For runners of marathons and other such racing events, the prospect of running on a smooth and endlessly flat airport runway is incredibly tantalising. In fact, there are airports in the United States which allow their airfields to be turned into racing tracks surrounded by family and friends cheering loudly from the sidelines. JFK has an annual fundraiser called “Run on the Runway” where an active runway hosts a 5K race by holding off landing and take-offs for a few hours and diverting all airplanes to a secondary runaway on the day of the event.

Now runners in India too can gloat about racing on the runways. If all goes according to plan, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport will be the first-ever Indian airport to host a 10K run on May 8, as part of its 10th year anniversary celebrations. Organised by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the Runway 10K is open to all adults, although they will be required to submit details of their “past accolades” at the time of registration, so that serious runners are given preference. Entries will be accepted till April 30 and the racing event will only allow a total of 100 participants. The race starts at 12:45pm and ends at 2:15pm.

An initiative like this is likely to generate a barrage of inquiries. To begin with, this is not a marathon run, affirms a BIAL spokesperson. “It’s a 10K race and it’s going to be done on an active runway. It will take place on a Tuesday afternoon which is when our airport is closed for its weekly scheduled maintenance,” says the spokesperson. Frequent fliers to and from the city will know that every Tuesday, the Bengaluru airport is closed between 12:30 and 3pm for maintenance and clean-up, and flights are not scheduled in this time period.

The airport has the DGCA approval for this run. Special airport entry passes will be handed out to selected participants only, and because this isn’t a spectator event, the highly secure zone will not permit family and friends of the chosen runners.

Can the victors look forward to any prizes? “Not really. It is basically about the joy of being associated with a run like this, because it’s never happened before (in India). It’s just aspirational to be a part of it. Because the airport is restricted to people who are travelling, this gives us an opportunity to open up to others as well,” says the spokesperson.

source: http://www.theweek.com / The Week / Home> Leisure> Lifestyle / by Sneha Bhura / April 24th, 2018