A wonderful design created by artist and runner Julia Donovan has been selected for this year’s t-shirts for the 22nd annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5K.
Donovan has been a graphic designer for more than 20 years. She and her husband, Ryan, are avid runners, as well as Fleet Feet race training coaches. The design is of about 100 runners, with a handful of them wearing the vivid pink to create the ribbon worn in honor or memory of those who have battled breast cancer.
The Ribbon Run is Oct. 18 in Huntsville. Team registration ends Oct. 7 and individual registration ends Oct. 14. There is no race-day registration. Among the sponsors are CFD Research, Torch Technologies, Redstone Federal Credit Union and Clearview Cancer Institute.
About 6,500 participated in the 2024 Ribbon Run. About $8 million has been raised since Hurley established the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund at Huntsville Hospital in 1999. An Emmy award-winning journalist for WAFF-TV 48, Hurley revealed to viewers in 1999 the challenge she faced after her cancer diagnosis. Hurley had a bilateral mastectomy and ensuing treatments that knocked out the cancer. She created the Ribbon Run in 2003 to help raise money for the Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital Breast Centers.
Dizzy Fifties 50K Changes
Scott Todd of Huntsville is the new race director for the 22nd annual Dizzy Fifties 50K, which now has two new options for runners.
Runners this year can do the 50K, which is three 10-mile loops on the Monte Sano State Park trails. Or just do two for 20 miles or one for 10. Runners in training or who want lighter mileage can pop into one of those.
In the early years the race had 40-and 50-mile options. Those were scrapped in 2017.
Todd is a longtime fireman and athlete, and member of Huntsville Track Club and Team Rocket Tri Club.
Registration is open, with a price increase after Aug. 31.
Author Book Signing
Trinity native and acclaimed author Jared Beasley will sign his new book, The Endurance Artist, on Sept. 15 at Barnes & Noble in Huntsville.
The event starts at 6 p.m.
The book is about Gary Cantrell, known in the running community as Lazarus Lake, and his grueling endurance races. Beasley spent five years visiting with, interviewing and observing Cantrell at various events, including the Barkley Marathons in Tennessee.
Beasley is an award-winning writer with numerous bylines including in The New York Times, The Guardian, Runner’s World, Trail Runner and others. His 2019 book, In Search of Al Howie, was honored as one of the top indie books of the year. Beasley lives in New York.
Beasley will be in Tuscaloosa on. Sept. 16 at Wagner’s RunWalk from noon-2 p.m., and at Fleet Feet Birmingham that night at 6. See his full schedule here for signings, including at the Barkleys on Sept. 19.
Coldwater Fat Tire Festival
Registration is open for the 2025 Coldwater Mountain Fat Tire Festival, set for Oct. 24-26 in Anniston.
The event is free, and will run concurrently with the Life Time Coldwater Trail Race. Riders are asked to sign a waiver, however, and can get raffle tickets for several items that will help defray costs. Any proceeds are returned to local trails.
Raffle items include:
— 2026 Gen 7 Trek Fuel EX 9.8 Carbon with Fox Factory suspension and XT components
— Wheelset from Atomik Carbon
— Weekend getaway at Coldwater Camp and Cabins
— Other bike gear and items
The festival will include bike demos, group rides, gravity shuttles, vendors with exhibits, a poker run, skills competition, downhill race, games, food trucks, music and more. It is hosted by NEABA, the City of Anniston, IMBA/SORBA and Forever Wild.
New Balance Signs On
New Balance has signed on as the primary sponsor for the RunningLane XC Championships.
The event is Dec. 6 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville for high school athletes. Four races will be held on the 5K grass course: Silver Girls, Silver Boys, Gold Girls and Gold Boys. Categories will be determined by times submitted by teams. The intent is to have the fastest, most competitive 5K races possible.
An open community 5K will be held at 8 a.m. prior to the high school championship events. Several thousand runners, coaches, team staff and family-friends are expected for the event.
