Winter Flight 8K
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Event overview
The Forum Fitness 43rd Annual Winter Flight takes place Saturday, January 31 to Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Salisbury, North Carolina. The main race location is at Catawba College, with the gymnasium on the corner of Summit and Yost. Event offerings include:
- 8K Run
- 5K Run/Walk
- Fun Run - 1/2 Mile
- Wheelchair / Ainsley's Angels
- Winter Flight Pre-Race Pasta Dinner (City Park Recreation Center; member and community fees apply)
Long-sleeve hoodie shirts will be provided to 5K and 8K participants. Race-day parking follows a posted map; participants are asked to use lots marked for game-day parking. Headphones are discouraged and dogs are not allowed.
Race details
The 8K course is USATF certified and will serve as the 2026 RRCA 8K North Carolina State Championship. State champions are determined for overall, masters, grandmasters, and senior grandmasters, male and female; winners do not have to live in North Carolina to be state champions. Runners attempting a state record must notify the race director in advance; manual timing will be arranged for those who do so, since chip timing is not accepted for state record processing.
The 5K and 8K use chip timing and offer immediate finish times and personalized finish videos. Live race results will be updated frequently during the races. Awards include overall and age-group prizes in both races; cash bonuses and mile-point prizes apply to the 8K only. All proceeds benefit Rowan Helping Ministries; the 2025 race raised $16,000. Walkers should register for the 5K; walkers are not allowed in the 8K due to a strict 90-minute course time limit. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.