F.A.Q.

  • Huntsville, Alabama
    The Rocket City 10K and Mural Run 5k take place on the second Saturday in December each year. The Rocket City Marathon and both Half-Marathons (Front Half and Back Half) take place the following Sunday.
    2023: December 9-10
    2024: December 14-15
    2025: December 13-14
    2026: December 12-13

  • Yes. However, we do require your parent’s permission.

  • Yes. Fill out this packet release form and have someone bring it to the Expo during regular packet pick up hours. They will need a copy of your ID in addition to the form.

  • Yes. See this link for details.

  • With multiple races starting at different times, the notion of cutoff times can be daunting. We will have different sets of sweepers for the early start and regular start, but here is a simple list of slowest pace times for each race.
    Marathon Early Start (6am, 7 hour time limit) 16:02/mile
    Front Half-Marathon Early Start (6am, 4 hour time limit) 18:19/mile
    Marathon Regular Start (7am, 6 hour time limit) 13:44/mile
    Front Half-Marathon Regular Start (7am, 3 hour time limit) 13:44/mile
    Back Half-Marathon (9am, 4 hour time limit) 18:19/mile
    10K (7am, 2 hour time limit) 19:21/mile
    5K (9am, 1 hour time limit) 19:21/mile

    NOTE: The 10K and 5K are meant to be walker friendly, so the cutoff times are a reflection of roads re-opening and not having police support. If you are slower than the cutoff times, you’ll need to move to the sidewalks and be careful crossing intersections. We will keep the finish line open as long as possible.

    In addition, the Marathon Early Start and Front Half-Marathon Early Start have a fastest time allowed. The fastest pace for early starters will be 13:44/mile until the halfway point. After 13.1 miles, early starters will be allowed to run as fast as desired.

  • Our policy states that we do not offer refunds or deferrals.

    You can transfer your registration, as a gift, to another runner. You will not receive a refund for the transfer.

  • Yes. provided there are still open slots in the race you are transferring into. To accomplish this transfer, sign in to your RunSignUp account, go to your profile, select Manage Registration, and then select Transfer. There is a small transfer fee and you will have to pay the difference in registration cost between the races.

  • Yes. The Rocket City Marathon will always serve as a Boston Qualifier.

    Yes. All of our races are certified:
    Marathon - AL22053JE
    Front Half - AL22054JE
    Back Half - AL22055JE
    10K - AL22050JE
    5K - AL22049JE

  • Baby joggers, in-line skates, bicycles, unauthorized vehicles and unregistered runners are prohibited on the course. No pets or smoking on the course PLEASE! Any participant breaking one of these rules will be removed from the course, disqualified and will not receive finisher’s amenities. These rules are due to our insurance policy and are set by the HTC Board of Directors and are for your safety and the safety of the hundreds of other runners on the course. Check out our rules page for more information. The use of headphones is STRONGLY discouraged. (NOTE: There is an exception for baby joggers and strollers on the 5K course, we ask that you start near the back and not impede other participants.)

  • You can find the latest parking information here.

  • If you register for and complete ANY TWO events (including the 10K and/or Mural Run 5K) you will receive a special Challenge gift.

  • If you register for and complete ANY THREE events (both the 10K and Mural Run 5K and either Half or the Full Marathon) you will receive both the Challenge gift AND a super awesome running hat.

  • Yes to both questions. Shuttles will be running from the Von Braun Center (VBC) to the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) on Sunday morning beginning around 6:30am. Those same shuttles will run between Campus 805 (Front Half-Finish) and the VBC until noon.