The Wine 10K scheduled for March 3 at Patriot Park

This sets the Wine 10K Birmingham, hosted by the local nonprofit National Center for Sports Safety, apart from the rest.

The race, in its third year, takes place on Saturday, March 3, beginning at 8 a.m. at Patriot Park in Homewood and finishing at Lakeshore Park Plaza. The race is a chip-timed, USA Track and Field-certified event.

Despite the alcoholic beverages served post-race, organizers stress that the hydration stops along the course will provide runners with water and Gatorade only.

Awards for the 10K come with cash and other prizes and are given to the top five overall male and female finishers and the top three overall male and female Masters-level finishers.

The event has grown rapidly, according to Joseph Longoria, the executive director of the National Center for Sports Safety.

There were 352 participants in 2016 and 617 participants in 2017, and Longoria expects at least 650 in 2018.

And the serving of alcoholic beverages is not the only thing that makes the event special, according to Longoria.

For example, the event is meant for all skills levels.

“When we started, our priorities were that it could be a fast course so the people who want to come and run a fast time can do that, but people can also walk and jog,” Longoria said. “That is pretty unique.”

The event also brings in celebrities from the running world. Last year, it was Olympic bronze medalist Emma Coburn.  “People really liked that,” Longoria said.

This year, the Wine 10K will host Elyse Kopecky, a best-selling cookbook author and nutrition coach and a former runner.

Kopecky will host a separately ticketed book signing at Vulcan Park & Museum on Friday, March 2, at 6 p.m., and will appear at the race. For details, go to the race website, wine10K.com.

Registration for the Wine 10K is $55, plus a $3 sign-up fee. Pre-race packet pick-up will be available at The Trak Shak in Homewood on Friday, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Race day packet pick-up will be available at Lakeshore Park Plaza on Saturday, March 3 from 6:30-7:30 a.m. 

To register or get more information, go to wine10K.com.