Runners Scurry to Race Across the Jamestown Bridge

With more than a month to go, almost 450 runners had signed up for the first Jamestown Bridge 10K road race, set for Saturday, Apr. 23.

"At this rate, we'll be sold out before race day,"  predicted Kathy Robbins, a triathlete and owner of TRIMOM Productions LLC, the South Kingstown company that is sponsoring the run.

Robbins said runners are enthralled at the prospect of seeing an area on foot that is normally accessible only on wheels and look forward to the spectacular views from the bridge. Her permit only allows 1,000 participants, including wheelchair athletes (no strollers), but everyone has to be able to keep up a pretty good clip.

"We have this timed for runners who can do a mile in 15 minutes," Robbins explained. The run will kick off at 9 a.m. from the RIPTA park-and-ride lot on Route 1A and follow the eastbound on-ramp onto the Jamestown Verrazano Bridge, Robbins explained.
 
Runners will occupy the right lane, while cars will travel in the center lanes. Once across the bridge, runners will scamper down the first exit, make a series of right-hand turns under the bridge, and re-enter Route 138 westbound via the Beacon Avenue on-ramp. Runners who are not treading the return ramp by 10 a.m. will have to get a lift back to the start, Robbins said.

TRIMOM had to win permission from the state Department of Transportation, the Rhode Island State Police, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RIPTA) and the towns of Jamestown and North Kingstown, among other agencies, Robbins reports. "The DOT was really nice," she said. If this year's run is a success, TRIMOM would like to make it an annual event.

Runners will compete in nine age and weight groups. The fee to race is $35 for those who register by April 21, $40 thereafter. The fee includes gel, liquids and snacks, chip timing devices in race bibs, free bunny ears a t-shirt and a bag of jelly beans as you cross the finish line.

For more information or to register, visit the race website.