January 21, 2026
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Road Runners Club of America has officially designated Huntsville as a Runner Friendly Community for the Winter 2025–26 period.
The RRCA’s Runner Friendly Community program recognizes cities that lead the way in supporting runners and promoting active living, while delivering meaningful improvements to quality of life and long-term economic vitality.
The Rocket City earned this recognition for its growing network of runner-supportive infrastructure and its strong, collaborative running culture. Central to the city’s efforts is the Huntsville Greenway Master Plan, which envisions approximately 312 miles of interconnected greenways. Currently, 73 miles of greenways are complete, including popular routes along Aldridge Creek, Indian Creek, Flint River, and Big Cove Creek, connecting runners to nearly 65 parks and more than 3,000 acres of parkland featuring amenities designed to support outdoor recreation.
Huntsville’s running community is anchored by the Huntsville Track Club (HTC), active since 1971, which organizes 24 races and events annually, including Rocket City Marathon. Huntsville is also home to the John Hunt Cross Country Course / Running Park, a championship-caliber facility that provides high-quality training and racing opportunities for athletes and teams.
RRCA’s Runner Friendly Communities must meet criteria that include pedestrian-friendly networks of sidewalks, shared-use paths, and trails, as well as strong partnerships between local government, nonprofits, and businesses to promote running as both a sport and a healthy lifestyle.
The designation places Huntsville among a select group of communities nationwide recognized for making running an integral part of everyday life and city planning.
For more information about the RRCA Runner Friendly Community program, visit www.rrca.org.