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Welcome!

The Huntsville Track Club and the Huntsville Sports Commission proudly present the Rocket City Marathon, one of the premiere races in the south for over 45 years.

Our course was introduced in 2022, and while it retains many of the same key components of previous years, it also incorporates exciting new ones as well, including a new start line in front of the Von Braun Center, longer straightaways, travels through the campus of the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH) and it gives more visibility of the Saturn V.

And, just like before, you will run through the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, and glide back downtown for an exciting finish inside the Von Braun Center South Hall.

RCM serves as a Boston qualifying race.

Pre-race excitement begins well before the marathon at the South Hall of Von Braun Center on Friday and Saturday where runners can pick up their race packets, visit the expo, and see the actual finish line. The expo will start on Friday, and continue on Saturday where there will also be an inside finish for the 5k, 10k, and Kid’s Marathon. This is a full weekend of fun for the whole family.

On race day, spectators can easily view the start of the race on Monroe Street which is just a short walk from the South Hall where the runners will finish. Spectators can also watch the final 3/4 of a mile wind through Big Spring Park or come into the Von Braun Center for the finish line.

For those watching or running, having the finish line inside an enormous hall full of cheerleaders where everyone has a good view makes for one of the most exciting finishes around. For the more adventurous who wish to drive around, a link to our live participant tracking will be available for free, as well as a detailed printed map, highlighting the course and optimal viewing sites will be provided. For those who would rather not drive, we have shuttles to carry spectators to the Front Half Finish (which is also the halfway point for the full marathoners) at Campus 805. The last shuttle leaving from Campus 805 to the Von Braun Center will be at noon.

Description

GENTLY ROLLING & FAST: Starting from the Von Braun Center and Big Spring Park, the course immediately passes one of Huntsville’s most iconic murals - Eggbeater Jesus. From there the course winds through the medical district, Blossomwood, past Maple Hill Cemetery and Five Points before winding through Veteran’s Park and the Huntsville Depot Museum.

Runners then embark on a tour of downtown Huntsville that includes the historic courthouse square and large antebellum homes before racing past Big Spark and finally turning up Clinton Avenue to reach the Front-half Marathon finish at Campus 805.

Marathoners will continue down Governor’s Drive past Stovehouse before turning toward Holmes Avenue and the UAH campus where the Back Half Marathon will join the race. Both groups will then run beside rockets and the space shuttle at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and meander through the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. The course then finishes inside the VBC South Hall to a celebration with music, food, and fun.

There is a total elevation gain of about 700 feet.

Sentries are located at all major turns, and the course is marked with clearly visible route arrows on the streets. In addition, large mileage signs will be posted at every mile split. Aid stations are located about every 2 to 3 miles along with numerous port-0-let locations.

Intersection control, traffic restriction and course monitoring provided by HPD (Huntsville Police Department).

Communications along the course provided by the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club.

Medical support provided by HEMSI (Huntsville Emergency Medical Services).

For those unable to finish within the alloted time of 6 hours (7 hours with an early start), SAG vehicles will offer rides back to the VBC.

The typical low temperature for Huntsville in early December is 34, and the normal high is 53.

Course Certification

The marathon course is fully certified by USATF with a certification number of AL22053JE.

Prizes

Complete USATF rules may be found here. NOTE: Headphone wearers will not be eligible for prize money.

Awards may be collected at the awards table in the South Hall once all age group winners have been identified. There will not be an awards ceremony.

Money awards will be mailed to the winners the week following the race.

Open Male and Female Division

1st – $1,000
2nd – $750
3rd – $500
4th – $300
5th – $200

Masters Male and Female

1st – $750
2nd – $500
3rd – $250

Age Group Awards

Open and Masters prize money winners will receive Rocket City Marathon awards but are not eligible for Age Division Awards. The Top 3 Male and Female finishers in the following age groups will receive Rocket City Marathon awards:

• 0 – 19,

• 20 – 24,

• 25 – 29,

• 30 – 34,

• 35 – 39,

• 40 – 44,

• 45 – 49,

• 50 – 54,

• 55 – 59,

• 60 – 64,

• 65 – 69,

• 70 – 74,

• 75 & up

Rules and Information

Notice

Due to liability insurance requirements, and for the safety of all runners, the following are not allowed during the race:

• strollers,

• baby joggers,

• skateboards,

• bicycles,

• animals,

• roller blades,

• unauthorized vehicles,

• unregistered runners.

In addition the use of headphones is strongly discouraged.