The 43rd Cotton Row Run 10K is a Memorial Day tradition, one of the oldest continuous events in the Southeast that attracts thousands and honors our veterans.
The 10K gets things kicked off Memorial Day morning with a salute to the fallen and those who still serve. The 5K starts at 9 a.m. followed by a 1-mile fun run. Runners wind through neighborhoods where residents cheer and support. The final quarter-mile goes past Gold Star Family members holding flags to honor fallen veterans. Runners’ bibs include a photo and name of a soldier, a tangible reminder of what Memorial Day is about.
Mountain Wood, about halfway through, is a nice haymaker. The longstanding fun part is hearing the theme from the movie “Rocky,” on repeat. You hear it a long way away, which helps the anticipation before you see the hill and take a deep breath. The families who cheer, support and clap along the route are fun. The final stretch is inspiring. It’s all memorable.
We asked members of the Run256 Facebook community about their favorite memories of the Cotton Row Run. Here are their responses:
Eric Fritz, Huntsville Track Club president — Was always just such a great atmosphere to me but in more recent years when they added the Gold Star Families and the flags and photos of those that made the ultimate sacrifice a 1/4-mile from the finish… it just moves me. It’s a great Huntsville event that gets so many out there moving. Love it!
Jake & Teresa Berlin — Definitely the awesome atmosphere! The ‘Rocky Hill’ is a memorable. The food after is awesome!
Alison Christy Fields — Tradition — it’s a Huntsville staple. My husband and I grew up going with our families starting in the early ’90s. We try not to miss it!
Caleb Sherill — Definitely the last miles. Once you start seeing those portraits and flags, a whole new emotion sets in. Cotton Row is the only road race I try to do yearly. Just something about it.
Tyler Burcham — Tradition and it’s honestly just a good course. Challenging at points but good.
Tori Varnardo — Tradition and the emotion that hits seeing the flags and all of the pictures right before the turn to the finish line. It gets me every year and I’m so sad I’ll be missing out this year.
Nicole Swearengen Dovers — The atmosphere! There are always so may pumped-up participants. I also love: the end where you pass all the photos of veterans and some of their families are standing there, the neighborhood water table volunteers (especially the unicorns!!), and Mountainwood of course.
Calli Luann Nelson — Cruising down Bankhead after gruesome Moutainwood.
W. Craig Osborn — The tradition. My first was 1987, have run 14 of them over three different courses, all of them with Mountainwood. Best tradition is heat and humidity, as well as comrades.
Phyllis Harris — Honoring our vets.
Jason Betts — Honoring the vets, definitely. The hill where the house plays Rocky during the climb is also great!
Mark Kimbrough — Honoring the vets, hands down. More than once I started the race wiping my eyes, and with a big lump in my throat.
Don Dennard — Just the tradition and the electric atmosphere. This was my first 5K, two years ago and I fell in love. The honor shown the veterans is special to me.
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