Airport 5k on the Runway resumes after two-year hiatus

After a two-year-long hiatus due to COVID-19, TPA’s largest community fundraising event - the 5K on the Runway - returned on April 2, raising $82,033 for United Way Suncoast. 

This year’s theme: From heart to sole, we’re lacing up and giving back. Proceeds of the race benefit United Way Suncoast, a nonprofit organization with a long-standing partnership with the Airport that supports Tampa Bay families through a variety of educational, financial and workforce development programs. 

This year, like many others, the race was held on runway 10-28 and sold out earlier than any previous year with 2,000 runners registering by Feb. 28. Participants had the rare opportunity to complete a 3.1-mile race on a temporarily closed airport runway alongside parked aircraft. 

The race, in its 8th year at TPA, is an Airport tradition and has raised more than half a million dollars since its inception. 

This year, the race raised nearly $83,000 between race and virtual registrations, online donations and raffle ticket sales. 

In 2020, the race was held virtually while in 2021, it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.