Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2020

36 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.BestofMP.com feature The late Julian Smith, who directed the Cooper River Bridge Run from 1994 to 2018, has been referred to as the “Father of the Bridge Run.” He and Batten were personal friends for many years and Batten said it was an honor to have worked with him before he passed away in 2019. “It was Dr. Marcus Newberry’s idea to start the Cooper River Bridge Run back in 1978, but in 1994 when Julian became director, there were approximately 6,000 runners. During his tenure, he brought it up to 40,000, making it the third largest 10K in the country,” Batten explained. Although Batten may have a tough act to follow, he is perfect for the position with such deep roots in the Charleston running community. He’s quick to point out that he could not be successful without his team, which includes: Mark Cellers, assistant race director; Rachel Haynie, assistant race director; Lorrie Warren, special events director; Marcy Krawcheck, registration assistant; Benita Shaw, volunteer coordinator; and Scott Lewis, expo coordinator. Said Shaw, “Irv has done a great job continuing Julian’s mission since January 2019 and the race was once again a big success on April 6, 2019.” She said that the team behind the Cooper River Bridge Run is like a big family. “We each have our own individual roles but when crunch time arrives, we all roll up our sleeves and do whatever it takes to put on this amazing race.” As the volunteer coordinator, Shaw is responsible for organizing the 4,000-plus volunteers from the starting line, including the recycling effort, corrals and the water stops; the Finish Festival with food service and with handing out medals to all the finishers; the two-day expo, where bib numbers, T-shirts and packets are distributed; the Taste of the Bridge Run, which is attended by over 1,500 participants; and the Kids Run. “At the expo alone, we use over 1,000 volunteers in four-hour shifts during the two-day event,” she said. “I am most impressed by the fact that we deal with thousands of participants, sponsors, spectators, volunteers, vendors and companies, and each year our small staff succeeds in putting on a world-class event that’s seemingly flawless.” Batten gives great credit to law enforcement, including the police and fire departments. “I have visited many of the largest races in the country to see how they are run, and we really have one of the safest events out there. Our security is considered state-of-the-art.” He added that the Coast Guard, SLED and state troopers are also involved in the race. Having studied other races, he also pointed out that few races offer free bus transportation to the starting line and from the finish line. “We even offer race pickup and drop off for free from the Charleston Area Convention Center, which is where the expo takes place,” he said. Batten mentioned the fencing set up around the corral at the starting line, as well as the port-a-potties strategically placed at the starting and finish lines and along the way. “Participants have no idea how much thought is put into every little aspect of this event,” Batten added. Public works, waste management and recycling are also all important aspects of the Cooper River Bridge Run. “It really takes a major effort on the city of Charleston,