Forum Fitness 43rd Annual Winter Flight 8K & 5K and 2026 RRCA NC 8K Championship

*****NOTE: Due to the forecast of heavy rain for February 15, the race has been rescheduled for February 22, 2026.  Registration continues. 

WHEN AND WHERE
Sunday, February 22, 2026 - at Catawba College Gymnasium, Salisbury, NC. The Gymnasium is on the corner of Summit & Yost.

12:00 pm - 1:45 pm - Registration and packet pickup at the Catawba gymnasium  

1:30 pm - 1/2 Mile Fun Run (please register/check-in no later than 1:20 pm in the Catawba gymnasium)
1:58 pm - Wheelchair / Ainsley's Angels (Ainsley's Angels please use code ANGELRUNNER at checkout)
2:00 pm - 5K - Run/Walk (See Course & Elevation Maps posted in menu)
2:00 pm - 8K Run - open to all runners and will also serve as the RRCA 8K NC State Championship (Course & Elevation Maps posted in menu)

2026 PRICING FOR 8K/5K:
$45 - Now - February 21, 2026
$50 - Race day price - February 22, 2026
3 Deep in 5-year Age Group Awards for Male & Female, and Finisher's medal for all 8K and 5K finishers!

All registered participants will receive a link for a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase at any Dick's Sporting Goods!  

PASTA DINNER - Saturday evening, February 14, at 5:00 p.m. Pasta, bread, desserts and drink will be available at Salisbury City Park Recreation Center (316 Lake Drive, Salisbury, NC  28145) from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  The dinner is free for Salisbury Rowan Runners' members.  Member’s family = $5.  Community friends = $10.  SRR memberships will be available on site.  Non-race participants welcomed!  Sign up at this link or RSVP to Lynn Furr at lynniepooh55@gmail.com.  The meal is provided by Debbie Suggs Catering and desserts are provided by Abigail's Bakery.  Charlotte Corriher will be our featured speaker!  Don't miss out on this event!  

EARLY CHECK-IN - Early packet pickup and in-person registration will be available at Dick's Sporting Goods (125 Tingle Dr. Ste 300, Salisbury, NC  28146) on Saturday, February 21 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Come get your race goodies and shirt early and spend your $10 off $50 at Dick's for each race participant. 

$500 DICK’S SPORTING GOODS GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY:  New this year is a drawing for a $500 Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Card donated by the store!  Anyone donating to Rowan Helping Ministries at checkout will receive three entries into the drawing for every $10 donated (one entry for $5 donated). Tickets will also be available on site and will remain for sale until 3:30 pm on race day. The drawing will be held immediately upon completion of the awards ceremony and will conclude the 2026 Winter Flight celebration. The winner does not have to be present to win. 

RACE PARKING:  Please see the posted map in the menu for race-day parking.  This map is used for Catawba football games.  Please park in any lot marked in white for “game day” parking.  

HEAD PHONES ARE DISCOURAGED / NO DOGS ALLOWED

In case of inclement weather on race day, visit our website for information about delays, postponement, etc. - www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

RACE COURSE 8K USATF (open to all runners and will also serve as the 2026 RRCA NC 8K Championship)
Certified Course starts near the Catawba College gym and ends in Catawba’s Shuford Stadium. Please see 8K map posted in menu.  State Champions will be the overall winners, masters, grand masters and senior grand masters winners, male and female. Winners do not have to live in NC to be the State Champion.  The State Championship applies to the 8K race only (not the 5K).

8K STATE RECORDS:  Salisbury Rowan Runners (SRR) has gladly assisted with timing attempts for North Carolina State age group records at past Winter Flight races. Chip timing results are not allowed for these state age group records, so SRR would use our chronamix hand-held manual timers and process the extensive paperwork for those who successfully beat the previous record. All this was then submitted to USATF (United States Association of Track and Field), the governing body for the competitive sport of running at all distances. Beginning in late 2023, we began to have some trouble doing this because the state record keeper was harder to reach. Since then, from early 2024, there has been no response from USATF, and our submitted records have not been updated. Nor does anyone return our calls. The records posted online reflect this since no other submissions from other running clubs have been updated either. At this point, with no response from USATF, we cannot process any new records. Some of those still posted have been beaten. Please know that Winter Flight officials remain committed to helping participants have their best races ever, but without the cooperation of USATF, any record beating time on our course or any other certified course will not be processed unless USATF recommits to updating any records that have happened since 2024. Please email David Freeze at david.freeze@ctc.net with any questions.

LIVE RACE RESULTS (5K & 8K):  Live results will be available at this link.  8K & 5K race results will be updated at this link once every five minutes throughout the duration of the races.  Full results will be transferred to RunSignUp at the conclusion of the event. 

TIMING
5K & 8K races will use chip timing.  All participants will be able to get their finishing time immediately and will also have access to a personalized finish video, both linked to their bib number.

SHIRTS
Great looking long-sleeve hoodie shirt for all 8K and 5K participants (see photo here). 

