The Bad Kitty is not a smooth “rails-to-trails” type event. It is called the Bad Kitty for a reason. That is why you signed up right? Both 5k and 10k courses have curves, hills, uneven ground, roots, rocks, small water crossings, and a potential for muddy areas if it rains. The scenery is beautiful and inspiring with a mix of tall hardwoods and Cypress Creek bordering one side of the course in Wildwood Park.

Both courses will be marked with an aid station at the finish line in Wildwood Park. All distances will include about 1 mile of road running from the UNA Campus to the trails in Wildwood Park. The 10k will have around 5 miles of single-track trail. Sections of the course may be challenging. The 5k will include ~2 miles of less challenging trail. While this trail may be easier, it will still include hills and the same types of surfaces that may result in falling as the longer course. You also never know if Leo the Lion will escape from UNA and join us on the trails!

The Bad Kitty is part of the Heritage Area Hustle Race Series. Participate in the Bad Kitty, the Artsy Fartsy (5k and 1 mile fun run, June 22) and the Shady Lady (5k, 10k, and Half Marathon, October 26) and receive a special medal for completing the series!

Course maps to follow.

The Bad Kitty is a non-profit event organized by the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, a National Park Service-funded program housed at the University of North Alabama. All proceeds will help support trail development projects and recreational programming in Wildwood Park.

Registration will take place at Flowers Hall - Directions

*All participants registered by February 16, 2024 are guaranteed a shirt. Registrations afterwards will be mailed a shirt after the race.

Transgender and Non-binary Participant Policy:

We strive to create and foster a culture of inclusivity. While we have designed an experience that may challenge our racers, it is also important to us that all participants are accepted and welcomed at our events.

We accept each entrant’s declared sex and gender at face value. No additional supporting evidence is required.

Our registration platform Runsignup.com offers a non-binary option for participants. This should appear as an option when creating a Runsignup.com account. If you already have an account you may need to edit your account to show your gender as non-binary. You can edit your profile by following these instructions. In addition to your Runsignup profile, we will ask your gender identity during the registration process with additional terms such as Two Spirit, Non-binary, Agender, Genderqueer, and other. We will provide an opportunity for our runners to express their desired pronouns at Race Day Check-in. We will have an awards category for the top three overall non-binary runners in each event.

We plan to periodically review this policy to be sure it is up to date and equitable. Please contact the MSNHA Programs Coordinator, TJ Johnson ([email protected]), if you have any questions, comments, or feedback. This policy was updated January 2024.

Event Schedule
March 16, 20248:30 AM – Race Day Check-in Starts10:00 AM – 10K Start10:15 AM 5K Start11:30 AM - Awards