AVL Runway 5K

August 17 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Runway Racing is Back!

Saturday, August 17| 9:00 AM

Are you an aviation enthusiast? It’s time for one of the most unique 5K runs in the mountains that is just for you!

Our race stands out as the most distinctive 5K in the mountains—it’s impeccably level, and guess what? It takes place right on the airfield of the airport. Participants will traverse Taxiway Bravo, adjacent to our bustling Runway 17-35. Don’t forget to give a friendly wave to the passengers in the planes as they take off and land amidst your run!

Registration:

Online registration will open Monday, April 15 and closes at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, August 14th.

Race Cap:

The race is limited to 1,000 participants

Location + Parking:

All race-day activities will take place at the southwest corner of the airport. There is no parking on site, but shuttles will take you and your supporters to and from the race venue via a parking area across from Corcoran River Park at 9 River Road in Arden.

IMPORTANT: use Google Maps for directions; DO NOT use Apple Maps because it gives incorrect driving directions based on your starting point. You do NOT access the parking area via the airport campus. You will access Pinner Road from Glenn Bridge Road.

Details

Date:: August 17
Time:: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Category:: 5K

Online Registration

Venue

: Asheville Regional Airport
: 9 PINNER ROAD
ARDEN, NC 28704 United States + Google Map

Race Information

Entry Fees

Through August 6 (Race T-shirt guaranteed)

With Short Sleeve Shirt – $35

With Long Sleeve Shirt – $50

August 7 – August 15

With Short Sleeve Shirt (While Supplies Last) – $40

With Long Sleeve Shirt (While Supplies Last) – $55

(Race T-shirts guaranteed to all who register by August 6. After that date, T-shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.)

August 16 & 17

On-Site Registration (if spots are available) – $45

Packet Pickup/Late Registration

It is strongly recommended that racers pick up their race packets the day before the event.

Schedule

Friday, August 16

4:00-6:00 PM Packet Pickup – Location TBA!

Saturday, August 17

6:30 AM – Shuttles to the race venue begin running – Corcoran River Park (9 Pinner Road, Arden, NC) Corcoran Paige River Park (9 Pinner Road, Arden, NC – accessed off of Glenn Bridge Road, not via the airport campus)

6:40-8:30 AM – Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Race Venue

9:00 AM – 5K Start

9:45 AM – Shuttles to parking resume

10:15 AM (ish) – Awards Ceremony

Please allow ample time to park, shuttle and pick up your packet. Lines could be long, so please plan accordingly. It will take approximately 1.5 hours to shuttle all participants to the race site – please keep this in mind when planning your arrival.

Course(s)

The Runway 5K course is really fun! It begins on a road near the airfield. Once you enter the taxiway (that was our active runway for many years), you will run south to the end, loop around and run north to the other end, and then back again to the finish line. Just 150 feet to the east is the active runway, where planes will be taking off and landing during the race (so cool!).

Due to the nature of this venue and the need to keep the area completely free of debris, there will not be an aid station on the course. You may carry your non-disposable water bottle with you on the course.

Additional Info.

RACE SHIRTS

All who registered by August 6 (9pm) are guaranteed a race t-shirt in the size ordered. Those who registered after September 26 will receive t-shirts on a first-come, first-served basis, while sizes and supplies last. We anticipate that most or all t-shirts will be distributed at packet pick-up, and only a limited quantity of extra t-shirts will be ordered.

RULES & SAFETY

People of all ages, ability and motivation are invited to participate! Please remember, you are running (or walking) on a former runway, directly beside an active runway. For this reason, we have a few special rules:

Water

No water stations will be available on the course. We must be extra careful about trash or other items that could blow around the airfield. Racers are allowed to bring water with them, but water must be in reusable containers (no disposable/recyclable bottles), and racers must keep water bottles with them at all times. We must keep the airfield clear of any debris, so nothing may be discarded while on the airfield!

Spectators

Only registered racers will be allowed on the airfield. Others in attendance may view the race (and do their own plane-spotting) at the finish line site, where a music stage and food trucks will be stationed.

Safety

This is a foot-race. No bikes, no in-line skates, no roller skates and no wheeled vehicles (like bikes) will be allowed on the course, other than those used by wheelchair users and those pushing jogging strollers. For the safety of all, those using wheelchairs or jogging strollers will be asked to start the race in the back of the pack.

Ear plugs for protection while running will be available upon request at the racer check-in table.

Because the course is within a secure area of the airport, public safety officers will be on hand to ensure the area remains secure, to monitor first aid needs and to direct traffic. Please follow the direction of all safety officers.

BAG DROP

For your convenience, we will have a bag drop area at the race venue where you can leave a small bag.

2023 Race Photos

2021 Race Photos

Please click the links below for race photos, courtesy of Paul King:

Post Race

Music! We will have super fun music, setting a great party vibe to get you in the mood to race the runway!

Food! Food! Food trucks will be on site – offering coffee, breakfast drinks, snacks and other goodies. Credit cards only.

Merch! Our race logo is awesome, if we do say so ourselves, so we’ll have some special merchandise for sale if you want a commemorative doo-dad. We’ll also have some great AVL swag for the real AV(L)-geeks out there.

Awards

The awards ceremony will take place near the finish line. Special commemorative awards will be presented to the top three male and female overall finishers and the top three male and female masters finishers. Age group awards will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in the following age brackets: 12 & Under, 13-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 & Over

If you cannot stay for the awards ceremony, please ask a friend to pick it up for you. Awards will not be mailed.

Timing

Dogs

Parking

Parking for the day of the event will be at a parking area across from Corcoran River Park, (9 Pinner Road, Arden, NC 28704 – access via Glenn Bridge Road), and participants will be shuttled to the race site.

IMPORTANT! Please be advised that it will take time to shuttle all participants (1,000+) to the race site. We will have multiple shuttles running continuously, but please plan time for this. Shuttles will operate from 6:30am until 8:20am (prior to race). THE LAST SHUTTLE (44 PASSENGERS) WILL DEPART AT 8:20AM – so ARRIVE EARLY! Shuttles begin again at approximately 10:00 AM, after the race.

Cancellations & Transfers

Note: The race will be held, rain or shine. If an unforeseen circumstance causes the race to cancel, a new date will be chosen, and all registered participants will be notified. No refunds, deferrals or credits for future races will be issued.

Transfers

You are permitted to transfer your entry to another person. To transfer your registration to another person please follow these steps:

Click on ‘My Account’ when logged into EnMotive
Go to your “Registrations” view and find the Registration you’d like to Transfer
Click on the action icon in the top right corner of the registration field
Select ‘Transfer Registration’
Enter the email address of the person you want to transfer the registration to
That individual will receive an email notifying them of the transfer, and they’ll be instructed on how to accept it

The transfer will only be valid for 48 hours, so be sure they accept quickly!

Transfers may be made up to the end of online registration but please allow time for the other person to accept it. Transfers must be completed by Thursday, March 14 at 9:00 PM.

This is the only way transfers or the selling of bibs between participants will be allowed. Anyone who is discovered to have purchased or accepted another person’s bib without submitting this form will be disqualified and banned from future races.

Results