Beaufort Twilight Run returns with some changes

The Beaufort Twilight Run is back, with some twists.

The eighth annual road race — as much a party as a competition — returns to Habersham Marketplace with more races, entertainment and food options.

New this year is a 10-mile run, a 13.1-mile Beaufort Challenge, a 1-mile kids run and food trucks.

“As the BTR gets bigger it just keeps getting better,” Twilight Run director Evy Trask said. “As a runner myself, I appreciate an event that is well organized with clearly marked courses and has a fun after party with great food and music.”

The extra races resulted from runners asking for a longer distances. Children run a mile at school as part of their fitness programs, so it seemed natural to add the kids run, Trask said.

Cash payouts for the chip-timed races have increased to more than $6,000. The money will be awarded in the 13.1 Mile Beaufort Challenge, 10 Mile Run, 8K Run and 5K Run. Categories include the male and female winners of each of those races and the top male and female Masters (age 40 and older), top active-duty military and top Beaufort County resident.

Age-group winners will receive a photograph.

Early packet pickup and late registration on Saturday will start at 1 p.m. at Habersham Marketplace Fire House. Online registration is closed.

Almost 1,200 runners had registered as of Friday afternoon. Trask expected up to 300 more to register on site.

Rain is in the forecast, but organizers are hopeful it will clear by the afternoon.

The event is an annual fundraiser for Riverview Charter School. In seven years, the festival has raised more than $350,000 for the school, race organizers said.

Organizers hope to raise $70,000 this year, with the money going to technology and after-school and physical education programs.

Trask’s two children attend Riverview, and she is a past board member.

“Because we’re a charter school, we don’t get the same level of funding as another public school would,” she said. “Fundraising is a necessary part of what we do to be able to provide students with the programs we do.”

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Beaufort Twilight Run returns with some changes."