Registration numbers eclipsed records for each race in the RCM weekend, with the total of 5,183 up more than 25 percent from last year.
The marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K races saw 5,183 registered this year, up from 3,984 in 2024. Changes this year included cutting the “front half-marathon” but registrations increased. Some 1,519 runners did two halves last year, with 1,809 registered this year for the singular half. It began at the Von Braun Center and joined the marathon runners at their mile 15 point, with both finishing in the VBC.
Saturday’s 10K and 5K races also saw significant increases in registration, about 250 more in each. Many runners double up on Saturday, and some add the Sunday half for the hat trick.
2025
Marathon — 1,869 registered and 1,413 finished; 915 male (av pace 9:49) and 498 female (10:53)
Half-marathon — 1,809 registered and 1,444 finished; 805 female (11:31) and 639 male (10:00)
10K — 753 and 595 finished – 325 female (11:32) and 270 male (10:09)
5K — 752 and 600 finished – 300 female (12:45) and 300 male (10:11)
2024
Marathon — 1462 registered and 1,184 finished
Half-marathon — (Front, 540/446 / Back 978/816)
10K — 500 registered, 426 finished
5K — 502 registered, 417 finished
Wheelchair — 2
Half-Century of RCM
The 50th Rocket City Marathon is set for Dec. 11-13.
The marathon began in 1977 as the Joe Steele Rocket City Marathon. It started at Monte Sano Elementary and finished at UAH after a loop through Research Park and by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. That was well before I-565 was built, back when U.S. 20/72 brought folks into Madison and Huntsville.
Runners have seen a few course changes since then, including the most recent in the ’25 RCM. Race director Eric Fritz worked with several local runners to tweak the course and remove a few hilly areas.
The marathon was the solo star of the weekend until 2022 when the RCM half-marathon, 10K, 5K and 1-mile were added. Following the cancellation in 2020 due to the covid situation, and in 2021 because of flooding and lightning, the additions helped boost and revitalize registrations. Other cities had been doing the same for a few years, as well, and Huntsville finally got on board.
Hospital Partnership
The Huntsville Track Club, which puts on the marathon weekend, partnered this year with the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. Race proceeds will benefit the new children’s therapy playground at the Women & Children’s Pediatric Therapy and Audiology Department.
“We won’t be announcing the official donation amounts until next year,” said race director Eric Fritz. “We have to crunch all the numbers and then get it all approved by the HTC board, etc. But I’m optimistic for a pretty decent number.”
The VBC Runners See
One fun part of covering events is seeing some of the angles or behind-the-scenes things that athletes see.
Fans and family at the VBC get to see runners come through the massive back door of the South Hall in the final dash to the finish line. Sunlight streams in, backlighting the runners. It’s a pretty cool view, almost like they’re coming through a tunnel.
Runners get a different view. After they come around the corner of the VBC past the canal of gently flowing Big Spring waters, the view changes. It’s the back of the complex, the post office and Parkway to the west, maybe a few vehicles. They don’t care, though. They’re almost done, heading to a final right turn at the HTC-logoed barriers and up the ramp into the VBC.
What the runners see is the main photo atop this page. It’s a pretty cool view, to be honest, because after everything is done, from the 5K to marathon, you’re finally there, at the end, heading to the clock and cheering crowd.
Huntsville Slam
We’re halfway through the four-event Huntsville Slam, which challenges runners in a mix of road and trail events over eight weeks.
The Slam consists of the Dizzy Fifty 50K, Rocket City Marathon, Recover from the Holidays 50K and Mountain Mist 50K. The first and last events are on trails at Monte Sano State Park. The marathon, of course, is on roads, and the Recover 50K is at John Hunt Park on grass. It’s an average of 17.5 days apart to do 120 miles.
Halfway through, here are the top three men’s and women’s standings with aggregate time:
1. Karen Rudolph, 10:13:12
2. Erin Phillips, 10:32:30
3. Jordan Nesmith; 11:24:22
- Samuel Newport, 9:14
- Seth Rigsby, 9:44:21
- Brian Smith 10:24:14
Future Race Dates
Here are the future dates for the RCM Weekend:
2026: Dec. 11-13
2027: Dec. 10-12
2028: Dec. 8-10
Weekend Hosts
The Rocket City Marathon and races are put on by the Huntsville Track Club and presented by the Huntsville Sports Commission. The weekend generates a financial impact of some $4 million in the area, with runners from 48 states and several countries.
Final Thoughts
— Loved seeing the Red Bull Aurora music cruiser again this year.
— I missed the high-energy enthusiasm and vibrant music of popular DJs Fitz Koehler and Rudy Novotny, who did the previous marathon start-finish lines. Their music bumped to get you going at the start and was thumping at the finish. Always good to have professionals getting it done at such a high profile and iconic event.
— Timing was done again by Start2Finish out of Memphis, led by Adam Shelton. Awesome job, as usual, providing professional clock work for all the weekend events. Runners got time-place-pace texts almost immediately after crossing the finish line, which is great.
— Runners seemed to love the post-race hot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, which were made on the spot. The awesome volunteers had those flat-top griddles sizzling! Soup and a cheese sando are great anytime, but especially after a few hours of battling the arctic blast.
The volunteers in the inflatable costumes for the kids’ 1-mile run was awesome, too. How can you not enjoy a giant chicken or daschund or gingerbread man toodlin’ along? Kudos to that crew for helping.
— If you’re still looking for photos, check here for photos with bib search or here for facial recognition.
— It will be fun to see what the HTC and race organizers come up with to celebrate the 50th anniversary. A new logo? Maybe. Throwback apparel? Possibly. Moving the starting line to Monte Sano? Um, no … although that would be interesting. Registration opens March 11 with a special introductory rate. The 50th should be a blast.
