Thousands expected for Memorial Day’s Cotton Row Run

HUNTSVILLE – The Cotton Row Run is a community event. The annual Memorial Day extravaganza, held in downtown Huntsville, again this year will attract thousands from across the country to what has become known as one of the most enjoyable road race events in the United States.

As many as 500 volunteers will be stationed along the course as well as behind the scenes to be a part of the welcome mat to the throngs of running enthusiasts for the 45th annual event made up of 10K, 5K and 1-mile Fun Run races on Memorial Day, May 26, and the always informative and enjoyable Cotton Row Run Expo on Sunday, May 25 at Billy Penney Toyota on University Drive, the title sponsor for the community happening.

Race officials are expecting over 3,500 runners combined for the three races including as many as 570 from Madison. This year, there are 27 elite runners registered and, if weather conditions are favorable, a course record or two could fall. The course record in the Open Male Division is 28-minutes, 39-seconds set in 2018 while the top mark in the Open Female Division is 32:51 set in 2019. As always, there is a $5,000 cash bonus presented to those who break the course record in the 10K in both the Open Divisions and Masters Divisions.

The top seeded runner for Monday’s race is Ryan Ford of Huntsville who currently resides in Boone, North Carolina. He has had a tremendous 2025 year of racing with an outstanding 10th place finish in the recent Boston Marathon and posted the fourth fastest time by an American in the history of the famous race at 2:08.00.

On-line registration is closed for the race, but in-person late registration is available at the Cotton Row Run Expo on Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Cooler than normal temperatures and possibility of rain are expected for race time, so fast times are expected all across the board. The 10K race begins at 7:00 a.m. Memorial Day. The 5K race starts at 9:00 a.m. and will be followed by the 1-mile Fun Run.

Bill Penney Toyota is the race title sponsor. Additional major sponsors include Fleet Feet Huntsville/Madison (Volunteer sponsor), The Orthopaedic Center for Sports Medicine  (Hilltopper sponsor), Running Lane (Tribute sponsor), and Swift Recovery, Return 2 Sport, Avadian Credit Union and Focus Physiotherapy (Big Spring Park-Expo sponsors).