It is now a tradition that once a year, athletes take over the closed runway I of Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. The most special running event of the year was an even more unique experience this time: the 1024 participants of the 10th Runway Run lined up under the atmospheric lights of sunset. It is also a tradition that Budapest Airport donates proceeds from entry fees to charity, partly to the SUHANJ! Foundation, which promotes integrated sport for people with disabilities, and partly to the British Anthony Nolan foundation, which helps patients suffering from blood cancer.
This year’s race, which was held in a special atmosphere, brought together Budapest Airport’s aviation specialists and invited partners, representatives of the aviation industry, other major international companies, authorities and athletes from the SUHANJ! Foundation.
Attila Katus, personal trainer, world and European champion athlete was on hand to assist in the warm-up, before the runners started their chosen distance on the closed runway I at 17:30 o’clock, in the light of the setting sun. Adult competitors had a choice of 5 or 10 kilometers, whilst children aged 6 to 15 had an opportunity to test themselves on a distance of 1.5 kilometers.
In the individual event, Gabriella Gelencsér was the fastest woman (00:20:45) and Balázs Csuka triumphed in the men’s race (00:17:42) over 5 kilometers, with Anna Votin finishing first among women (00:42:04) and Petrus Oleksandr taking top spot in the men’s field (00:36:20) over 10 kilometers. The fastest visually impaired, handcycle and running chair athletes, Tibor Osbáth (00:46:55 over 10 kilometers), László Schober (00:27:36 over 10 kilometers) and Dubóczki Sarolta (00:50:55 over 10 kilometers) respectively, also won awards.
The Runway Run was also open to corporate teams. The category winners:
- Aviation business services: KPMG
- Airport Concessionaire team: SSP
- Airport Authority: National Tax and Customs Office
- Airline team: Czech Airlines
- Airport team: Budapest Airport
Budapest Airport will provide detailed information on the amount of charitable contributions collected as soon as possible.
