Salon-de-Provence Marathon: Ready for Takeoff?

Runners from around the world regularly swap boulevard asphalt for the quiet tarmac of airport runways. In places that are usually so tightly controlled, the freedom to run unleashes a particular kind of energy. You do not get to run on a takeoff runway every day. The concept dates back to the 1970s and has since inspired a handful of imitators.

The New York legacy of the JFK Runway Run

So where did the idea of racing on airport tarmac begin? Born in New York in 1972, the JFK Runway Run is now considered the world's oldest competition held on an airport runway. It emerged just a few years after the running boom took off in the United States, reflecting New York's sporting avant-garde. Conceived by the local Rotary Club, the JFK Runway Run has combined athletic challenge and community support for more than 50 years. More than 1,000 runners line up each year for the 5K, with the unusual distinction of temporarily closing an active runway at the enormous JFK airport. Running under the gaze of travelers while planes continue taking off nearby remains an extraordinary experience. More importantly, the event embraced its charitable mission from the outset, raising funds for student scholarships, healthcare projects and a Christmas party for several hundred children with disabilities. A pioneer in opening its runway to runners, the JFK Runway Run was also ahead of its time in bringing together racing and solidarity, a formula that would spread around the world.

Salon-de-Provence: France's pioneer

In France, runners first set foot on airport tarmac on November 13, 2016 with the launch of the Salon-de-Provence Marathon. Its defining feature is the way it showcases the area's aviation heritage, with the course passing in front of aircraft belonging to the Patrouille de France, stationed at Air Base 701. The French public's affection for this elite aerobatic team is well known. After several editions, the event returns in 2025 with an expanded format: 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon, all featuring a section on the military tarmac. The event aims to be athletic, inclusive and festive, with entertainment for families. On Sunday, October 5, thousands of runners will set off on courses that organizers have been meticulously preparing for months. The route will take them through the heart of Salon-de-Provence before heading onto the airport tarmac. Running on an airport runway is bound to deliver some very particular sensations: the space, the silence, the freedom. This edition promises something extra too, as it will also celebrate the 90th anniversary of the École de l’air et de l’espace.

Salon-de-Provence has not been France's only runway race since 2022. The AéroRun du Bourget, organized by Aviation Sans Frontières, takes place in the Paris region. Its first public edition, held in 2024, brought together more than 1,500 participants from 22 nationalities for a charity 10K, raising over €100,000, notably to fund a hospital aircraft project. Once again, the tarmac proves to be a powerful catalyst for emotion and generosity.

What about elsewhere?

Beyond New York and France, several races have built strong reputations abroad, each with its own distinctive twist. In nearby Austria, the Runway Night Run in Linz brings its own touch: a 5K held at midnight on the cleared sections of the tarmac. Artificial lighting and the nighttime setting give the event a unique atmosphere in Europe. In England, Run Gatwick offers a half marathon and a 10K, with part of the course running along the access roads to the runway. For the purists, a little digging also turned up two races in Russia: Rostov-on-Don (Platov Runway) and Saint Petersburg (Pulkovo Runway Run). Farther afield, there is the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Marathon in Australia. The event attracted nearly 2,000 participants in 2024.

Tie your laces. The runners are ready for takeoff. Next destination? The simple pleasure of running. Have a good flight!