1,750 Expected to Participate in Tuscaloosa’s Largest-Ever Mayor’s Cup 5K

More than 1,750 people are signed up to run or walk in Tuscaloosa's largest-ever Mayor's Cup 5K from downtown Tuscaloosa to the Walk of Champions and back Saturday morning.

The now-beloved race was created by Walt Maddox in 2007, two years into his first term as mayor, to help fund the city's fledgling Pre-K Initiative. It has grown every year since, but took a two-year pandemic hiatus and returned for the first time last Spring.

Now, Maddox said a record-breaking number of participants are signed up for this year's event, which kicks off Saturday morning at 8 a.m.

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In its 15 years, the Mayor's Cup has raised more than $325,000 for the Pre-K Initiative. Bolstered by revenue from state and federal grants and Maddox's Elevate Tuscaloosa tax plan, there are now 32 Pre-K classrooms and six special education Pre-K classrooms across the city and 650 children enrolled in Pre-K last fall, all at no cost to parents.

The race will kick off Saturday at 8 a.m., with participants leaving from Government Plaza and moving through Temerson Square downtown, south down Greensboro Avenue, east on 12th Street, south on 20th Avenue, east on Paul W. Bryant Drive, north at Wallace Wade Avenue past Bryant-Denny Stadium and the Walk of Champions and back west on University Boulevard, past the Strip before turning on Queen City Avenue and taking 7th Street back to Government Plaza.

Expect road closures and delays in the area before and during the race, although conditions should start returning to normal no later than 10 a.m.