Cooper River Bridge Run
Cooper River Bridge Run race day weather
Steady conditions, adjust for wind
Runners will face a consistent temperature of 64°F throughout the race, with a humidity level of 75%. Winds will start as a crosswind, transitioning to a headwind in mile 5, then returning to a crosswind before shifting to a tailwind at the end. It is advisable to adjust pace during the headwind segment and focus on hydration to combat the humidity.
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Cooper River Bridge Run route and elevation
The Cooper River Bridge Run course has about 193 ft (59 m) of climbing and 243 ft (74 m) of descent, a net drop of about 50 ft (15 m). The hardest mile is mile 3, with 119 ft (36 m) of climbing and a 1.3% average grade.
Biggest climbs
- Miles 1.7 to 2.6: climbs about 195 ft (59 m).
What the hills cost
- 50:00 on a flat course is about 50:25 here (25 seconds slower).
- 55:00 on a flat course is about 55:25 here (25 seconds slower).
- 1:00:00 on a flat course is about 1:00:30 here (30 seconds slower).
Hills only, priced mile by mile on the course map. The pace calculator above adds the race-day weather.
Even-effort splits for a 50:00, 55:00 or 1:00:00 finish
| Mile | Climb | Descent | 50:00 | 55:00 | 1:00:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 ft | 20 ft | 7:58 | 8:45 | 9:33 |
| 2 | 82 ft | 18 ft | 8:30 | 9:21 | 10:12 |
| 3 | 119 ft | 51 ft | 8:32 | 9:24 | 10:16 |
| 4 | 0 ft | 112 ft | 7:35 | 8:20 | 9:05 |
| 5 | 14 ft | 57 ft | 7:48 | 8:35 | 9:22 |
| 6 | 13 ft | 16 ft | 7:58 | 8:46 | 9:33 |
| Last 0.2 | 3 ft | 18 ft | 1:39 | 1:49 | 1:59 |
Explore the Cooper River Bridge Run course with the weather and your pace along the route, or compare it with other races.
About the Cooper River Bridge Run
The Cooper River Bridge Run is a point-to-point 10K road race that starts on Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, crosses the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River and finishes in downtown Charleston. It is held on a Saturday in late March or early April. It is one of the largest 10K races in the United States, with more than 33,000 finishers in both 2006 and 2010, and it draws a large elite field each year, mostly from Kenya and Ethiopia. Wikipedia
Tips from Runners
From race reports by runners: what worked for them, not official race information.
Expect the bridge climb in miles 2 and 3, and run it by effort. One runner says the climb sits there and the real race starts later on Meeting Street.
Hold something back for the stretch after the bridge. One runner saw many people spent from the climb with two miles still to go.
Don't relax at the scaffold on King Street. One 2017 runner says it looks like the finish but the race goes on, so keep running.
- Expect the bridge climb in miles 2 and 3, and run it by effort. One runner says the climb sits there and the real race starts later on Meeting Street.
- Don't relax at the scaffold on King Street. One 2017 runner says it looks like the finish but the race goes on, so keep running.
- Hold something back for the stretch after the bridge. One runner saw many people spent from the climb with two miles still to go.
Cooper River Bridge Run FAQ
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Cooper River Bridge Run reviews and race reports
Misled by the scaffold, but finished strong with a smile.
I decided to rabbit hunt and push the pace a bit in the last mile and a half. People were cheering and I heard someone yell Tiny Terror. Wearing a headband with your nickname helps. Soon we ran under the scaffold on King Street, the most misleading part of this race. The scaffold looks like a finish line. I don’t care how many times you run the Bridge Run and know where the finish line is, when you run under the scaffold, you think you’re done because you want to be done.