![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_092029loBW.jpg)
decommissioned Boeing 727
I wasn't a runner back then—and I'm still not—but I thought to myself, if I were to ever do a race, I think I'd like to do one on an airport runway.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_083956cropLO.jpg)
Well, my time came this past weekend, as I arrived to the National Guard Hangar at Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Southern California's Inland Empire for its "5K the Runway" event.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_094732lo.jpg)
The hangar, part of the 1950s-era Army air field that was adjacent to the then-Ontario Municipal Airport, was decommissioned in 1995 and is now used for film shoots and community events like this one.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_084842lo.jpg)
I was feeling a little nervous, having rolled my ankle and sprained my foot about a month ago—but fortunately I'd only signed up for the 1-mile "Family Walk."
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_085009lo.jpg)
Even better, there were ONT therapy dogs—part of the "Paw Squad"—like Luna the Maltipoo...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_094430lo.jpg)
...and Violet Rose the Basset Hound...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_085504lo.jpg)
...who loves belly rubs and doesn't care if the ground is wet.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_084701lo.jpg)
The weather held up for the event—despite having been scheduled in the middle of an epic, record-breaking rainstorm that had been soaking SoCal.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_085711lo.jpg)
The rain-or-shine event was sold out—but I wondered if anybody would actually brave the treat of rain to show up. Plenty did, though—including the mascot for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes baseball team, After Shock.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_090655cropLO.jpg)
The 5K runners (there wasn't enough time for walkers) set off first, and then the rest of us slowpokes ambled over to the starting line around 9 a.m.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_090830cropLO.jpg)
I was taking it slow—not exactly flying down the runway—but then again, I was really just there for the scenery, and the exclusivity of being on the runway, on foot.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_091121lo.jpg)
There was a certain amount of list-checking involved, too, as I'd already toured or been to open houses at Santa Monica Airport, Long Beach Airport (in fact, twice), Van Nuys Airport, Santa Paula Airport, and LAX. I flew out of ONT's Terminal 4 in 2009 but I don't remember a thing about it and don't have any photographs from back then.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_091304lo.jpg)
The walk was flat and not exactly strenuous for the average person (especially an un-injured one)—but regardless, cheerleaders encouraged us along the way.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_091553lo.jpg)
I'm not sure if the fire trucks periodically parked were for display or in case of an actual emergency.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_091714lo.jpg)
I'm not sure if it was runways or jetways that we walked past, with the snow-capped San Bernardino mountains in the distance...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_091815lo.jpg)
...but we did get to see a commercial jet or two take off from one of the longest runways in SoCal, measuring 12,197 feet in length.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_092208lo.jpg)
We passed the Guardian Jet Center, an FBO facility for private jets that also helps the military with troop movements...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_092637lo.jpg)
...and circled back to the guard hangar, the sky increasingly ominous.
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_092820lo.jpg)
But we weren't done yet, because the full one-mile loop included a spur path...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_093400lo.jpg)
...heading around the backside of the Southwest Airlines jet that was parked there for display...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_093556lo.jpg)
......and then finally back where we started...
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_093552lo.jpg)
...where I finished at a slow pace of 27 minutes (compared to my usual 20-minute mile).
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/20240204_093711lo.jpg)
But hey, I got my medal just like anybody else. And I got home before it started to rain again.
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