Cotton Row Run Holds First Ever Labor Day Race Event

 HUNTSVILLE- Labor Day 2021 will be like no other among the world of running in the Rocket City. For the first time in the 42-year history of the Bill Penny Toyota Cotton Row Run, the 10K-5K race will not be held on Memorial Day after being moved due to the ongoing pandemic that has gripped the entire country. Instead, the race was moved to Monday, Sept. 6.

The 41st runners’ delight known as “A Southern Classic” will feature participants from from all parts of the country and some foreign countries. Not only is the event a full-packed day for those in the Tennessee Valley, but also a race for the more elite runners vying for prize money and points in the Grand Prix Circuit. The Cotton Row Run will offer a total of $20,000 in race record bonuses along with prizes in each of the male and female, open division, masters division and Alabama resident division.

The annual extravaganza for all ages will again feature the Race Expo on Sunday, Sept 5 at Bill Penney Toyota on University Drive. Race participants can also pick up their Race Packet at the Sunday event.

Current race records include: Open Male- Linus Kiplagat, 2018, 28:39; Open Female- Catherine Syokau Mwan, 2019, 32:51; Master Male- Andrew Masai, 2000, 29:38; Master Female- Ramilia Burangulova, 2003, 33:34.

The race was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the last held Cotton Row Run was in 2019 when Mwan set the new standard for females with her winning time of 32:51. With the return of the event this year, the excited level has return for what is normally an outstanding sporting event for the entire Tennessee Valley.

Entrée numbers total 2,243 of which 402 are from Madison. Here is the breakdown for each of the three scheduled events for Cotton Row Run: 10K- 1,161 (197 from Madison); 5K- 766 (150); Both 10K and 5K- 188 (27); 1-mile Fun Run- 128 (28).

The 10K Cotton Row Run starts at 7:00 a.m. The 5K begins at 9:00 a.m. while the 1-Mile Fun Run hits the course at 10:00 a.m. Fans are encouraged to attend all along the route as the annual event is well known as one of the best to race due to the extraordinary encouragement from spectators.