Rocket City Marathon
About this race
Rocket City Marathon Race Weekend – Huntsville, Alabama
For over 49 years, the Rocket City Marathon, organized by the Huntsville Track Club, has been one of the premier marathon events in the South.
The weekend kicks off with the Health & Fitness Expo and Packet Pickup, opening Friday, December 11th, at 2:00 PM and running through Saturday, December 12th at 6:00 PM.
Saturday Races
10K – Starts at 7:00 AM in front of the Von Braun Center on Monroe Street. This flat, fast, and walker-friendly course takes runners through Old Town
5K – Begins at 9:00 AM, winding through Downtown Huntsville
1 Mile Family Friendly FUN RUN/WALK – Starts at 10:30 AM, offering everyone a fun and rewarding experience.
Sunday – Marathon & Half Marathon Day
The Rocket City Marathon - Kicks off at 7:00 AM (with an early start at 6:00 AM for those requiring extra time). The course showcases Huntsville’s charm and the US Space & Rocket Center.
The Rocket City Half Marathon - starts later at 9:00am joining the full marathoners through the Botanical Gardens a and US Space & Rocket Center.
All Races Start and Finish in Downtown Huntsville, Alabama at the VBC.
All registered runners will receive:
✅ A custom race shirt
✅ A finisher medal
✅ Post-race food
✅ Bragging rights for completing Rocket City Marathon Race Weekend!
Marathoners and Half Marathoners will also receive a special finisher gift, and those who take on three events ("The Hat Trick") will earn a RCM hat.
Join us for an unforgettable race weekend in Huntsville!
Join fellow runners on December 12, 2026 for the Rocket City Marathon. It's a fantastic 10K, 5K, 1.6K, Marathon, Half-Marathon featuring a flat and fast course in Huntsville.
Pick your distance
Running
Rocket City 10K
Runner and Walker friendly event with a two-hour cutoff time.
Rocket City 5K
Runner and Walker-friendly event with a one-hour cutoff time.
1 Mile Family Run/Walk
Runner and Walker friendly event with a 30 minute cut off time.
Rocket City Marathon
This event has a 6 hour time limit. Please see the early start marathon if you need 6 - 7 hours to complete the marathon.
Early Start Marathon (ONLY for those needing 6-7 hours to complete the marathon)
If you need 6 to 7 hours to complete the marathon, YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE EARLY START. The Rocket City Marathon has a 6-hour time limit, but our early start marathon starts at 6:00 am and allows participants up to 7 hours to finish.
Rocket City Half Marathon
This event has a four-hour time limit.
Weather Overview
These values represent the 9-year monthly averages for December in Huntsville.
About Huntsville
Rocket City Marathon takes place in Huntsville, Alabama, United States. The local timezone is America/Chicago.
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🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Huntsville
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Huntsville 5K Races Best Huntsville routes for beginners and speed work.
- 10K Run Events in Huntsville The most popular local distance in Alabama.
- Huntsville Half Marathons Top-rated 21.1K courses in the Huntsville area.
- Marathons in Huntsville Scenic 42.2K routes and Huntsville Boston qualifiers.
- Huntsville Running Calendar 2026 See all upcoming race dates.
Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
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