BlogTO.com recently did a round-up of road races in Toronto in 2012 and the list (as with every city) gets a little boring with every ‘burb hosting a 5K in the spring and summer months. The one that stuck out for me, however, was the Toronto Pearson Runway 5K Run/2K Walk in its 5th incarnation and benefiting Hope Air.
Now, I’m a bit of a flying nut and I love airports but I don’t know all my airplane models by sight nor do know my YYZ (Toronto Pearson Airport) runways as displayed by some of the registrants from 2009 who are also FlyerTalk forum members. What I could glean that is totally fun is that you run down one runway in a loop course while the runway right next to you is still open! There will be take-off and landing sightings with additional possible bonus of military jet flyover!
With the race taking place on an active runway, there are additional security concerns which makes this race a little more special. I’m okay as long as I can pocket my camera during the run.
I registered before the April 8 fee hike and $50 seems a bit steep for a 5K. I hope Hope Air gets a substantial portion of the registration fee but from a selfish participant’s perspective, at least you get a technical t-shirt out of it and I think it will look decent.
While I’m excited to go to the airport for a special race, I’m not so stoked to have to go to the airport a few days beforehand to pick up my race package as there is no race-day package pick-up. It is not convenient to get to the airport from downtown when you don’t have a car. The comfortable coach bus is expensive ($30 round trip) and the public transportation option is painfully long (1.5 hours each way). I really wish that since Running Room is sponsoring, one of their centrally located stores could be running the package pick-up. Well, I guess I’ll line up some entertainment for that brutal extra trip to the airport!