Who's running Rocket City?

Looks more like 100% chance of rain to me.

Shorts, singlet, arm sleeves, wool gloves, hat with a brim.

A big freaking pair of HEADPHONES so I can get disqualified from a race that's living in the 80s

I used to bandit that race but haven't in a few years. Earlier in the fall I thought about going down to race it again but with the weather conditions they're calling for, I'm going to skip it. I only bandit races when it's going to be fun.

rocket scientist wrote:

Looks more like 100% chance of rain to me.

Shorts, singlet, arm sleeves, wool gloves, hat with a brim.

Rocket City is a great race, just seems the weather is a huge crapshoot with it though. It seems the weather is good every 2 or 3 years.

Accuweather is showing mid 40s with good cloud cover. Chance of spotty rain. The weather looks pretty ideal

its the insurance sham wrote:

A big freaking pair of HEADPHONES so I can get disqualified from a race that's living in the 80s

That's why I love that race. It's a runner's marathon. There are no bands, none of the trappings of a RnR series race or anything close to what the big city marathons have become.

EZ10Miler wrote:

its the insurance sham wrote:

A big freaking pair of HEADPHONES so I can get disqualified from a race that's living in the 80s

That's why I love that race. It's a runner's marathon. There are no bands, none of the trappings of a RnR series race or anything close to what the big city marathons have become.

And you have no chance to get beat by one of us headphone wearing hobby joggers because we know how much that chaps you real runners butz when we go flying by about 18 miles in.

Rocket City is a great race,

Why isn't it still called Joe Steele Rocket City?

What happened to Joe Steele?

Rocket City is a great race,

Why isn't it still called Joe Steele Rocket City?

What happened to Joe Steele?

couldn't run it this year because I've been injured the past month. This is a race for runners, cheap, some frills but nothing distracting from the whole deal, and usually good running weather.

Joe Steele was an auto dealer that sponsered the race years ago. Then it became radio station WZYP as the money bags.

Sad to see this once fast race dwindle into the mix with the also rans.

Joey Steeley wrote:

Sad to see this once fast race dwindle into the mix with the also rans.

All because they DISQUALIFY you for wearing headphones. Should have kept up with the times.

They announced a new course for next year, and some other big changes.

PreRunner wrote:

They announced a new course for next year, and some other big changes.

Hopefully they will jump in the 21st century and allow headphones. I wouldn't even care if I got an award taken away if I wore them. I would just like to run the course because of the history it has.

Way too much nepotism involved in the HTC organization.

Saw an article on that. Sounds like they are taking away a couple of the nice things that I liked about it.

1) Hotel right at the start/finish. Nothing like walking from your room to the start in 2 mins. And nothing like heading back to your room for a quick nap 2 mins after finishing.

2) Changing course so they can increase the number of runners.

Wonder if they will ruin it more by adding 1/2 marathon and 5K.

No longer a runner's race - more of an "event" like all the other cookie cutter races.

HTC Observer wrote:

Way too much nepotism involved in the HTC organization.

I am surprised to hear this. When I was in Huntsville (ten years ago) the only qualification to become a race director, HTC officer, etc. was basically a willingness to volunteer to do it.

FM wrote:

Sounds like they are taking away a couple of the nice things that I liked about it.

1) Hotel right at the start/finish. Nothing like walking from your room to the start in 2 mins. And nothing like heading back to your room for a quick nap 2 mins after finishing.

Note that according to this article the new course starts/finishes at the VBC...so basically the same place.

I did not enjoy the long stretch of the course through south Huntsville, so I personally won't mind seeing that part of the course rerouted.