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About
High above the Straits of Mackinac with views of the bridge towers over blue-green waters where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, the vista is stunning. With Mackinac Island to the left and vast Great Lakes vistas to the right are revealed as the sun rises, washing the sky with glorious shades of orange. Runners can expect to be serenaded by the sounds of seagulls, ferry boat horns and waves crashing on the shoreline. This run is an engaging experience that delights the senses.
Michigan Fitness Foundation’s Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run provides the only opportunity to run on the Mackinac Bridge. A staple of Labor Day weekend festivities, this 4.3 mile running event is touted by past participants as an unforgettable, bucket-list experience. For the running enthusiast and adventure seeker, there is no other experience like running on the world’s fifth longest suspension bridge at sunrise high above the blue-green waters of the Straits of Mackinac. The event registration is capped at 700 participants.
Runners must be able to complete each mile in a 15-minute pace or less. Persons that experience acrophobia (fear of heights) should not participate. This is not a timed event and the course is not certified for distance.
The Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run was started by former Governor Jennifer Granholm who was an avid runner. In 2003, she chose to run across the bridge to honor and celebrate everyone that had a part in constructing the Mackinac Bridge and the hardworking people in Michigan’s labor community. She also liked the healthy competition between past governors regarding the time it took to walk the Mackinac Bridge. She was motivated to beat former Governor William Milliken’s walking record set at 47 minutes, who himself had beat former Governor George Romney’s record of 53 minutes. Granholm made the crossing in 43 minutes but because she started prior to the official 7:00 a.m. start, she logged in at 47 minutes, tying Milliken’s record. However, that didn’t slow her down, by the end of her term, she had beat his record and shattered her own by clocking in at 35 minutes, 27 seconds. Today, Granholm is the G.O.A.T., as no other Michigan governor has beat her record to date.
In 2004, the run became an official event and Michigan Fitness Foundation was tasked with the planning and management of the “fun jog.” On Labor Day, about 300 Michiganders added to bridge history by being the first group to officially run across the Mighty Mac. Today, the fun run is capped at 700 participants.
“We have been honored to host the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run to promote health and physical activity for the past 20 years and look forward to continuing this signature event,” said Michigan Fitness Foundation CEO & President Amy Ghannam. “Like the Labor Day Bridge Walk, the Bridge Run has become a family tradition and a way to celebrate the valued role of Michigan’s labor community.”
The region around the Mackinac Bridge is a premiere tourist destination hosting over one million visitors each year. It is known as a gathering place and features natural wonders, Great Lakes History with historic attractions like Mackinac Island, Fort Mackinac and Colonial Michilimackinac. There are lighthouses, museums, great shopping, nightly entertainment, and a variety of vacation packages with places to stay from rustic cabins to modern hotels.
For more information visit https://runsignup.com/bridgerun.
