Races in Funny Places: The Airport Runway 5K Challenge with Added Jet Fuel

Welcome to "Races in Funny Places," a new series where we explore the quirkiest race venues around the world. From airports to shopping centres and everything in between, we’re taking a look at the events that go beyond the usual race course. First up, we’re hitting the tarmac with the unique 5K races held on airport runways.

Picture this: you’re doing your warm up for a 5k, but instead of the usual park path or city street, you’re staring down a gleaming stretch of tarmac, usually reserved for massive jets. It’s late at night, maybe 11 p.m. or even midnight, when the planes have finally been grounded and the runway is, miraculously, free. There’s an eerie calm as you line up with a few hundred others, all squinting into the dim runway lights, ready to channel your inner Boeing. Welcome to the world of airport runway races, the quirky, brief, but surprisingly exhilarating 5Ks where runners swap dodging potholes for sidestepping… well, absolutely nothing. Runways, as it turns out, are perfectly smooth, hazard-free, and startlingly flat.

And in 2023, this unique racing trend hit a new stride in Ireland, with three runway races taking place across Cork, Knock, and Belfast. In Cork, runners gathered at midnight on November 2nd to race down the tarmac, embracing the thrill of the quiet hours. Knock’s Ireland West Airport runway 5K fun run took place on September 14th, and just two days earlier, Belfast hosted the Air Ambulance 5K run on the runway. For each race, hundreds of runners turned out, drawn by the novelty and sheer fun of racing on the very ground where jets would be touching down by morning. Unfortunately, Dublin Airport doesn’t host a runway race as it’s far too busy with air traffic to allow a full 5K run.

The Pre-Race Vibes: Waiting for Takeoff

The night usually begins like any other race, but with a twist. Instead of a tranquil park, you arrive at a sprawling airport. There’s a surreal mix of race-day energy and airport security (you’re still on airport property, so don’t even think about sneaking in that extra-large bottle of water). Runners gather in the dark, a hushed murmur passing among the crowd as you’re shepherded through a quiet terminal and led out onto the tarmac.

Then come the pre-race announcements: you’re reminded to stick to your side of the runway, don’t wander off into restricted areas, and please, please don’t lie down on the tarmac for photos. Every runner’s heard “stick to the left” before, but on a runway, it feels particularly important. No one wants to be the one mistaken for debris by the security cameras.

The Race: Clear for Takeoff

And then, you’re off. A runway 5K tends to be refreshingly straightforward, no hills, no winding turns, just pure, flat tarmac stretching out ahead. Some ambitious participants revel in the opportunity to clock personal bests, as this is the closest many of us will get to running in conditions as smooth and even as a treadmill. Others take a more relaxed approach, soaking in the sheer absurdity of the setting.

There’s a strange joy in moving down the same stretch where planes, weighing hundreds of tonnes, soar into the sky. You can almost hear the imaginary “V1… Rotate!” in your head as you reach top speed (or, in reality, a mildly brisk jog). For the first time, a 5K becomes a full-on aviation experience, minus the baggage fees and the shouting about liquids.

The Mid-Race Pit Stops: Watch for Crosswinds

Unlike your standard 5K, airport runway races involve memorable scenery: parked jets in the distance, the faint glow of runway lights, and ground crew bundled up in high-vis gear watching on in quiet amusement. There’s something deeply humbling about running next to a runway built for 400-tonne planes, knowing that while they’re designed to hit 900 km/h, your speed tops out at something closer to a leisurely bike ride.

Sometimes, runners make airplane noises, yes, fully grown adults, arms outstretched, mimicking jets. It’s strange but almost universal; maybe there’s just something about being on a runway that turns everyone into a five-year-old. And who’s to judge? After all, it’s not every night you get to strut (or flail) down the tarmac like you own it.

The Finish Line: Ready for Landing

Crossing the finish line is a unique experience. Instead of cheers by the usual trees or race banners, you’re greeted by the blinking lights of the runway and perhaps a few airport staff trying not to laugh. Finishing a 5K with the knowledge that you’ve run the same route a 400-tonne plane takes before lifting off into the sky has a strange, satisfying finality to it. You haven’t just completed a race; you’ve technically been where only a privileged few airport crew or aircraft have been before.

And that’s it, the satisfaction of having run somewhere truly unique. While some races may shower you in branded knick-knacks, the runway run offers nothing but a story you’ll tell for years: “I ran down an actual runway once,” you’ll casually say, and watch people’s eyes widen.

After the Race: Return to Terminal

Post-race, as you return to the terminal and blend back into everyday airport life, there’s a camaraderie among participants. You’ve collectively shared a bizarre experience, one that’s a cross between running and a strange field trip. As you pass through security, sweaty and grinning, you catch the bemused glances of actual travellers who wonder if they’ve stumbled upon some sort of odd airport training exercise.

In a way, an airport runway race is a celebration of the little things we often overlook, the sheer scale of modern airports, the precision of aviation, and the childlike joy of running somewhere so unusual. So, next time you see a sign for a runway 5K, consider signing up. You may not actually take off, but you’ll certainly feel a bit more ready for it.