Familiarity returns for 31st edition of Firecracker Run road race

After a few editions in what might be be called transitional years, perhaps the best thing about Monday’s 31st Hilton Head Firecracker Run is that everything has a familiar feel again.

The Shelter Cove course, which returned last year in modified form after the opening of Shelter Cove Towne Centre, had no need to be tweaked. Even better, perhaps, is that the island’s traditional Fourth of July 5K will not be run on a Saturday.

As a result, race coordinator Mark Weisner expects as many as 1,500 runners and walkers to line up for the starting gun on Monday morning.

“We’re looking at a good crowd,” said Weisner, whose company Bear Foot Sports has organized the event for the past two decades.

The oldest road race in Beaufort County drew 1,150 entrants for last year’s return to its traditional Shelter Cove home, where it had been staged before construction of the Towne Centre forced a move to the island’s north side.

The low numbers weren’t a reflection on the locale, Weisner said, but the day of the race. As any Hilton Head Island resident and frequent visitor knows, Saturday is the check-in/check-out day for most vacation rentals.

“You’d think Saturday would be a good race day, and it is in most places,” Weisner said. “But not so much for Hilton Head on a Saturday in the summertime.”

Though weekend highs are forecast in the low 90s, Weisner doesn’t expect temperatures on race morning to be of more than moderate concern. Hydration, as always, will be of primary concern for runners.

“I don’t think there’s any real severe threat,” Weisner said. “It is July on Hilton Head, so you never know, but we anticipate a good crowd and decent weather.”

Late entrants still can register this weekend at Palmetto Running Company, located in Shelter Cove Towne Centre, or from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on race morning.

Entry fees are $35 for runners age 13 and up, $30 for preteens. All prices go up $5 for those who register on race morning. A Fun Run for kids also is offered for $10. See BearFootSports.com to register or for more information.

“It’s really family oriented,” Weisner said. “The cool thing is that you see families come back year after year, and their families grow. Grandparents are running with kids. It’s a family holiday, right?”

Sponsors this year include Kroger, Whole Foods, Hargray, Hilton Head Hospital, Savannah Hilton Head International, Cera Sport, Palmetto Running Company, Gillman Flooring, Collins Realty Group and New York City Pizza.

This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Familiarity returns for 31st edition of Firecracker Run road race."