NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The countdown is on for one of Charleston’s largest annual traditions as the Cooper River Bridge Run returns this Saturday, bringing tens of thousands of runners, as well as the crowds that follow, to the Lowcountry.
The race weekend officially begins with the annual Health and Wellness Expo at the North Charleston Area Convention Center, where organizers expect up to 60,000 people to attend over two days.
The expo serves as the mandatory packet pickup site for runners ahead of Saturday’s race, but organizers say it has evolved into much more, becoming the kickoff to the weekend’s festivities.
About 200 vendors are set up at the expo, offering free giveaways, athletic apparel, nutrition information and live fitness demonstrations.
Beyond the expo, race weekend events also include a Hall of Fame breakfast and a finish festival featuring entertainment, food, drinks, vendors and souvenirs.
The Bridge Run draws roughly 38,000 runners each year and generates an estimated $35 million annually for the area’s economy, making it one of Charleston’s most significant tourism drivers.
Originally created to promote health and wellness in the community, the race has since grown into a major regional event.
Now in its 49th year, the event has expanded dramatically since its early days.
“There was, like, 700 people the first year,” Irv Batten, the race director, said. “There wasn’t an expo. And then once we started getting bigger and bigger, you had to have something to get people to come early because we can’t give out all those race numbers the day of the race.”
Batten said race day itself is a complex operation that continues even after the starting horn sounds.
“Once the gun goes off, it’s satisfying that we got through it again, but then there’s still so many waves and stuff,” he said. “We’ve got to get everybody over the bridge and make sure everybody has a great time. There are so many different facets of the race.”
Batten added that the event’s popularity continues to grow as runners return year after year.
“People just keep on coming back. They love Charleston,” he said. “It’s huge.”
Organizers said there will be no race-day packet pickup, meaning participants must attend the expo in advance in order to run. The event runs from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the convention center.
The race itself will take runners across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge on Saturday morning, continuing a decadeslong tradition that has become a signature event for the region. For more information about the history behind the race or any logistics, head to the event website.
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