FINISHER'S MEDAL
NEW THIS YEAR!!  Finisher's medal for all 8K and 5K finishers (see medal proof here). 

AWARDS
8K RUN
Top 3 Overall Male & Female Runners
Top Male & Female Masters, Grandmasters, & Senior Grandmasters Runners
3 Deep Age Group Awards, Male & Female

5K RUN / WALK
Top Overall Male & Female Runners
3 Deep Age Group Awards, Male & Female

1/2 MILE FUN RUN
Top 3 Overall, Ages 12 and Under
Medals to all other Fun Run Finishers Ages 12 and Under

Overall Winners not eligible for Age Group Awards.
Awards will not be mailed. Please make arrangements to pick up.

AGE GROUPS
8K RUN
14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over

5K RUN / WALK
14 & under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 & Over

CASH PRIZES - 8K ONLY
$750 BONUS FOR NEW 8K WF RECORDS 
HANS KOELEMAN - 23:35 (1988)
JOAN NESBIT - 26:48 (1992)
$100 to First Male & Female Finisher
$25 to First Male & Female at One Mile Mark (must finish race)
$25 to First Male & Female Rowan County Finisher

Please remember that all walkers should be registered in the 5K. No walkers are allowed in the 8K due to a strict time limit of 90 minutes. We must stay on time for road openings, fire department release and timely awards ceremonies. Thank you for your cooperation. 

New this year is a drawing for a $500 Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Card donated by the store!  

All 8k/5k runners and walkers registered by midnight on January 23rd will receive one free entry into the drawing. In addition, anyone donating to Rowan Helping Ministries at checkout will receive three entries into the drawing for every $10 donated (one entry for $5 donated). Tickets will also be available on site and will remain for sale until 3:30 pm on race day. The drawing will be held immediately upon completion of the awards ceremony and will conclude the 2026 Winter Flight celebration. The winner does not have to be present to win. 

New this year! Finisher's medal for all 8k and 5k participants.  See medal proof below!

The first Winter Flight was held in 1981, not held in ’82 or ’83 and was then reborn in 1984 as a combination of 5- and 10-mile races. These races originally started and finished at the mural in downtown. The race was moved to Catawba College in 1986, also the year that the venerable 8K distance was introduced. The 8K events were very popular then but have been replaced by the shorter 5Ks as the main race distance over the years since.

The races were postponed by a measles epidemic in 1989, and heavy snow in 1996 and 2005. I remember SRR members having to call race registrants with a plan for the postponement and new race days due to the snow.  In 2001, SRR went online with races and registrations. In 2002, the only course change since 1986 occurred due to new construction for Shuford Stadium at Catawba. The race was actually moved to Millbridge and the Sloan Park area due to COVID for only the 2021 version.  Course records remain with Olympians Hans Koeleman of the Netherlands with his sizzling 23 minutes and 34 seconds in 1988 and Joan Nesbitt of Chapel Hill in 1992 at 26.48. A Kenyan runner took the male record several years ago but was disqualified for illegal substance abuse in various races more than two years later, so it has reverted to Koeleman, a former Nike executive.

In 2003, the Salisbury Rowan Runners began making significant charitable contributions from the race. All proceeds from the 2026 event will again go to Rowan Helping Ministries.

Winter Flight offers tremendous opportunities for participation to runners and walkers of all abilities and age. The fun run is open to anyone, the 5K is a moderate distance open to anyone while the 8K is geared to those who can complete the course in 90 minutes. Special thanks to the City of Salisbury for services provided that allow us to have the race!

Please see the attached parking map for race day parking.  This map is used for Catawba football games.  Please park in any lot marked in white for “game day” parking. 

Please read the following information carefully to ensure a safe and successful race day for everyone.

WEATHER:   Any weather-related race day updates will be posted at Salisbury Rowan Runners' website and here at RunSignUp.

EARLY CHECK-IN:  Early packet pickup and in-person registration will be available at Dick's Sporting Goods (125 Tingle Dr. Ste 300, Salisbury, NC  28146) on Saturday, February 21 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Come get your race goodies and shirt early and spend your $10 off $50 at Dick's for each race participant.

PASTA DINNER:  Saturday, February 14, we will have a race-winning meal of pasta, bread, and salad catered by Debbie Suggs along with desserts from Abigail's as part of Salisbury Rowan Runners' annual meeting.  We will also have door prizes including a gift certificate for free SRR Race Series entry for an entire year - 2026 Bare Bones 5K, Santa 5K and 2027 Resolution Run 5K and Winter Flight 8K/5K!!  The dinner is free for Salisbury Rowan Runners' members.  Member’s family = $5.  Community friends = $10.  SRR memberships will be available on site.  Sign up at this link or RSVP to lynniepooh55@gmail.com.

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RACE DAY INFO:

RACE PARKING:  Please see the posted parking map for race day parking.  This map is used for Catawba game days.  Please park in any lot marked in white for “game day” parking.   

RACE DAY CHECK-IN:  Sunday, February 22 - race-day check-in, packet pick up and race-day registration ($50) will begin at 12:00 pm continuing until 1:45 pm (8K/5K) and until 1:20pm for the fun run in the Catawba College Gymnasium  - corner of Yost and Summit streets – building 18 on the posted parking map. 

