The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire's Run the Rail Trail 4-Miler

Get outside and welcome spring with the 5th annual 'Run the Rail Trail 4-Miler' on Saturday, May 2!

Starting and finishing at the Aviation Museum of N.H., the run/walk event will take participants on a winding route through bucolic North Londonderry, highlighted by the newest stretch of the Londonderry Rail Trail.  The race starts at 9 a.m. and is open to all runners and walkers. The event is a fund-raiser to support the non-profit Aviation Museum's youth education programs, which includes an upcoming summer camp and a high school student plane-building project at the Manchester (N.H.) School of Technology.

Registration for the 'Run the Rail Trail 4-Miler' is $25 through Tuesday, March 31; for those 12 and under and 62 and above, the fee is discounted to $20. Starting Wednesday, April 1, the fee is $40; $35 for those 12 and under and 62 and above. Registration on Race Day is $50 per person. The first 100 registrants will receive an official "Run the Rail Trail 4-Miler" shirt and the first 100 finishers will receive a custom finisher medal.

Kids 'Pilot in Training' Mini Run
New This Year! 100 yard fun run for boys and girls up to age 8. All kids receive a prize at the finish!
Kids Run Start Time: 8:30 a.m.

Participants may register online at www.runsignup.com; under “Find a Race,” search for "Aviation Museum." More information is also available at www.aviationmuseumofnh.org.

Starting at the Aviation Museum of N.H.’s historic 1937 terminal building at 27 Navigator Road, the course will first wind through lightly-trafficked streets and through the historic village area of North Londonderry.

The route, which includes two water stops, will then take participants along the recently opened 1.2-mile section of the Londonderry Rail Trail, which passes through the remote Little Cohas Brook Reservoir area.  The route will then take runners and walkers back to the Aviation Museum and the finish line.

The course is entirely on paved roads. However, because the route involves a significant elevation rise in the first mile, followed by an equally steep descent shortly thereafter, we ask participants to consider not running with strollers. Also, no pets are allowed. 

Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers, and in other categories such as longest time to finish.

Early packet pick-up for pre-registered runners will take place at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire on Friday, May 1 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the museum classroom. Come to 27 Navigator Rd. during these hours to get your bib.

Timing services provided by NovusMage. Traffic control and security will be provided by the Londonderry Police and Fire departments.

The Aviation Museum is also seeking Race Day volunteers. If you're interested in helping out, contact Leah Dearborn at (603) 669-4877 or at ldearborn@nhahs.org.

In addition, the museum is seeking business and community sponsors to help defray costs of organizing the event. For information about sponsorships, contact Jeff Rapsis at (603) 236-9237 or at jrapsis@nhahs.org.  

The Aviation Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization based in the 1937 art deco passenger terminal at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, is dedicated to preserving the Granite State's rich aviation past, and also inspiring today's students to become the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.

The Aviation Museum of N.H. was named the ‘Best Place to Take Kids’ in Southern N.H. five years in a row (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) in the annual Hippo Reader's Poll.

The Aviation Museum is located at 27 Navigator Road, off Harvey Road, in Londonderry, N.H. For more information, visit www.aviationmuseumofnh.org or call (603) 669-4877.