Just two days before the 49th annual Rocket City Marathon races begin, the cold concrete floor and sterile walls of the Von Braun Center South Hall are empty.
A flurry of activity from expo exhibitors — more than 40 this year, a record — and Huntsville Track Club volunteers turns the cavernous room into a runner’s hive. Bright banners at booths, boxes and boxes of shoes along with hanging apparel, an IV station to get refreshed and more can be found.
Runners arriving to pick up bibs for Sunday’s marathon and half marathon, and Saturday’s 10K, 5K and 1-mile, will see the end results. A giant map of Sunday’s races is availble for mile-by-mile planning. There’s a PR bell to ring, again. This year everything will be contained in the South Hall and lobby, which should help with the flow and to reduce congestion after the finish line chute.
A Few Tidbits
NO, the Sunday Races Aren’t Moving — The marathon and half marathon aren’t kids sports league events. They’re not moving just because it’s going to be cold. Prepare accordingly and run, or don’t.
Read the Runner’s Guide and Your Email(s) — If you have a question about parking around the VBC, the answer is in the Rocket City Marathon runner’s guide or your emails. If you want to know about expo bib pickup times, the answer is in the runner’s guide or your emails.
If you want to know when the races begin, or about the early marathon start, pacers, if aid stations will be on the course, or anything else that is race-related and isn’t about astrophysics, world peace, whirled peas or non-race related matters, the answer is in the runner’s guide or your emails.
Sunday Will Be Cold — Forecasts are for lows in the teens, highs in the 30s and north winds gusting between 15-30 mph. It’s will be brutal, so plan well with layers of clothing, gloves, toque, neck gaiters and whatever else you need. Remember to eat and stay hydrated, too.
