AAPT student chapter hosts first 5K at NCAT Test Track

The Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) student chapter at Auburn University hosted its first 5K and one-mile fun run at the National Center for Asphalt Technology’s (NCAT) Test Track, welcoming more than 120 participants to a one-of-a-kind race experience on a world-renowned research facility.

Runners completed the race distance by circling the 1.7-mile oval Test Track just under two laps, offering a course unlike any traditional road race. Known globally for advancing asphalt pavement performance, the NCAT Test Track provided participants a rare opportunity to run on the same sections used by researchers and industry partners to study real-world traffic loading.

“The Test Track 5K was a success, and as a chapter, we are very pleased with how the event turned out in its first year,” said Liz Valenca, president of the AAPT student chapter at Auburn and graduate research assistant at NCAT. “I also think it was a great way to showcase our amazing test track facility to the community, especially to those who may not have been aware of it.”

Runner crossing the finish line at the AAPT 5k at the NCAT Test Track

The race was supported through generous funding from the Civil & Environmental Engineering Alumni Advisory Board’s Student Organization Pitch Competition.

Established in 1924, the AAPT advances asphalt paving technology and serves as a central forum for communication and networking among asphalt pavement researchers worldwide.

“We would love to continue hosting this event in the coming years and are looking forward to improving it even further,” continued Valenca, “especially since many runners were excited about the flat course as a great opportunity to set personal records.”

Since opening in 2000, the Test Track has served as the industry’s premier asphalt pavement proving ground, where new materials, mix designs and construction practices are validated before widespread use. Currently in its ninth research cycle, the track includes multiple sponsored test sections focused on priorities such as balanced mix design, high reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content and durability, with heavily loaded trucks simulating years of traffic in a short period to generate real-world performance data.

Civil engineering faculty David Timm and Ben Bowers running at the AAPT 5k at the NCAT Test Track.

Established in 1986 through a collaboration between Auburn University and the National Asphalt Pavement Association’s Research and Education Foundation, NCAT addresses the needs of maintaining America’s pavement infrastructure through practical research and development initiatives. The center’s mission is to provide innovative, implementable research, technology development and education that advance safe, durable and sustainable asphalt pavements.  

View photos from the 5k on Engineering's Flikr site.

For more information about NCAT and the Test Track, visit ncat.us.