The Baxter County Airport runway will open to the public Saturday morning for the annual "Run the Runway" event, a unique 5K run and 1-mile walk hosted by the Leading Edge Aviation Foundation.
The event begins at 7:30 a.m. at the airport, located at 6462 Arkansas Highway 126 near Midway. Online registration, available through Friday night at pirateperryevents.com, costs $30 for either the run or the walk. Late registrations will be accepted in person at the airport from 6:30 to 7:15 a.m. Saturday, which is also when participants can pick up their packets for the race.
The weather is expected to cooperate with a cool start in the morning, with temperatures near 50 degrees at the start of the race and climbing to the upper 70s by midday under mostly clear skies. Organizers recommend wearing a light layer for the start that can be tied off by the finish.
The race course features a 5,000-foot-long, 75-foot-wide stretch of asphalt, with a bonus loop added near the half-mile mark on the 5K route. Both the 5K and 1-mile walking routes have been posted on Strava for participants who want to familiarize themselves with the course in advance.
The 5K race will be chip timed, starting with a gun signal. Every finisher receives a medal, and awards will be presented to the top three men and women overall, as well as the top three in nine age groups ranging from 9 and under to 70 and older. Runners will pass one aid station twice during the course, and snacks will be available at the finish line. Race shirts were promised to participants who registered by the cutoff, but late registrants should not expect to receive one.
The event also aims to highlight the airport's operations and community role. Pilots and airport personnel will be available to interact with attendees and answer questions. Though nestled in a quiet setting, the Baxter County Airport is home to 74 aircraft and handles approximately 11,500 takeoffs and landings annually, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Its operations include medical flights and business travel.
This marks the airport’s second public event this fall. In August, the first-ever Crosswind Classic brought warbirds, a car show, and a pilot poker run to the field, drawing a larger crowd than the airport’s 2023 open house.
Saturday’s event will conclude by 10 a.m., at which time the runway will return to regular aviation use.