Registration is open for Bridge Day 5k

There’s no other race like it. Dramatic and unusual, Bridge Day 5k begins on America’s third highest span. Want a piece of the action? On your marks, get set, register!  Every October, Bridge Day attracts hundreds of BASE jumpers, hundreds of rappellers, and thousands of onlookers. It’s the world’s most extreme sports event. Since 2016, Bridge Day 5k has launched the festival at sunrise.

This year’s race (and Bridge Day, of course) are on Oct. 20, 2018. It may seem far away, but Bridge Day 5k registration is officially open. Spaces go quickly, too. After all, this is the only chance you get to jog on the 876-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge!

Active Southern West Virginia, the race organizer, has just 400 slots available. Entry fees are $50 per person from now until August 31. After that, the price raises by increments, so it’s worth registering soon. What’s more, you’ll receive a commemorative shirt and participatory medal. Those perks are no longer guaranteed after Oct. 10.

The course Now for the fun part: the New River Gorge Bridge. At 876 feet high and 3,030 feet long, it’s quite a monument. The views are stunning, too. Deep canyon ridges spread in either direction. So does the mighty New River. Brilliant autumn forests, gauzy fog, and pink early light make the event even better.

Against this backdrop, racers start from the north end of the bridge and jog towards Fayetteville. Much of the course is on open roads through the historic district. At other times, you’ll go through the town park—a picturesque setting with fields and woods. The race eventually finishes by the Fayette County Courthouse.

Incentives As if scenery and venue aren’t enough, Bridge Day 5k has some nifty benefits. For one thing, it’s a real race. Runners get official chip timing, race photos, and snacks at the finish line.

For another, Bridge Day 5k has multiple categories based on age. The top finishers from these divisions receive special medals. If you’re a competitive runner, now’s the time to start training.

Bridge Day 5k also benefits local kids’ running clubs. When you register, you’re helping the community.

See you at the finish line!