AVL Runway 5K

Through September 30

With Short Sleeve Shirt – $35

With Premium Long Sleeve Shirt – $50

Race T-shirts guaranteed to all who register by September 14.  After that date, T-shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Note: The entry fees shown here do not include service charges and taxes added by the registration platform.  Those fees will be visible during the online registration process.

Schedule  

Wednesday, October 8

4:00-6:00 PM Packet Pickup – Sierra Nevada Brewing (100 Sierra Nevada Way, Fletcher, NC)

We are thrilled to be holding our Pre-Race Packet Pickup at Sierra Nevada (on Wednesday only this year).  Race participants should park in the guest parking lot and walk around the building on the left; look for the big Green Tent in the back past the gardens.

You may pick up for other people, however, you must know their date of birth and may be asked to sign for it.  Once it leaves our possession, it is your responsibility.

Saturday, October 11

7:30 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)

7:45-9:30 AM           Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Race Venue

10:00 AM                   5K Start

10:15 AM                   Shuttles to parking resume

11:15 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.

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.

RACE SHIRTS

All who registered by September 14 (9pm) are guaranteed a race t-shirt in the size ordered.  Those who registered after September 14 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.

A tee-shirt exchange will be available at the Merch Tent for those who want to trade for a different size, if available.

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:

Batch 1

Batch 2

Batch 3

Batch 4

Batch 5

Batch 6

BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE 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! Black Bear Coffee Company and Donut I Love U will be on site – offering coffee, breakfast drinks, snacks and other goodies. Credit cards only.

There will be bottled water and snacks for particpants at the finish line.

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.

The awards ceremony will take place in the Awards Tent near the finish line at approximately 11:15 AM. 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: 7 & Under, 8-9, 10-12, 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.

This will be a bib-timed race with your time recorded when you cross the start and finish line.  Please have your race bib visible at the finish.

No pets allowed.  Sorry!  We love our furry friends, but can’t have them near the airfield.

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!  The FIRST shuttle leaves the parking area at 7:45 AM; the LAST shuttle before the race leaves at 9:40 AM (racers will be given priority closer to race time). Each shuttle seats 44 people so we can’t accommodate everyone if you all arrive later. PLEASE PLAN AMPLE TIME TO SHUTTLE TO THE EVENT!  

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

To transfer your registration to another person please log into Race Roster and select Transfer where prompted.

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 Monday, October 6 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 completing this process will be disqualified and banned from future races.

We will have live, unofficial results during the event via QR codes post around the event site and will post official results here by Saturday afternoon.

2025 Live Results

2024 Overall Results

2024 Age Group Results

2023 Overall Results

2023 Age Group Results

2022 Overall Results

2022 Combined AVL Runway 5K & Ascent at Mountain Air 5K

2022 Age Group Results

2021 Overall Results

2021 Age Group Results

2012 Overall
2012 Age Group

2011 Overall
2011 Age Group