Runners Look To 'Conquer The Bridge' In Annual Labor Day Race
SAN PEDRO (CBSLA.com) — Just under 2,800 runners Monday took part in an annual "Conquer the Bridge" race in San Pedro for charity.
KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports the participants in the 5.3-mile race started and Harbor Boulevard and Fifth Street and ended up at the same location upon completion of the course.
Runners were expected to cross the 1,500-foot-long Vincent Thomas Bridge twice before the race finishes no later then 11 a.m., when Caltrans requires that the bridge must be re-opened.
The Vincent Thomas Bridge is the fourth-longest suspension bridge in California.
Any participants who remained on the Bridge at 10:30 am were picked up by a van and taken down to Harbor Blvd. to finish the race, according to officials.
Will Tait, who took the first place medal with a time of 28:50, recommends the race just for a chance
to take in the view from the bridge.
"Going over the first time, it was breathtaking," said Tait. "I love looking at it just from a car, but being able to go at my leisure and look around [at the] 360 view, it was gorgeous."
Alison Kielty finished first among all female participants and offered some free training advice for any future entrants.
"It's good, I would practice hills going into it, but it's a good time," she said.
A portion of the proceeds from the race will benefit several youth programs administered by the LAPD Harbor Division Booster Club for Kids.
Click here for real-time updated race results.