Featured Running Event of the Week - "Aiport Races"

Two years ago, I took a shot and submitted this as an article to 3 different running newsletters/blogs.  It actually got picked up by 2 of them, but not the third.  So, I figure, now is a time to print it here, as I’ve given the other 2 blogs enough time to circulate it on their sites.

So, at one point, there were 4 different “airport races” in the Chicagoland area, that I was aware of.  I managed to run in 4 of them.  The 5^th one, a 1-mile sprint, called “Run The Runway, took place at Joliet Regional Airport.  Due to other race conflicts, I was not able to participate in that one.  But here is a breakdown of the ones I did get to run.  Some of these are still active events, some are on hiatus, always google first, to see which ones are still going on.

MIDWAY AIRPORT

“Midway Fly Away 5k”

Southwest Chicago

Date : Usually in September

Distance : 5k

Open to walkers : Yes

The pre-race/post-race of this event takes place in the Southwest Airlines hangar.  Parking is directly across the street from the hangar and is free with race bib.  Inside the hangar sits a Southwest Airline jet for viewing and photo-ops.  Due to FAA and DHS regulations, there is a very bright yellow line that participants can not cross.  Wayne Messmer, of Chicago Wolves/Chicago Blackhawks fame has been the singer of the National Anthem inside the hangar to start the event.  The course starts/ends just outside the hangar and runs along access roads around the border of the airport property.  At one point, the course actually exits airport property and does an out-and-back on a local Chicago sidestreet.  The course returns to airport property, and bibs must be visible for re-entry.  The course then begins to head back towards the hangar on the same perimeter access roads.  The race is chip-timed.  There are several raffles and silent auction opportunities during the post-race event.  And, being an airport, the course is naturally quite flat and fast.  All the while, planes are arriving and departing overhead.

O’HARE AIRPORT

“O’Hare 5k On The Runway”

Northwest Chicago

Date : Usually in September or October

Distance : 5k (though, some years also a 10k)

Open to walkers : Yes

The pre-race/post-race takes place near Economy Lot G in the Department of Aviation parking lot and there should be plenty of available parking there.  Parking is free for those with a race bib.  Like most races there are plenty of sponsor/health tents set up including a donut/hot coffee food truck.  There was also a group Zumba/stretching warm-up class prior to the race.  The race starts on an access road just inside the airport property, as runners have to pass through a gate from the pre-race event onto the access road.  The course runs on two driveable access roads for a short time before heading towards a runway.  Runners then traverse a long distance on one runway before turning onto a crossing runway for a period of time.  Runners then make a sharp turn of less than 90 degrees onto another runway towards a taxi-way.  At this point in the race, there is a giant airplane parked alongside the course.  Runners can peel off from the course and get a photo-op in front / nearly under this plane on an actual runway.  The course almost takes runners directly under the wing of the jet.  Participants then begin the trek back to the finish line essentially following the same path taken out.  The race is chip-timed.  The post-race party includes a live band and food trucks serving lunch faire.  A flat and fast course. And, all the while, planes are arriving and departing overhead.

CHICAGO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (Palwaukee Airport)

“Run The Runway At CEA”

Wheeling, IL

Date : Usually around the 4^th of July

Distance : 5k (and 1 mile walk)

Open to walkers : Yes

This event takes place at the former Palwaykee Airport, now called Chicago Executive Airport or CEA.  The event consists of a 5k and a 1 mile walk.  The 5k is open to walkers as well, and there is an established time-limit.  Parking is on the property and free.  The pre-race/post-race takes place near one of the many hangers, with several planes parked on the parking lot and in a row along the taxi-way.  Planes ranging from single-seat props to 30+ seat jets are on display.  All planes are available for viewing before and after the race.  The course starts out immediately on a taxi-way and makes a turn onto a runway.  Runners then peel off of the runway to run the perimeter of a few hangars and then back to the runway.  The course then hairpins, sending runners the opposite direction on the runway for a long straight-away.  The course then heads onto some taxi-ways, makes a couple of turns, places runners within sight and sound of the finish line – only to make a turn away from the finish and back up another taxi-way before making a hairpin back towards the finish line.  After the race, the parking lot perimeter is lined with operating food trucks for the annual CEA FoodTruck and Airport show.  Lunch and breakfast are available at the food trucks, and runners do receive a coupon for some free items.  The race is gun-start/chip-finish.  The course is naturally flat and fast with long straight-aways.  The airport is not active during the run, as the runners are using the main runway for the event.

CHICAGO-ROCKFORD AIRPORT

“Rockford Airfest – Run The Runway”

Rockford, IL

Date : Usually in June

Distance : 5k (and 1 mile competitive run an a kids run)

Open to walkers : The 5k is – the 1-mile is not

The pre-race/post-race takes place outside a remote hangar with an adjacent parking lot.  There is plenty of parking, and the parking is free with a race bib.  Runners could sign-up for both the 1-mile and the 5k event.  The 5k is open to walkers as well, with a time limit.  This event is one of those rare evening runs, which is certainly welcome in the summer months.  The race starts as the sun is setting and ends just before it actually gets dark.  By the time awards are presented, participants will need headlights to get home.  The race is actually part of the Airfest event, and that means that some of the runners are actual members of the F-22 Raptor Air Team and THE Blue Angels Flying Team.  Both of these groups went out and ran the kids back to the finish line during the kids race – in uniform – something the kids will always remember.  In addition, their jets are parked along the final mile of the course for runners to pass as they complete the race.  The course itself is 100% on runways.  It starts heading one way on a runway, then hairpins and heads the other way, and turns onto a crossing runway and does the same.  Basically the course is almost like an X or a + sign.  Racers finish the final mile on an access road, running past a couple of parked jets and then the Blue Angel and F-22 Raptor planes down the final stretch.  This course consists of basically 4 very long straightaways and some hairpins – a true runway run.  However, it’s not completely flat and fast.  The main runway actually has an uphill grade for half of the course – and a downhill grade for the other half.  The race is gun-start/chip-finish.  The airport is not active during the run, as the main runway is used for the event.