The Ascent at Mountain Air 5K

5K

Early Registration (April 15-June 30) – $25

Regular Registration (July 1-August 31) – $30

Late Registration (September 1-Race Day) – $35

Fun Run

Regular Registration (March 15-Race Day – $15

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 – September 6

3:00-4:30 PM         5K Packet Pickup/Late Registration-Mountain Air Visitor Center

4:00-5:45 PM         Fun Run Packet Pickup/Late Registration-Runway

4:30-4:55 PM         Shuttles to the finish line

5:00 PM                  5K Start

5:15-6:00 PM         Fun Run/Walk (on runway)

6:15 PM                   Awards Ceremony

6:15 PM                  Shuttles begin to the main gate

This 5K is not for the faint of heart or spirit. The course is 1800’ of unrelenting climbing on paved roads from start to finish. The payoff is at the finish with unrivaled views as far as the eyes can see of our mountains and forests.

Course Map

Click HERE to see a video of the course.

The Fun Run/Walk takes place entirely on the community’s private runway, offering unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains.  The course will be one mile in length but you have the option of turning around at any point.

Stuff

Each runner will receive a special race shirt to mark the occasion.  Register by Thursday, August 14 to guarantee your size.

Bag Drop

For your convenience, we will have a bag drop area at the start area where you can leave a small bag. Prior to the start, we will take all bags to the finish line where you can claim them after the race.

We are planning for a fun post-race party complete with music and local food and refreshments plus the best views anywhere.

The awards ceremony for the 5K will take place near the finish line. Special commemorative awards will be presented to the top ten male and female finishers. If you cannot stay for the awards ceremony, please ask a friend to pick it up for you. Awards will not be mailed.

Cash Bonus for Course Records: We will award $150 cash to the male and/or female who breaks the course record for the Open, Masters (40-49), and Grand Masters (50&Over) divisions.

All ages are eligible to break the Open course record; those 40-49 are eligible to break the Open and Masters course records; and those 50 & over are eligible to break the Open and Grand Masters course records.]

Course Records

Open Male: Luke Paulson – 26:24 (2022); Open Female: Anne Wheatley – 28:48 (2018)

Masters Male: Stuart Moran – 27:57 (2017); Masters Female: Jennifer Fisher – 30:11 (2025)

Grand Masters Male: Brad Dellinger – 29:22 (2020); Grand Masters Female: Martha Olsen – 38:31 (2021)

The 5K will be a bib-timed race with your time recorded when you cross the finish line. Please have your race bib visible at the finish.

The Fun Run/Walk will be untimed but we ask you wear the race bibs provided on your front to identify as one of our Fun Run/Walk participants.

Well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome to participate.

Parking will be located in three areas near the Mountain Air Visitor Center: 2 grass areas on the left and right as you approach the visitor center and one to the left just past the visitor center and before the main gate.

Shuttles will take spectators/non-runners to the finish line between 4:30 and 4:55 PM.  This is the only opportunity for your people to get to the top as we can’t have shuttles on the road behind the field of runners.  

There will be shuttles to the bottom leaving the finish area starting at 6:15.  We encourage everyone to hang out and enjoy this spectacular place as the shuttles run.

Spectators may bring small lawn chairs or blankets to sit on at the top.

Directions From Asheville
I-26 N to Burnsville exit 9 E.
Take 19E for 13 miles to second stoplight at Phipps Creek Rd. Make right and go 2 miles to entrance on left.
30 minute drive from downtown Asheville

The Ascent on Mountain Air 5K taking has a NO REFUND policy.

Transfers

To transfer your registration to another person please log into Race Roster and select Transfer where prompted.  All transfers must be completed by Thursday, September 4 at 9:00 PM EST.

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.

2025 Overall

2024 Overall

2023 Overall

2023 Combined AVL Runway 5K & Ascent at Mountain Air 5K

2022 Overall

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

2021 Overall

2020 Overall

2019 Overall

2018 Overall

2018 Awards

2017 Overall

2017 Awards