TVO Notebook: 50th Rocket City Marathon is State Championship, New Underground 5K, UCI Needs Volunteers

The 50th Rocket City Marathon is this year’s RRCA Alabama Marathon Championship, which includes bonus opportunities for Alabama residents in the field.

Each year the Road Runners Club of America designates races in each state and region as championship events. Winners receive a special state championship medal. Recognition is given in various divisions, such as Open, 40+ Masters, 50+ Grand Masters, and 60+ Senior Grand Masters for men and women.

The Rocket City Marathon is Dec. 13, as is the half marathon. The 10K and 5K events are on Dec. 12. All races begin in front of the Von Braun Center and end inside the VBC South Hall. Runners from 47 states have registered. The RCM Weekend generates the most economic impact of local sporting events, according to the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Huntsville Sports Commission.

This year’s Monte Sano 15K on Oct. 10 is the RRCA Southern Region Championship. It was host to the state championship last year. The USATF-certified course winds through Monte Sano neighborhoods. It and the RCM Weekend races are put on by the Huntsville Track Club.

Four state records were set in the Monte Sano 15K last year:
Jay Hillis (Florence) – Men’s 65–69, 1:06:02
Paul Baswell (Loxley) – Men’s 75–79, 1:17:55
Emma Hardman (Huntsville) – Women’s 25–29, 56:13
Kathy Harper (Athens) – Women’s 70–74, 1:33:16

Underground 5K

Severe thunderstorms and flooding in April 2025 forced the Bridge Street Half Marathon organizers to make a tough decision: shift the race underground into the complex parking deck, reschedule if possible, or cancel. They pivoted to the parking deck, creating a wildly unique and memorable event that many said, “Hey, let’s do this again!”

Well, here’s your chance.

Registration is open for The Underground 5K on Oct. 30 at the Bridge Street parking deck. A 1-mile run starts at 6:30 p.m. and the 5K at 7 p.m. The post-race party will include music and refreshments.

Very cool opportunitiy to do something unique, no? And since The Underground 5K is on Friday night, you can get your Spooktacular 5K done the next morning downtown. Being able to do both is a big plus for area runners.

UCI Needs Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for the upcoming UCI ParaCycling Road World Championships on Labor Day weekend in Huntsville.

The championship is Sept. 4-7 on the roads in Cummings Research Park. Hundreds of athletes, crew, family and UCI officials will be in the city all week preparing for the event. This is the first time Huntsville has hosted the world road championships.

Volunteers are needed to assist with being course marshalls, anti-doping chaperones, credential checkers, transportation facilitators and other tasks. Duties may involve pre-race day tasks or on race day, indoors or out.

Volunteers are needed to ensure a smooth event and help keep athletes and spectators safe. Find out about volunteer opportunities and how to register here.

New Coros Pace 4

If you’re a Coros fan, the new Pace 4 watch is now available in ultraviolet and neon yellow.

These colors only are available in the aluminum case, which is lightweight and tough. The Coros 4 is a premium version of the company’s Amoled GPS sports watch for training and racing. It tracks steps, recovery, sleep, HRV and more. It also has a built-in microphone for notes during a run or ride.

The aluminum bezel weighs 33 grams with a nylon band. It has a 1.2-inch tapered touchscreen that is visible in any light. The low-profile body is 11.8 mm wide. It has up to 41 hours of GPS in All Systems Mode and 19 days of daily use.

The watches are available on COROS.com.

CHECK THE TVO CALENDAR TO FIND YOUR NEXT FUN EVENT