I have always loved all things of space and space travel. While I did not get to visit the NASA Kennedy Space Center until a few years ago, I could not wait to do that! After the Kennedy Space Center, other places of interest would be Houston’s Johnson Space Center, Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Rocket City Marathon – A Marathon For Space Fans
I ran the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville several years ago and really enjoyed it (you can read my report here). The Rocket City Marathon is a special kind of marathon in that it does not allow any headphones (even though most marathons had backtracked on that ruling) and it is a smaller town marathon that only features the marathon distance – no other races take place that day.
Elevation profile for the Rocket City Marathon
It is a favorite of runners who are seeking to qualify for the Boston Marathon as the course is fast and the weather is perfect since the race is in December in the South.
For Space Fans?
Ok, so what makes it for space fans other than the fact that it takes place in Huntsville, Alabama? Well, it is called the Rocket City Marathon, the medal features a space vehicle, and this year, the pasta dinner will take place in the Space Center beneath a Saturn V rocket! The course also heads by the Space Center for some nice views on race day.
That is just awesome! I ran the Air Force Marathon several years ago and got to dine under the F-22 at the Wright-Pat Air Force Base and it was a pretty incredible dinner setting.
Dining under a Saturn V rocket for your pre-race dinner!
I wish I could do it this year, if only for the dinner. The pasta dinner is not included in the marathon registration and will cost $25 and $50 for premium seating. If you are running the Rocket City Marathon, definitely make plans for this pasta dinner! It should be pretty awesome!
Race and Travel Details
The registration period will open Monday, May 25, at 7:00AM CT. It will run until full. The cap on the marathon is 2,700 runners. The race itself will take place on December 12, 2015 at 7:00AM in Huntsville, Alabama.
According to the site info as of now, the fee at the beginning of registration is $60. That is a great price for a marathon and includes the usual registration benefits including a Nike tech shirt and a finisher’s hat. The medal is pretty awesome as well!
For travel to Huntsville, there are many options. American, Delta, and United all fly to Huntsville. The best option, if near Chicago, Charlotte, or Dallas is to use British Airways Avios to fly American Airlines/US Airways for only 4,500 points one way.
As for hotels, Hilton HHonors is a great option as it has many hotels in the area and they are all in the mid-tier section of the award chart.
Summary
The Rocket City Marathon is a fantastic event with a great course, sights, and a nice small-town feel. If you like all things space and space travel, it should definitely be on your list to run as you can have the chance to dine under a Saturn V rocket!
If not a space fan, know that this race gets high marks for Boston Marathon qualifying standards with its fast course and cool weather.
