Cummins Marathon Supporting Future Birds of Prey Exhibit

The 8th annual Cummins Falls Marathon is still planning to take place this year to help support the park.

Park Manager Ray Cutcher said this race brings in locals and runners from across the nation every year. Cutcher said registering to run in one of the four races helps support park growth and protection, as well as a new education feature the park is planning.

“We have an endeavor we’re looking to raise funds for also, which is to build an aviary for birds of prey for programming and educational use,” Cutcher said. “Those are the two things that funds will go for.”

The Cummins Falls Marathon is set to take place on February 27, and entry fees vary based on the race and how many people enter at a time. Cutcher said COVID protocols are not set in stone yet, but the event will try and model itself off of a recent race held at Montgomery Bell State Park.

“We’re gonna have things set up so that people won’t necessarily be gathering as much as we did in the past,” Cutcher said. “We won’t have the programs that we offered in the past, such as the birds of prey program. We will still have food for our runners and we probably won’t have the ceremony to give out awards at the end.”

Despite some necessary changes to keep the event safe, Cutcher said he is happy the marathon is happening after so many races were cancelled by the pandemic. Signing up for the Cummins Falls Marathon can be done online at cumminsfallsmarathon.com.