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Runway runner prepares for another race at age 79

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Runway runner prepares for another race at age 79
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Chicago Executive Airport | Chicago Executive Airport

For most of her life, Carol Thomas did not consider herself athletic. "The most running I ever did was running for the employee bus when I worked at O'Hare airport," she recalls. However, at 79, she is preparing to participate in her eighth World Airline Road Race (WARR) and her 47th race on a working runway.

Thomas explains how she developed a passion for running in such unique settings. "I had some orthopedic issues about 10 years ago and I got really great care from a local chiropractor," she says. "He was the captain of a running team, and each visit he would ask me to join the group. I told him that I don't run, but he kept asking me what size shirt I wanted! He was really my rock and inspiration for what I am able to do today."

She eventually joined the team and discovered an enjoyment for running and the camaraderie it offered. Working for American Airlines at O'Hare led her to find out about an American Airlines running club. "We did Hustle up the Hancock, road races, and the Run O'Hare event together which was great fun. That one was my first runway running event and I loved it."

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Since then, Thomas has participated in races on runways around the world including locations such as Inverness, Scotland; Auckland, New Zealand; Zurich, Switzerland; Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Kona, Hawaii; and Tucson, Arizona. Her flight benefits with American Airlines facilitate travel to any destination serviced by the airline. She typically completes 5K events in under an hour.

The Chicago Executive Airport's (CEA) Run the Runway is particularly convenient for Thomas as it is close to her home in Schaumburg. The airport is jointly owned by the Village of Wheeling and the City of Prospect Heights, IL. This year marks both her fifth participation in this event since first joining in 2016 and its 10th anniversary.

"What I love about running runways is that they are very clean, and the cones and lines help me run in straight lines," Thomas notes. "It's the best way to spend my retirement."

Organizations Included in this History
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