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.