Annual Run the Runway 5K put on by USU Aviation Program

Photos courtesy of Michael Logan

An airport runway might seem like an odd place to hold a 5K. However, for the last five years, the Logan-Cache Airport has been the location for this annual event hosted by the USU aviation program.

This tradition has drawn the attention of Jessica Cox, the only armless pilot in the world, and Gail Halverson, known as the “Candy Bomber.” Each of them has come to the event in recent years to support and promote the aviation program at USU. 

The 5K was organized by Alpha Eta Rho, a coed fraternity dedicated to help aviation students connect with professionals in their future fields and help them be successful. 

“100% of the proceeds of today’s race will go towards an aviation scholarship for students here at Utah State University,” said Professor Baron.

The scholarship is meant to honor the memory of Frank de Leon Compres, an aviation student at USU who passed away in an airplane accident in 2016. Read more on the tragedy here. 

Baron is an advisor for Alpha Eta Rho. He served in the Air Force for 27 years and is an assistant professor of aviation technology and director of the professional pilot program.

He said, “This is a great event because it reminds people of this individual who passed away in our program. It was just a terrible tragedy, and it honors his memory.”

Chris Heller is a transfer student from Minnesota and is president of the USU chapter of Alpha Eta Rho. He is the go-between to organize events like this and promote aviation in the community and found his passion for flying recently. 

“I didn’t realize it was a possibility until I found that there was an aviation major at Utah State, and I’ve loved it ever since I’ve gotten into an airplane,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot more squirrelly than those big commercial jetliners.”

During the 5K, the airport was still very active; they shut down the cross-wind runway for the event but the other one was open for business. All morning there were planes landing and taking off while people were jogging just a couple of hundred yards away. 

For Bryce Tueller, this was his first time running on the runway, and he won first place.

Tueller is a senior studying aviation maintenance and is in the Air Force ROTC. After he graduates he has a pilot slot in the Air Force where he hopes to fly helicopters. 

Tueller was inspired to get into aviation by his grandfather who flew medevac craft in Vietnam. He said he read a war journal his grandfather wrote about his experiences and decided that flying was the path for him, as well.

“I was always that kid on the soccer field who would stop playing just to look up as the planes flew over,” he said.

He ran in friendly competition against other members of the ROTC and felt proud he crossed the finish line before the rest of them. 

“I guess there’s a sense of accomplishment in the mechanic, who the pilots always look down on, beating them in the footrace,” he said tongue-in-cheek. 

Professor Baron said he loved how people from the community came together to participate in this event.

“It reminds people of the fun of aviation, of getting together to do something unique,” he said. “How often do you get to come run on an actual runway?” 

The aviation program hopes to continue this tradition for years to come.

Those interested can click here to contribute to the Frank de Leon Compres scholarship fund. 

—sladeabigail@aggiemail.usu.edu

@sladeabigail