
Rocket City Marathon
Rocket City Marathon offers a fast, flat course through Huntsville's historic and space-themed landmarks.
Race Date
Dec 12, 2026
Location
Huntsville, AL
Quick facts
- Date
- Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Location
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 26.2 Miles, 6.2 Miles, 3.1 Miles, 1 Mile Family Run/Walk
- Course
- Loop Course
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 5,195
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Rocket City Marathon, a long-standing fixture in the South, has been drawing runners for over 49 years. Organized by the Huntsville Track Club, the event offers a fast and flat course, ideal for setting personal bests. The race weekend kicks off with an expo, followed by shorter races on Saturday before the main marathon and half marathon events on Sunday.
Runners will experience a course that winds through historic Old Town and showcases Huntsville's unique charm, including the US Space & Rocket Center. The marathon and half marathon routes also venture through the beautiful Botanical Gardens. All races start and finish in Downtown Huntsville at the Von Braun Center, providing a central hub for the festivities.
With a median field size of around 1,200 finishers and growing, the Rocket City Marathon attracts participants from approximately 39 states. While the repeat-runner rate is around 16%, the event's heritage and well-organized production, including a custom shirt and finisher medal, make it a compelling destination for runners seeking a competitive and memorable race.
Race-provided description
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!
Logistics
Race Day
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Start Time
9:00 AM
Giveaway
Unisex Long Sleeve Shirt
Start Location
700 Monroe Street SW, Huntsville, AL, 35801
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Loop Course
Terrain
road
Scenery
Urban, Park
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
+0.05 m
Separation
1.0%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
AL25039JE · Rocket City Half-Marathon
Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.
Course Map
View Course Map
Open on Google Maps
1 other map for this race
Quality Score
Runner Favorite846 years running
~1,229 finishers a year
growing or steady
16% returning runners
USATF certified · 5 timing sources
runners from 39 states
winner 1:13:07
typical high 57°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
39°
Afternoon (High)
57°
Ideal racing weather — cool and comfortable
0.2"
Precipitation
11 mph
Wind
75%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 5,195 finishers actually crossed the line across 6 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
5,195
Median time
2:19:16
Latest turnout
1,385
States
49
Turnout by year
2018–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Rocket City Marathon?
The Rocket City Marathon is held on Saturday, December 12, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
Where does the Rocket City Marathon take place?
It takes place in Huntsville, Alabama.
What distances does the Rocket City Marathon offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 26.2 Miles, 6.2 Miles, 3.1 Miles, 1 Mile Family Run/Walk.
Is the Rocket City Marathon course flat and good for a PR?
The Rocket City Marathon is a ultra-flat, loop course course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Rocket City Marathon?
HalfRuns has finish records for 5,195 runners who have completed the Rocket City Marathon.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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