Friday's Featured 5k of the Week - Rockford AirFest Run The Runway

It's not often I get to write about a 5k almost immediately after finishing it - because the feature is on Monday's and Friday's and most 5Ks are on Saturdays and Sundays. But tonight is an exception. I ran the Run the Rockford AirFest Run the Runway a few hours ago. This is one of those rare evening races - which is definitely nice in the summer. I know have completed all 4 "Chicago Airport" 5Ks, Chicago Midway, Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Executive (Palwaukee), and Chicago Rockford. Each one is different - so that's cool. I've already written about the other three.

This event hosted 3 races - a 1-mile to start things off (and people could sign up for the 1 mile and 5k), a Kids Run, and then the 5k. The 5k was almost entirely on the runway itself, with a little bit on a taxiway and about half a mile or so on a frontage road. Smooth and flat all the way - slight uphill on the runway, followed by a downhill, but nothing real noticeable. Fast course.  Wide course, lots of room to run whatever pace the participant chooses, without having to worry about congested running lanes.  (I mean, runways are pretty wide usually)

Also, involved with the event, both as runners and finish-line volunteers were the F-22 Raptor Team and the Blue Angels. Yes, - THE Blue Angels - the ones who fly the planes at all the cool air shows!! During the 1-mile run, as the slower runners finished, the Blue Angels ran out on the course to meet up with them and run them into the finish. What a classy move - and the runners loved it! They also did the same for the slower kids in the Kids Run. These kids will remember that forever. The F-22 Raptor Team also did the same. This is what is great about our Armed Forces - they are here for us - not just in battle - but in everything we do! It was a very touching gesture that garnered tons of applause as they ran these runners in! Also, the Blue Angels that chose not to run high-fived every runner who completed the 1-mile and Kids Run - in sort of a high-five tunnel like is seen in pro sports. The very presence and actions of these Heros is difficult to describe in print, but everybody of every age was moved by their actions.

The course had some cool touches too - mostly a straight line - but after the halfway point the course took runners past a parked jumbo jet AND past 5 or 6 Blue Angels jets - displayed right next to the course. Apparently, as I learned later, the Blue Angels asked if they could display the jets for the runners! Another great gesture from the men and women of our Armed Forces!

Prior to the event, and I regret I forgot the name of the team, the participants were treated to not one, but two parachute jumps - the first being a solo, and the second consisting of 5 jumpers, with the red smoke and the somersaults and all the cool stuff - landing only yards away from the start/finish area!
A very well organized event with plenty of refreshments afterwards. Oh yeah, all kids who ran the 1-mile and the kids race received those cool airplane wings to pin on their shirts!

The Run the Runway kicks off the Rockford AirFest weekend - "going on now", as they say.

http://rockfordairfest.com/events/run-the-runway-5k-run-begins/