CHECK-IN TABLES:  There will be separate check-in tables in the gymnasium for pre-registered 5k runners, pre-registered 8K runners, Fun Run / Ainsley’s Angels and day-of registration.  We will have signs posted!  Pre-registered runners will check in at the far side of the gymnasium!

8K STATE RECORDS:  Salisbury Rowan Runners (SRR) has gladly assisted with timing attempts for North Carolina State age group records at past Winter Flight races. Chip timing results are not allowed for these state age group records, so SRR would use our chronamix hand-held manual timers and process the extensive paperwork for those who successfully beat the previous record. All this was then submitted to USATF (United States Association of Track and Field), the governing body for the competitive sport of running at all distances. Beginning in late 2023, we began to have some trouble doing this because the state record keeper was harder to reach. Since then, from early 2024, there has been no response from USATF, and our submitted records have not been updated. Nor does anyone return our calls. The records posted online reflect this since no other submissions from other running clubs have been updated either. At this point, with no response from USATF, we cannot process any new records. Some of those still posted have been beaten. Please know that Winter Flight officials remain committed to helping participants have their best races ever, but without the cooperation of USATF, any record beating time on our course or any other certified course will not be processed unless USATF recommits to updating any records that have happened since 2024. Please email David Freeze at david.freeze@ctc.net with any questions.

RESTROOMS:  Restrooms are located in the gymnasium lobby and in the football stadium.

RACE START LINES / COURSE MAPS:  The fun run will start at the finish line on the football stadium track at 1:30pm (deadline for fun run registration/check-in is 1:20pm in the gymnasium). The fun runners will make two laps around the track.  Ainsley’s Angels (1:58pm), 5k & 8K (2:00 pm) races will start on Yost street in between the gym and football stadium.  All races will finish on the track.  Please see the posted 8K & 5K course and elevation maps.

RACEJOY:  Live GPS phone tracking of the race will be available for participants and spectators via the optional RaceJoy app. RaceJoy allows 8K and 5K runners and spectators to keep up with their information and where they are on the course as long as the runners enable the app and run with their phones.  Racejoy instructions are available here:  Race Joy Instructions

LIVE RACE RESULTS (5K & 8K):  Please save this link for live race results: (live race results)  8K & 5K race results will be updated at this link once every five minutes throughout the duration of the races.  Full results will be transferred to RunSignUp at the conclusion of the event. 

WATER & REFRESHMENTS:  Water stops will be set up on the courses and water will be available at the finish line.  Refreshments provided by Rowan Helping Ministries and desserts from Abigail’s will be located in the Catawba gymnasium lobby following the races.  

AWARDS:  The awards ceremony will be held in the Catawba gymnasium.  5K awards will start at approximately 3:20 p.m. followed by Ainsley’s Angels & 8K awards at approximately 3:40 p.m.  Awards will not be mailed, so please be in the Goodman Gym bleachers on time.

DOOR PRIZES:  There will be door prizes!!  In addition to other door prizes, we will give away two gift certificates for free SRR Race Series entry for an entire year - 2026 Bare Bones 5K, Santa 5K and 2027 Resolution Run 5K and Winter Flight 8K/5K!

Please remember that all walkers should be registered in the 5K. No walkers are allowed in the 8K due to a strict time limit of 90 minutes. We are required to stay on time for road openings, police and fire department release, and timely awards ceremonies. Thank you for your cooperation. 

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Thank you for your support!  If you have not yet registered, sign up today!

100% of race proceeds go to Rowan Helping Ministries - a not-for-profit volunteer-based corporation which operates human service programs to assist the economically disadvantaged. 

See you at the races!!  Share the word and invite your friends!

Our 2026 keynote speaker will be Charlotte Corriher.  "If you can't be Fast, be Festive!"

Current stats as of 10/20/2025:

310 Marathons / Ultras combined (181 marathons / 129 ultras)

35 of those were 100 milers

Attempting her first 200 miler (Across Florida 200) mid-November 2025

240 different costumes

Recent News Article - "Charlotte Corriher Makes Running Extreme Fun"   

Winter Flight Long-Sleeve High-Quality Hoodie Shirt - Available in adult sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL for all 8K and 5K participants.  Fun Run participants may purchase a shirt as an add-on during registration.

Winter Flight 8k/5k is a wonderful opportunity to get the word out about your business and support Rowan Helping Ministries at the same time!!  See all the details on the attached document!

All proceeds go to ROWAN HELPING MINISTRIES!

Mission Statement:  The mission of ROWAN HELPING MINISTRIES is to serve, through cooperative community action, our neighbors in Rowan County who are in crisis, by providing essential life needs and educating and empowering them to break the cycle of crisis.

The 2025 Winter Flight race earned $16,000 for these families and individuals, and it is our goal to exceed that amount this year!!

For more information about Rowan Helping Ministries, please visit www.rowanhelpingministries.org.