I was excited to run the Run the Runway 5k in Mojave, California. There are very few races where I can stay in my own bed and drive to, but this is one of them. The last time I did it was in 2022, and it was extremely windy…if not the windiest race I’ve ever done. This year, it was equally as windy.
The Run the Runway 5k takes place at the Mojave Air and Space Port, where they do a ton of flight and space testing. It’s an opportunity to get close to things you may never otherwise see and enjoy the scenery. My goal wasn’t necessarily to run fast but to enjoy a rare opportunity. I didn’t really care about pace.
Before the Run the Runway:
I arrived around 7:15 a.m. for the 8:00 start. I was one of the first cars in the parking lot, so I was a little concerned about that. Did I have the wrong day? Thankfully, I didn’t, but I forgot how much I miss these local races. I found packet pickup, grabbed my bib, and headed back to the car. Despite the Run the Runway being only 10 miles from my house, the difference in weather was wild. I left home to a calm morning, but when I arrived in Mojave, it was extremely windy. Located next to Mojave is the Alta Wind Energy Center…one of the most powerful wind farms in the United States…and the turbines were moving fast.
I knew at least one of the miles into the headwind was going to feel rough. Because of the wind, it also felt super cold, and I was concerned that I didn’t have appropriate running gear. I almost ran in a basic cotton hoodie.
Run the Runway Race:
The Run the Runway 5k started right at 8 a.m., and off we went. A few years ago, I remember the course being short. This year, the Run the Runway 5k was actually 3.3 miles. Once again, I didn’t really care…it was a local race.
The first mile had a nice tailwind, and I found myself as the fifth person overall. We ran through a dirt ditch and onto the runway. From there, I was just taking in the sights. I ran a 6:45 first mile and was fairly surprised. My legs didn’t feel great, and I was just trying to get through it.
During the second mile, we hit the headwind about halfway through. It was rough. I found myself passing two people and moving into third overall, which is crazy because I’m not a strong runner in the wind. With the combination of tailwind and headwind, I ran a 6:53 mile. We were doing a large loop around the runway.
The final mile was straight into the headwind, and it felt like it would never end. I passed another person and found myself as the second overall runner, right behind someone from Run Club. It was so windy, but we got to run by the Stratolaunch hangar and see the ROC, which was really exciting. I almost stopped to take a selfie but it was really cold and windy. When I hit mile 3 in 7:30 with no finish line in sight, I knew the course would be long.
Ultimately, I crossed the Run the Runway 5k finish line at 3.27 miles with a 7:09 pace overall. Someone outkicked me in the final .1 and I finished third person overall.
Run the Runway Thoughts:
I had no goals for the race, thankfully, because the wind made any time goals pointless. I had a great time, and it was such a fun experience to run on the Mojave Air and Space Port runway. If you’re looking for a unique 5k, this is one to do.
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Questions for you:
Have you run on a Runway before?
What is your favorite 5k?