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, on December 10, 2023. RCM is USATF certified (AL22053JE) and serves as a Boston qualifying race.

Your journey through Huntsville begins in front of the VBC, winds past Cosmic Christ (informally known as Eggbeater Jesus), through Blossomwood, past Maple Hill cemetery, through 5 Points, Veterans Park, the Old Train Depot, downtown Huntsville, Campus 805, and the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) before going through the rocket park at the US Space & Rocket Center. You continue through the Botanical Gardens and gradually ease downhill past Lowe Mill before reaching Big Spring Park and an indoor finish at the Von Braun Center (VBC).

Pre-race excitement begins well before the marathon at the South Hall of the Von Braun Center on Friday and Saturday where runners can pick up their race packets, visit the expo, and see the actual finish line.

On race day, spectators an easily view the start of the race on Monroe Street which is just a short (indoor) walk from the South Hall where the runners will finish. A large screen will be available to view various portions of the course through the day, although some may wish to go outside and watch the final 3/4 of a mile wind through Big Spring Park.

For those watching or running, having a 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, an interactive map, as well as a detailed printed map, highlighting the course and optimal viewing sites, will be provided.

Whether the goal is a PR, qualifying for Boston or another race, completing your first marathon, or striving to meet a personal goal, RCM is a good way to achieve it.

Description

GENTLY ROLLING & FAST … with 1 major climb.

Starting from the Von Braun Center and Big Spring Park, the course immediately passes one of Huntsville’s most iconic murals - Cosmic Christ (Eggbeater Jesus). From there the course winds through the medical district, Blossomwood, past Maple Hill Cemetery and Five Points before going 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 hitting the most challenging portion of the course - a 1 mile climb of 100ft. At the end of this climb, the runners will be at the highest point on the course with a long downhill on Holmes Avenue leading to 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 allotted 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 Map

Awards

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. There will be no awards ceremony.

Prizes and awards will not be mailed.

open male and female

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

masters male and female

1st - $750
2nd - $500
3rd - $250

NOTE: masters winners are allowed to “double-dip” (i.e. they can win in both the open and masters categories)

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.

6 hour time limit

(7 hour with an early start)

Any finish before 1:05pm will be recorded and published. This yields 6 hour and 5 minutes for the regular starting time of 7am, and 7 hours and 5 minutes for the early start time of 6am. More information on the early start can be found here.

After 1:05pm no runner will be counted as an official finisher of the race and the finish line equipment will be removed. In keeping with this time limit, and to ensure safety, runners must maintain an average pace of 13:44/mile (16:02/mile for early starters). Anyone reaching the halfway point (Campus 805) at 10:05pm or later will not be allowed to continue. For those runners who unfortunately fall behind the cutoff, a return ride to the VBC will be offered. Those refusing the ride will be asked to return their race numbers and sign a liability release form before continuing.

split times

There will be large mile markers at every mile split on the course, and there will be a large overhead clock at the finish. Additional split times will be given at 10k, halfway (13.1 miles), and 19.3 miles.

pace teams

Please visit the Pace Teams page for details.

aid stations

Aid stations will be roughly 2-3 miles apart, located along the course offering water and Powerade and GU Energy Gels (available at every other aid station). In addition, there will be port-0-lets at mile 1 and every aid station. Aid station locations are approximate.

  • Aid Station 1 - 2.3 miles

  • Aid Station 2 - 4.5 miles (Gu)

  • Aid Station 3 - 7.0 miles

  • Aid Station 4 - 9.2 mile (medical) (Gu)

  • Aid Station 5 - 11.3 miles

  • Aid Station 6 - 13.1 miles (medical) (Gu)

  • Aid Station 7 - 15.5 miles

  • Aid Station 8 - 18.0 miles (Gu)

  • Aid Station 9 - 19.7 miles

  • Aid Station 10 - 21.3 miles (medical) (Gu)

  • Aid Station 11 - 22.3 miles

  • Aid Station 12 - 23.3 miles (Gu)

  • Aid Station 13 - 24.9 miles

medical

Both medical support and radio communications will be provided to assure safety of the runners. A field hospital is set up inside the VBC for runners needing extra care after the race.

race bibs

Race bibs may be picked up at the VBC South Hall on Friday, December 8, from 11am to 8pm, and on Saturday, December 9, from 11am to 6pm. Packets will contain race instructions, bib with timing chip, and this year’s RCM shirt. NOTE: Running with another runner’s number is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification. Do not exchange, sell, or give away race numbers. In addition, the race number must remain visible from the front during the race.

start

The marathon start is 7am on Sunday, December 10, 2023. The early start is 6am on Sunday, December 10, 2023.