Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2018

28 www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.BestOfMP.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com W ith exceptional recreation facilities, popular walking trails and predominantly mild weather, Charleston has become a haven for those who love the sport of running. Some run for fun, exercise or to de-stress. Others run to compete, and there is no shortage of local road races offered to enthusiasts from all walks of life. One group of runners often stands out more than the rest. Many can’t legally drive and still have homework most nights, but these young competitors are making a huge splash on the local running scene. Mount Pleasant resident Marshall Hodges regularly competes in many of the local 5K and 10K events, including the Cooper River Bridge Run, the largest running event in South Carolina and the third largest in the country. Running since he was in the fourth grade, Hodges is now a freshman at Academic Magnet and a member of the school track team. “I really enjoy being on the team and representing the school,” Hodges said. “Competing in local road races is a lot of fun, and I love being part of them.” Hodges got his first experience with running when he joined the Mount Pleasant Track Club in 2013. Participating in cross country in the fall and track and field in the spring and summer, he gained enormous By Diane Pauldine Born to Run Youngsters Race for Fun and Competition feature Marshall Hodges finishes a race at Peyton’s Wild and Wacky Run in March 2017. Photo by Brian Fancher.