Magic City Half Marathon & 5K to have ‘flatter, faster’ course this year

The Magic City Half Marathon & 5K began as a small, local race in 2010 but has become one of Alabama’s biggest fall running events, with about 2,000 participants in 2017.

The event, which starts and finishes at Regions Field, returns to downtown Nov. 18. The half marathon starts at 8 a.m., the 5K at 8:10 a.m. and a 1-mile fun run at 8:20 a.m. 

The race usually draws about 1,200 runners in the half marathon and 1,000 in the 5K, with participants from about 30 states and a few other countries, according to Jeremey Davis, the event’s director of operations.

Because of construction on Interstate 20/59, the USATF-certified route is being moved this year to Parkside, Midtown and Lakeview. “The new course is much flatter and therefore much faster,” Davis said.

The top five male and female finishers in the half marathon will win cash prizes. A post-race party will feature craft beer and food trucks.

The event benefits the Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts. For details, including registration fees, go to magiccityrun.com.