Perimeter Road track now up and running

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The Perimeter Road running track, from the long-term parking area to the softball fields by the West Row Gate, is now finished and ready for action.

The track - which is just under 2-miles long and 6-feet wide - has been designed so two people can run the track side-by-side and has cost approximately $628,097. It adds a much-needed, safe place for people to run around the flightline, said Tony Lawrence, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron project manager.

"The track has been designed so it joins up with the cinder track on the softball fields by the West Row Gate," said Lawrence, adding that the cinder track continues on past the 100th Security Forces Military Working Dogs kennels.

"From there, it goes all the way round the end of the taxiway, continuing past the ID checkpoint at the main gate, and finishes where the concrete batch plant is," he said. "We had some money left over from the project, so it was used to lay block paving for a path (sidewalk) along the side of the road that runs from the long-term parking area, down to the small roundabout (near Mickey's Tea Bar).

He said that until now, those people who ran around Perimeter Road had to run along the road itself, which is a safety concern.

"The new running track keeps vehicles away from runners; it's good for fitness as hopefully it will encourage people to run. I personally run on it every day, the whole way," Lawrence said. "From the North Side Fitness Center, up the new road to long-term parking, to the end of the taxiway where the plane spotters are, then back to the gym, is about 5 kilometers. We're hoping that it will encourage people to challenge themselves when they use it, by going a bit further along it every time they run, until they can eventually run the entire track.

"The rubber surface makes it very springy and much easier to run on - and better for your body - than either a running machine or running on the road," he said.

The base of the new track is made from recycled, crushed concrete, which came from the concrete pad of the demolished of Hangar 538. Use of the recycled concrete has saved the base approximately $26,300

By recycling in-house, the concrete was crushed at the concrete batch plant on base, the carbon footprint was reduced, and costs were kept down.

In addition to recycled concrete, the track also incorporates recycled tires for two layers of the rubber surface.

"Because it's made from recycled tires, the rubber surface will last much longer - this track should last for at least 20 years," he said.

Someone else who is no stranger to running is Lt. Col. Chris Bennett, 100th Operations Support Squadron commander. A regular runner, so far he's completed 26 marathons and said he feels it's great to have a safe place to run around the airfield perimeter and RAF Mildenhall.

"Fitness is a vital part of a balanced life, and to have a safe and well-constructed option allows runners to leave the track and treadmill behind and visit the entirety of the base," the commander said.

"It ensures we don't have vehicle and runner conflicts, allows our base populace to extend their running distance and vary their route. It is important though that runners do continue to watch for vehicles at the points where they cross the road, and ensure they yield to taxiing and towing aircraft near the 'pinch point' on the airfield's south side," Bennett said.

Editor's note: Ear phones can be worn in both ears while physically on the running track. However, they must be taken out of both ears when running on, or crossing a road or traffic environment, according to the 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety office.