Registration is open for the 49th Rocket City Marathon Weekend, which this year will have one half-marathon and a few course tweaks.
RCM Weekend is Dec. 12-14 and again will be based at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville. Runners will start the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K in front of the VBC and finish in the South Hall as in years past. RCM Weekend is put on by Huntsville Track Club in collaboration with Kinda Gritty Signature Event Planning of Hattiesburg, Miss.
The 2025 RCM Half-Marathon will be the back half of the marathon route. According to the registration page, the half-marathon will start at 9 a.m. at the VBC, follow the back-half marathon route and finish in the VBC South Hall. It will take runners through the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Huntsville Botanical Gardens. The “front half” marathon has been killed like a headlight-addled possum on a rural road. Having two half-marathons was extra expense and created logistic issues, but it had a nice run.
Marathon runners will start on Sunday at 7 a.m. in front of the VBC. The marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier. The weekend kicks off on Dec. 12 with the race expo and packet pickup at the VBC.
Mica Anderson, president of Huntsville Track Club, said expectations are high for another record turnout. Last year saw more than 4,000 runners and sellouts in the two half-marathons, 5K and 10K, with a near-sellout in the marathon. Runners from 46 states and six countries participated.
The RCM Weekend has an economic impact of more than $1 million to the area, according to the Huntsville Sports Commission. Track club officials say at least a third of the annual marathon field are returning runners.
Anderson said the RCM does not have a race director yet and still is working on sponsorships. More announcements will be coming later in summer.
