These days there are lots of themed races. There’s often a gimmick. Whether you want a Rock n’ Roll race, or a costume race, a red dress race, or one where you roll around in mud, it can be found.
But this is a blog for people who love to run and love to travel, so it is only fitting that this post features races which take place on runways! Boy was I surprised to see how many runway races there are.
I know, I know…. I bet you want to know if you get miles for running around a runway. Is there First Class? Status? Is this a Mileage Run, you ask? Well, it is, in a sense, but on your feet, not on a plane. However, if you have a smart phone and United flies at the local airport, you might get 50 miles for a check in on Foursquare.
I’ve never run a race on a runway – but after working on this post, I really want to.
One thing is for certain – you never have to worry about hills on runways!
So, here’s the list of some of the runway races I’ve found (feel free to add in more in the comments). Note: there are many other races that go through airports, runways or air force bases – I’ve limited this post to “pure” runway races).
Name: Rotary Club of Flagler Beach, 5K Race of the Runways
Airport: Flagler Beach, Florida
Date: February 11, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: http://www.flaglerbeachrotary.org/runflagler/
Name: 5K Run for Our Place
Airport: Floyd Bennet Field, Brooklyn, New York
Date: March 25, 2012
Distance: 5K run/walk
Website: http://5k.ourplaceny.org/
Charity: Our Place
Name: Race the Runways
Airport: Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine
Date: April 7, 2012
Distance: 1 Mile, 5K and Half Marathon
Website: http://www.racetherunways.com//
Charity: Veterans No Boundaries
Name: JFK Runway Run
Airport: JFK, Queens, NY
Date: April 15, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: http://www.jfkrunwayrun.org/
Charity: Gift of Life, Explorer Scouts – BSA and other local charities
Name: Mobberly ‘Round the Runway’ Race
Airport: Manchester Airport, Manchester, UK
Date: May 10, 2012
Distance: approximately 5.3 miles “on scenic roads, paths and bridleways close to Manchester Airport 2nd Runway”
Website: http://www.ukresults.net/forms/120510mobberley.pdf
Charity: Alzheimers Society
Name: Manassas Runway 10K/5K
Airport: Manassas Regional Airport, Manassas, VA
Date: May 12, 2012
Distance: 5K, 10K
Website: http://www.bristowtriandswim.com/Manassas_Runway_10k_5k.html
Charity: Northern Virginia Family Serve, Rotary International
Name: Fly Day 5K
Airport: Paine Field (PAE), Snohomish County Airport, Everett, WA
Date: May 19, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: http://www.painefield.com/flyday5K_registration.html
Charity: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Name: Blue 5K on the Runway at PTI
Airport: Piedmont Triad Int’l (PTI), Greensboro, NC
Date: June 2, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/81805
Charity: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Name: Grand Junction Regional Airport Runway 5K
Airport: Grand Junction Regional Airport, CO
Date: June 16, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: http://www.active.com/running/grand-junction-co/grand-junction-regional-airport-runway-5k-2012
Name: Toronto Pearson Runway Run 2012
Airport: Pearson, Toronto, Canada
Date: June 23, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: http://www.torontopearson.com/runwayrun/#
Charity: Hope Air
Name: 15th Annual PSE&G Teterboro Airport 5K
Airport: Teterboro, NJ
Date: July 21, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: http://oymp.net/Raceinfo/teterboro_airport_5k.htm
Charity: United Way, Bergen County
Name: EAA Runway 5K
Airport: EAA, Oshkosh, WI
Date: July 28, 2012 (tentative)
Distance: 5K
Website: http://www.airventure.org/run/
Charity: Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh, YMCA Strong Kids Fund and Cerebral Palsey of Mideast Wisconsin
Name: Runway 5K & Healthy Fun Day
Airport: Asheville Regional, NC
Date: October 6, 2012
Distance: 5K
Website: http://flyavl.com/blog/runway-5k-healthy-fun-day
Name: Northeast Philly 5 Mile Run and 2 Mile Walk
Airport: Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Date: October 14, 2012
Distance: 5 mile run/ 2 mile walk
Website: http://www.fastcatsports.com/NEPhilly5miler.html
Charity: Northeast Philadelphi Youth Alliance
(note: race is run on the macadam which surrounds the perimeter of the airport)
Name: CAE Runway Run
Airport: Columbia Metropolitan (CAE), Columbia, SC
Date: November 17, 2012
Distance: 5K run, 1 Mile “wing” walk
Website: http://www.runwayrun.com/index.htm
Charity: United Way of the Midlands
Please note: Will Run For Miles may have a financial relationship with some of the merchants advertised on the blog, and may receive compensation if consumers utilize the links located on this site and generate sales therefrom.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
Pretty cool! Will have to add one of these to next year’s line-up. During two of the NC runs, I will actually be up in NY.
Great blog post! I want to run ALL of these races!!
The Race the Runways is Maine will be my first half marathon. Last year it was my first 5k! Flat and fast!
I had no idea there was a theme to airport races!!! I did the Inaugural Race the Runways last April in Brunswick, Maine. It was fantastic – 100% flat (actually, a slight downgrade), but windy as all get out – which I can imagine would be like a lot of open area airports! I’ll be doing this race again in 2 weeks.
Nice collection. I also know that there is one at PAE. When I was out there a few weeks back for Aviation Geek Fest I did a tour with the fire department there and the guy was talking about the planning they do for it. Obviously a bit different, but it is still a cool event and one that I’d like to get in on if I am out there.
I’ll be out at the JFK one this year. See you there!
Then again, I don’t actually run (unless chased) so I’m not likely to really get in to it.