A runway, nearly 1,000 runners and a morning of EAA memories

OSHKOSH – Nearly 1,000 runners hit the tarmac July 25 for the EAA AirVenture Runway 5K, turning Wittman Regional Airport into one of Wisconsin’s most unusual race courses.

The charity run/walk began at 6:30 a.m. on the second-to-last day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The 3.1-mile course took runners through the AirVenture grounds, where even fast-paced contestants slowed enough to take in thousands of planes parked at Wittman Regional Airport.

The race attracted all kinds of participants, including first-time AirVenture visitors.

Shelby Hyatt, of Cincinnati, had never been to EAA before, but she wanted to attend with her father, who drove in from Louisiana.

“I have been running since November, and I recently ran my first half marathon this year,” Hyatt said. “I didn’t even know there was a race, but I wanted to get to run around the airplanes, and I really think this was a cool experience. I definitely would come back, just to run this race.”

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The race briefly increased foot traffic near the control tower and Boeing Plaza. Brett Crabtree, of Fond du Lac, said he was driving when “whoosh, there were all of these people in front of me,” and he had to pull to the side of the road.

According to official registration results, 919 runners finished the race, with an average time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 5 seconds.

Sisters Chloe and Elizabeth Treffinger were among the competitors. Both had run the race in previous years and wanted to come back.

“It was fun to run,” Elizabeth said. “Our dad flies a lot, so we come every year.”

Mary-Elizabeth Kurek, of Chicago, has been coming to EAA since 2019, but running the race has become more meaningful to her over the years.

“My dad was in the Coast Guard, and my mom is a rocket scientist, so being at EAA is a tradition for us,” Kurek said. “But with the 5K, I had a friend, Aymee Zimmerman, whose son used to run the race with her, but he passed away in a motorcycle accident. I’m not a runner, but she got me to do [the race] in 2023 … and now I haven’t stopped since.”

The race closed at 8 a.m., and trams resumed carrying attendees around the grounds. Groups of spectators kept cheering as runners crossed the finish line.

Billie Liez, of Kansas, stood outside her camp near the 2-mile mark to encourage runners as they passed.

“I used to be a runner, so I know that feeling,” Liez said. “I love seeing everyone getting out there, and wow, it really is amazing to just see people at EAA like this, and I love just cheering them on.”

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• Date: Sunday, July 26

• Location: EAA Fly-In Convention Grounds, 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, adjacent to Wittman Regional Airport.

• Hours: Final-day hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the daily air show scheduled for 1 p.m. and Red Arrows crowd line changes beginning at noon for the Sunday air show.

• Daily air show: 1 p.m.

• Sunday admission: Sunday-only tickets are $26 for EAA members and veterans or active military, and $32 for non-members.

• Parking: On-site daily parking is $25 Sunday.

• Website: https://www.eaa.org/airventure

• Mark your calendar: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2027 will be July 26-Aug. 1, 2027

Location: EAA Fly-In Convention Grounds, 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, adjacent to Wittman Regional Airport.

Hours: Final-day hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the daily air show scheduled for 1 p.m. and Red Arrows crowd line changes beginning at noon for the Sunday air show.

Sunday admission: Sunday-only tickets are $26 for EAA members and veterans or active military, and $32 for non-members.

Parking: On-site daily parking is $25 Sunday.

Mark your calendar: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2027 will be July 26-Aug. 1, 2027

Emma Johnson is the Appleton Post-Crescent’s summer intern. Reach her at ejohnson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: A runway, nearly 1,000 runners and a morning of EAA memories