The runway at Hunter Army Airfield, stretching 11,375 feet, has served over the decades — in times of peace and in times of war — as the takeoff and landing place for America’s defenders.  On June 21, the 5K/10K Flightline “Dirty Up” Run event will give military and civilians alike an opportunity to walk or run on the expansive runway, get an up close look at military aircraft on display, and hang out with those who fly and maintain the aircraft.
 “The whole reason for this base is for that runway,” said Lt. Col. Will Bowman, Garrison Commander at Hunter. “A lot of families live and drive around the Perimeter Road area, so they’re always on the fringe of the main feature of this installation, the runway. And that’s true for the community, too. They see the aircraft coming out of Hunter, off that runway, and in the skies over Savannah and Chatham County. We thought it would be a great idea to open our gates to our families, and to the community to come on and actually have a fun event that features the runway.”    
 The “Dirty Up” Run will be a timed, chipped event open to runners of all skill levels from both the military and civilian communities. The run begins at 8 a.m. but after the run, visitors are invited to stay and enjoy the music, food and static displays until 1 p.m.
“Dirty-Up” is an aviation term for when an aircraft lands, their landing gear is down and a cloud of dust comes up.   “I think it’s going to be a great morning. We’re going to have bands and vendors. We’re going to have static displays from our tenant aviation units out there so people can enjoy seeing military aircraft up close, and talking to some of the Soldiers that work on those aircraft. It will be a great event for kids,” Bowman said.  
Both the 5K and 10K run routes will take runners along the flightline. Water and sports drinks will be provided at stations along the route.  The run will be held rain or shine, although a threat of lightning could delay or possibly postpone the run.
Participants should register at Active.com. The cost until June 8 is $25 for DoD ID cardholders and $30 for civilians. The cost until June 19 is $30 for DoD ID cardholders and $35 for civilians. The cost to register on the day of the run is $45 per person.
For more information, call 912-315-5078.
All pre-registered participants will be given a T-shirt that was designed to be a prized event souvenir. Trophies will be awarded to the top three overall male/female 5k and 10k runners.
Awards will be given to the top two winners in each age group.