
