Runway 5K Sets New Records
On a crisp fall Saturday morning, October 18, 2025, the pre-dawn sky was vividly painted with orange and pink hues — the perfect backdrop for making the CLT Runway 5K a memorable, record-breaking event. (Click here for the race day video.)
Not only did this year’s race sell out in under three hours, but more than $80K was raised for the Airport’s Opportunity Scholarship Fund at Central Piedmont Community College (increasing the total to over $300K since 2019). Scholarship recipients were at the finish line to hand out medals and thank the runners.
Since its inception, 20 students have received the scholarship (15 have graduated or transferred to a 4-year institution), and ten new scholars have been welcomed into the 2025-26 cohort.
Running With Purpose
The event had 1600 participants, each with unique reasons for lacing their sneakers in the early morning chill.
Some had overcome serious health issues, some were new moms working to get back in shape, and others had special connections to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) or aviation.
“We are excited to have 13 Kimley-Horn teammates running in the race,” said Amanda Gradoville, the Carolinas Region Marketing Team Leader. “We are proud partners to CLT, providing engineering and planning consulting services, and we’ve been working on several recent CLT projects, such as the North End Around Taxiway (NEAT) and the Fourth Parallel Runway Project.”
Hannah Schwartz of Indian Land, SC, has run the 5K several years, but this time she selected an outfit with a nod to female aviator Amelia Earhart.
“I just love it, it’s such a fun race,” said Schwartz, whose father was a private pilot and flight instructor. “Where else can you be on the runway and see these planes? I just went down and saw the 777 and being that close and looking at the size of the engines and the landing gear, it was great!”
CLT Gives Back
The Runway 5K is one of many ways CLT demonstrates its support for the community as a good neighbor. It provides participants with the excitement of running on an active runway and a new perspective of the airport. Two hundred five volunteers and 36 sponsors contributed to the event's success.
Several aircraft were displayed, including an American Airlines Boeing 777, an Airbus 321, and a DaVinci Jets Beech Jet. Runners were also treated to coffee trucks, a race pre-stretch from Charlotte Yoga, vendors and entertainment.
“A friend of mine did the race a couple of years ago,” said Cesar Gonzales, a triathlete from Miami. “She had great pictures; it looked amazing. So, I had it on my calendar and signed up as soon as it opened.”
Rhett Roberts and his father, Jeff, raced in wheelchairs to raise awareness for quadriplegic athletes and adaptive sports like wheelchair rugby.
“I’m here to support my son and all the adaptive athletes out there,” said Roberts. “It’s a great group of individuals that we come across in these adaptive sports, and you know sometimes they get forgotten about, but they are tremendous people and really great athletes in their own way.”
This was non-binary runner Ab McCarthy’s first-ever Runway 5K. “I run to prove that I exist,” said McCarthy. “Running has significantly boosted my self-confidence, and it has also made me louder.”
International Reach
In its 18th year, the Runway 5K has grown in popularity and size. In 2007, the race had only 500 participants. This year, ten of the 1,600 runners and walkers crossing the finish line traveled over 1,000 miles, including four from abroad.
Liron Baltrusch from Germany traveled to Charlotte after hearing about it from his brother Jakob, who lives in the Queen City. “The CLT Runway 5K was my first race, since I only started running this past summer,” said Baltrusch, who is training in Germany. “When he showed me pictures and told me about the Runway 5K, I was hooked.”
Theo Buncamper came from the Caribbean island of St. Maarten after seeing the race advertised in the CLT terminal. “ I had a great time running the CLT Runway 5K,” said Buncamper. “As a pilot based in the Caribbean, it’s easily one of my favorite races! There’s something special about running down the same runway I usually fly into. I can't wait to do it again next year.”
The race also drew runners from British Columbia. Glenda and Howard Graham learned about the race from their daughter in North Carolina. “We have four grandchildren there and wanted to join them in the 5K,” said Glenda. “We are 71 and 77, married for 53 years, and love visiting North Carolina and enjoying your incredible fall colors.”
If you missed it this year, the good news is that registration for next year’s race will open on August 1, 2026!