AVL Runway 5K

Name: AVL Runway 5K
Start: 2023-10-07T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2023-10-07T12:00:00-04:00
Location: Asheville Regional Airport

October 7 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Runway 5K is back, with new & exciting changes!

Saturday, October 7 | 10:00 AM

Ready to run the FLATTEST 5K in the mountains? And how about a morning with music, local food trucks (think coffee, smoothies, pastries) and better-than-ever plane spotting?

Asheville Regional Airport looks forward to welcoming you to the airfield!

Our race is the most unique 5K in the mountains – it’s completely FLAT, and hey – it’s on the airfield of the airport. Racers will run on Taxiway Bravo, beside our active Runway 17-35. And NEW this year – we’re moving the entire event, including the start and finish line – from the south to the north side of the airfield. The tents and viewing areas will be much closer to the taxiway and runway (great experience for spectators – bring your good cameras)! Be sure to wave to the passengers in the planes that will be taking off and landing while you run. What are you waiting for?

Registration:

Online registration will open Wednesday, April 12 at 9:00 AM and closes at 9:00 PM on Wednesday, October 4th. There will be no on-site registration this year.

Race Cap:

The race is limited to 1,000 participants. Participants may bring their cheering squad, but only racers will be allowed on the taxiway.

Two Runways, Two Races, One Day
The AVL Runway 5K is the first two races in the Asheville area that take place at airports. Later that evening, the Ascent at Mountain Air 5K in Burnsville takes runners up 1,800 feet to the community’s private airstrip and the most spectacular finish line you will find anywhere. In addition, Mountain Air is awarding the fastest combined time (male or female), a weekend getaway at Mountain Air.

Location + Parking:

All race-day activities will take place on the north side 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 just outside the fenced area of the airport, located at 20 Pinner Road, Arden, NC 28704, off Glenn Bridge Road. *Shuttles will operate from 7:30am until 9:20am (prior to race). The LAST shuttle (44 passengers) will depart at 9:20am, so arrive early! Shuttles will begin again at approximately 11am, after the race.

Race Day Site Map

Details

Date:: October 7
Time:: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Event Category:: 5K

Online Registration

Venue

: Asheville Regional Airport
: 61 Terminal Dr #1
Fletcher, NC 28732 United States + Google Map

Race Information

Entry Fees

Through September 26

$35 (Short-sleeved micro-fiber race shirt guaranteed)

$50 (Long-sleeved micro-fiber race shirt guaranteed – not available after October 4)

September 27 – October 4

$40 (Short-sleeved race shirt, while supplies last)

$55 (Long-sleeved race shirt, while supplies last)

(Race T-shirts guaranteed to all who register by September 26. After that date, T-shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.)

Children who ride in strollers do not need to enter the race, provided they stay in strollers the entire time they are on the course.

Packet Pickup/Late Registration

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

Schedule

Friday, October 6

4:00-6:00 PM Packet Pickup – Hunter Subaru (220 Hunter Airport Drive, Fletcher, NC)

Saturday, October 7

7:30 AM Shuttles to the race venue begin running – Park at 20 Pinner Road, Arden, NC 28704, off Glenn Bridge Road (just outside of the airport fence at the north end of the runway – watch for signs and parking personnel)

7:40-9:30 AM Packet Pickup – Race Venue

10:00 AM 5K Start

11:00 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 ale 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 5 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!).

Limited 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.

Those pushing strollers must ensure no trash or items can be blown or thrown out of the stroller.

We must keep the airfield clear of any debris, so nothing may be discarded while on the airfield!

Course Map/Event Area Diagram

Additional Info.

RACE SHIRTS

All who registered by September 26 (9pm) are guaranteed a race t-shirt in the size ordered. Those who registered after September 26 – October 4 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.

Shirts are 4.1 oz 100% Microfiber Performance Polyester, Paragon Plus Moisture Management, Anti-Microbial Finish, Wrinkle-resistant finish, UPF 50+ label on left hemmed sleeve with a ParagonXP tear away label.

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

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.

Special ear plugs for protection while running will be available on site if needed.

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.

2021 RACE PHOTOS

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

Post Race

Event Site

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

Food! Three food trucks (think coffee, smoothies, pastries) will be on site for this fun morning event.

Credit cards accepted.

Merch! 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 20 Pinner Road, Arden, NC 28704 (watch for signs and parking personnel), 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 7:30am until 9:20am (prior to race). THE LAST SHUTTLE (44 PASSENGERS) WILL DEPART AT 9:20AM – so ARRIVE EARLY! Shuttles begin again at approximately 11am, 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 in Spring 2024, and all registered participants will be notified

Transfers

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.

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