Sat, Sep 12, 2026

Runway 5k

Gastonia, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

About the Runway 5k

The course runs on the actual runway at Gastonia Municipal Airport, which makes for a flat, wide-open stretch with nothing blocking the horizon in either direction. The surface is smooth pavement, the surroundings are airfield rather than park or neighborhood, and the FAA's runway closure window means the race moves on a firm schedule. Water and snacks are at the finish.

Packet pickup is the evening before at the airport itself, with race-morning pickup also available before the start. The airport address doubles as the start and finish, so there is no separate venue to find.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

191finishers

17:26winner

33:23median

57:36cutoff

Top 3: Taylor Adams (17:26) · Michael Bee (17:38) · Cameron Doster (18:25)

The Runway 5k has been held every year since at least 2023. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles9/12/2026 07:30$30

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Runway 5k

Will I finish last at the Runway 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 33:23, and the last recorded finisher came in around 57:36, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Runway 5k a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (191 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Runway 5k?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:26 while the median finisher took 33:23. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.