Front Half-Marathon

Our tour of the front half-marathon traverses seven regions of mid and eastern Huntsville. Each region offers a unique view of this great city. Upon successful completion of your adventure, you will receive the passport page pictured here, emblazoned with a custom stamp from each region. Please note that due to quality control issues, we are forced to use hardened metal for our passport pages. Since this won’t easily fit in your regular passport, we’ll also include a ribbon so that you can (temporarily) hang the metal passport page around your neck.

Cosmic Christ (aka Egg Beater Jesus)

Your tour begins near the Von Braun Center and quickly enters the region colloquily referred to as Egg Beater Jesus. Cosmic Christ, found on the front of First Baptist Church, depicts Jesus Christ surrounded by the cosmos. It was originally envisioned in the mid-1960’s and completed in the early 1970’s, with a recent (2022) renovation. Each tile was cut and hand-painted before being assembled in place. It is one of the largest mosaics in the US, standing nearly 50 feet high and 154 feet wide. The original construction had over 1.4 million tiles, while the recent renovation expanded that to more than 4.3 million.

Blossomwood

The next leg of your tour takes you into a region of serene streets that host the humble abodes of those known as Blossomwoodians. These gentle creatures take pride in well-manicured estates that host a diversity of families. While your course will remain relatively flat, much of the region is dominated by steep hills and wooded terrain. Take a moment as you pass through to admire the regional habitats. When you spot an actual native Blossomwoodian, please smile and wave - they are purported to be friendly creatures.

Maple Hill Cemetery

Maple Hill is the oldest and largest cemetery in Huntsville. It was officially founded in 1822 on just 2 acres of land sold to the city by Leroy Pope, although there is evidence it was used a cemetery before that. It has since grown to 100 acres and holds gravesites from the civil war and beyond. Please note the small road on the east side of the cemetery as you being this phase of your journey. It leads to the infamous “Dead Children’s Playground” - one of Alabama’s most haunted sites. Some ghosts and spirits prefer quiet and solemnity, while others enjoy a good conversation. No matter your own personal style, we simply ask that you show reverence to the dead as you pass by.

Five Points

Upon leaving Maple Hill, you will immediately enter the region known as Five Points - so named because of the intersection of five roads at one point. Before the advent of traffic signals (and autos), there were frequent horse and buggy accidents due to this unfortunate road design. Five Points is one of the most eclectic areas of Huntsville, housing hippies, free spirits, and a vast array of squared off roads. To get you started, as soon as you enter the region, you’ll see the infamous “party house” which serves as an unofficial aid station for weary travelers. The lively mood and friendly smiles will prepare you for the trek through this region.

Veteran’s Memorial

Initially, your journey will bring you behind the Veteran’s Memorial as venture beside the rail road tracks, under overpasses, and through the old train depot, but your official travel route will then turn left and bring you directly in front of the memorial that serves to honor those who gave all for this country and the cause of freedom.

Downtown Huntsville

Next on the agenda is a tour of downtown Huntsville. You will move through some of the oldest parts of the city before rounding “the square”, which holds the current court house (soon to be moved), and then venturing down one of the most beautiful streets in all of Huntsville. Ancient homes and even more ancient trees line the street, resplendent in beauty and history. While your tour will not pause for lingering sightseeing, this is one section you may want to “unofficially” revisit after your official tour. You will then take a couple of right-hand turns and pass Big Spring Park, with the VBC visible across the water, before heading out for your final destination.

Campus 805

The complex of Campus 805 has a long history of education and service to the public. It first took shape in 1949 as the site for classes for a new extension of the University of Alabama, what would later become UAH.  In 1951, it reopened as S.R. Butler High School, a county school named in honor of Samuel Riley Butler, and moved into the city school system in 1956. Butler High relocated from this site in 1967 to nearby Holmes Avenue, and the Clinton Avenue/Triana Boulevard location became the home of the new Roy L. Stone Middle School. The middle school closed in 2009, but entrepreneurial development took over in 2014 with Straight to Ale and Yellow Hammer breweries offering the best of local ale to the Huntsville area.

The name is a combination of the history of education and the current zip code, 35805. Since this represents the end of your journey (unless you are cont