Race to the Cave Half Marathon
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Race overview
The Race to the Cave weekend takes place Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Cathedral Caverns State Park, 637 Cave Rd, Woodville, AL 35776. Events include:
- Half Marathon
- 10K
- 5K
- Half Marathon + 5K CHALLENGE
- 10K + 5K CHALLENGE
The course starts on valley roads and finishes with an approximately 1.2 mile run through Cathedral Caverns. GPS devices do not reliably record inside the cave. Shirts: long sleeve technical shirts for Half and 10K registrants, t-shirts for 5K registrants; challenge entrants receive both garment types and separate finisher medals. Runners registered by December 26, 2025 are guaranteed the correct shirt size. There are no refunds, credits, deferrals, or transfers, and leftover shirts or medals are not mailed.
Course, aid and logistics
Cutoff times are listed by distance: Half Marathon - 4 hours; 10K - 2.5 hours; 5K - 1 hour 15 minutes. Aid stations will provide water, Gatorade, and GU energy gels. Aid station locations: 10K at 2.2 and 4.3 miles; Half Marathon at 2.2, 5.5, 8.2, and 11.2 miles. Portable bathrooms are available at 2.2, 8.2, and 11.2 miles, with additional restrooms at the park store finish area.
Packet pickup is available in Huntsville at the RunningLane store on the days before the event and at Cathedral Caverns State Park on race weekend. Age-group awards for Half and 10K cover 0-9, 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+. Every participant receives a finisher medal. A post-race pulled pork sandwich, chips, and a drink are provided to participants. Average temperatures for the period are listed as 38-61 degrees. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.