This weekend’s Woodstock 5K is an Anniston, Alabama, signature summer event
The 43rd annual Woodstock 5K will be held in Anniston this weekend. (contributed)
One of Anniston’s signature midsummer events — the Woodstock 5K — will take place Saturday, Aug. 3, organized by the Anniston Runners Club.
The race will feature the Road Runners Club of America Alabama 5K state championship.
Founded in 1981, the Woodstock 5K is held annually in the neighborhoods adjacent to and near Anniston High School along Woodstock Avenue. It has been the host of 17 RRCA championship races, including six national championships, five regional championships and six state championships.
All proceeds from the race go toward benefiting the communities of northeast Alabama. Local schools, organizations and the Arc of Calhoun & Cleburne Counties all receive profits of the Woodstock 5K.
As of July 23, more than 900 runners from 13 states, as well as Kenya, had registered for the 43rd Woodstock 5K.
The registration numbers are on pace with last year’s, when the race was the RRCA National 5K Championship.
Local runners make up the majority of the race’s entries, but there are also many elite runners participating, some of whom are returning from last year, all of whom have a potential to break the course record.
Previous winners Ethan Mines, from 2021, and William Brown, from 2022, will be returning, as well as last year’s second-place finisher, David Too.
Newcomers include Soloman Kagimbi from Kenya, who posted a 14:37 earlier this year at the Beaufort Twilight Challenge. Elite coordinator Kile Putman from Birmingham’s Cahaba Distance Project brought in Bradley Makuvie, who is a graduate student at the University of South Carolina and ran a 14:13.02 at the SEC Championships this year.
For the female field, a previous winner from 2018, Gladys Cheboi, will be returning to Anniston. Joy Miller, who finished second last year, also will be running the race again.
Other elite female runners include Purity Munene and local athlete Maddyn Conn from White Plains.
The male and female winners of the Woodstock 5K each will receive a $500 reward. If the course record is broken in doing so, the reward is increased to $1,000.
Other cash prizes are awarded for second and third place overall males and females, as well as master, grandmaster and senior grandmaster winners.
All overall award recipients also receive gift cards from TrakShak, a race sponsor that will be on-site.
Patrick Cheptoek holds the male record with a time of 14:13, while Risper Gesabwa holds the female record with 16:06, both of which were set in 2012.
The Woodstock 5K also holds a Team Challenge, allowing friends, family, schools and other organizations to compile their individual times to win awards with their own $300 cash prizes.
The Kidstock 1K is for children ages 1-11, and it takes place after the 5K finishes.
A new award will be given out by the Anniston Runners Club beginning this year to annually recognize and honor the “Volunteer of the Year” who has assisted with the organization of the 5K. The award will be named after this year’s recipient.
Ron’s Goode BBQ from Alexandria will provide catering services at the event, in addition to the presence of many food trucks and other vendors. After the race concludes, participants over the age of 21 are invited to receive a free beer from Sinclair Social in Anniston, one of the race’s sponsors, while supplies last, by showing their race bib.
Reese Burke, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Cleburne County, will sing the national anthem before the race starts.
When registering for the race, a number of perks are given to those who sign up, including a race T-shirt (depending on availability), a medal given after crossing the finish line, as well as the chance to win several door prizes, such as gift cards to local businesses and restaurants.
Woodstock tank tops and visors are also sold on the race’s registration site.
“We have been honored to host several championships for the RRCA over the years,” said Hayley Long, 2022-2024 race director. “We thank the community and our sponsors for all the support that they have given.”
The price of entry is $45. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. For more information, follow Woodstock 5K on Facebook and visit the Anniston Runners Club website.
