Visit Tuscaloosa Half Marathon & 5K
Tuscaloosa, AL
- Half Marathon, 5K, 1 Miler
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Half Marathon is the longest distance running race held in Tuscaloosa Alabama each year. Runners get a sampling of the rolling hills along the Black Warrior River, the Tuscaloosa River Walk, portions of the University of Alabama campus, and some quaint downtown neighborhoods. The Start … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Mar 28):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 67 | 82 | 69 | 74 | 76 |
| L (°F) | 46 | 55 | 44 | 52 | 48 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Tuscaloosa
Small community race, for the price I was expecting a bit more but overall a chill race. Cotton shirt was ok. Race photos and finish line video are available to … MORE
Small community race, for the price I was expecting a bit more but overall a chill race.
Cotton shirt was ok.
Race photos and finish line video are available to download! Limited food and drinks.
Plenty of hills from mile 2 to finish line.
Race day packet pickup was very convenient!
Plenty of parking near Government Plaza!
Meh Race
Race was hilly. Aid Stations were water and water down Powerade. Finish food was hotdogs and Mac and cheese not what I want after 13.1 miles. A church was handing … MORE
Race was hilly. Aid Stations were water and water down Powerade. Finish food was hotdogs and Mac and cheese not what I want after 13.1 miles. A church was handing out bananas. Ran out of Hot Dogs but had a ton of buns. Route was Hilly and boring. Crowd support was awful. Shirt was a cotton shirt which I prob won’t use again. I don’t understand why races give cotton shirts which you won’t train or run in. For the price you pay at least get a tech shirt I can train in. Overall prob won’t run it again. Just MEH
Enjoyed race
Enjoyed this race. So many friendly people. Water stations were friendly and fun. One station had gu. Medals are pretty. Very easy packet pick-up. MORE
Enjoyed this race. So many friendly people. Water stations were friendly and fun. One station had gu. Medals are pretty. Very easy packet pick-up.
Meh
I've ran this race twice now. 2022 was a ton of fun but 2023 left A LOT to be desired. At the packet pickup we received the worst race shirt … MORE
I’ve ran this race twice now. 2022 was a ton of fun but 2023 left A LOT to be desired. At the packet pickup we received the worst race shirt I’ve seen, no pins for your bib and that’s it. On the course it felt as if water stations were scarce. Overall the race just felt bland. Like no extra effort or thought was put into it. I will be running again in 2024 as I’m a local but if it’s not improved it may be my last one here.
Ran out of beer. :)
course was fine, shirt was terrible, i've done 35 halfs, three marathons, and countless other distances, and this was by far the worst shirt. Straight into the donation pile. The … MORE
course was fine, shirt was terrible, i’ve done 35 halfs, three marathons, and countless other distances, and this was by far the worst shirt. Straight into the donation pile. The bag had nothing in it except a ice pack. I’m getting over being sick, so took it easy, but still only got one beer after the race before they ran out. They ran out about 10am or so, when people are still running. Food was good.
Disappointed as I am now a Slow Run/Walk
This is my 4th time running this Half. I was disappointed this year. New course was fine BUT…This should be a race which supports the elite and the run/walk slower … MORE
This is my 4th time running this Half. I was disappointed this year. New course was fine BUT…This should be a race which supports the elite and the run/walk slower participants. Packing up all the after race at the 3 hour mark doesn’t show support for ALL runners. Never saw any GU, NO water cups for water around 10 miles when it’s almost 80 degrees, lucky there was one more water stop before the end. Finishing and finding no bananas, apples, oranges (don’t even know if this was even offered at end of race) only BBQ (which was good), and the beer was gone as apparently 2 Kegs was all they provided. So give tickets to limit how many people get so it’s calculated to ensure it’s available for all runners. This was a big disappointment this year. I heard a guy coming across finish line around 3:30 and the announcer noting his birthday and sponsors packing up. I just think for the amount of money you pay, one should get same as the fast runners. Encourage and support everyone to completes this Half. It was nice to get photos without a watermark for a keepsake.
Too expensive for the swag & experience
The good: Great weather, great start and finish line, great communication leading up to the race and they announce your name at the finish. Scenic city run and a downhill … MORE
The good: Great weather, great start and finish line, great communication leading up to the race and they announce your name at the finish. Scenic city run and a downhill straight shot from 13 to 13.1.
The bad: I paid a $75 registration fee and all I got was a lousy cotton T-shirt and a medal. The finish line had cold drinks, pulled pork sandwiches, and pasta salad and packaged fruit (looked like peaches). No bananas for fresh fruit to be found. No pacers, and no time signals in the self serve start corral. Packet pick up was at a very small and very over priced running store. Don’t expect to stock up for race day. They didn’t give out safety pins at packet pick up and were stingy with them on race morning. I was persistent and was able to get 4 so I wasn’t running 13.1 with my bib flopping around. One water stop around mile 8 was out of water.
The course: First 5k was really fast and then the hills started. Very pretty run around town and down greek row.
Awesome Race
Very nice race n Route will be back next year.. hope to get better at running it.. the weather was great until next year.. hope to do the race again … MORE
Very nice race n Route will be back next year.. hope to get better at running it.. the weather was great until next year.. hope to do the race again in 2023.
2019 Tuscaloosa Half
This was my first time in Tuscaloosa and I had great time. The Tuscaloosa Half was an enjoyable race and with the exception of one downhill near the start and … MORE
This was my first time in Tuscaloosa and I had great time. The Tuscaloosa Half was an enjoyable race and with the exception of one downhill near the start and one uphill around mile 5 it was a mostly flat course. The course ran parallel to the Riverwalk along the Black Warrior River before heading to the Alabama campus enroute to the finish at Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa. There was plenty of free parking adjacent to the start line at Government Plaza, so early morning race logistics were very easy. Post race food was very good (bbq pork sliders and thin crust pizza) and beer was available as well. Weather in Tuscaloosa this time of year is very pleasant and with flowers blooming, the area was pretty scenic.
Great for seeing the best of Tuscaloosa
Sharp hill climb to start, but smooth sailing from that point on. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this race and hope to do it again some day! MORE
Sharp hill climb to start, but smooth sailing from that point on. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this race and hope to do it again some day!