Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run: Run the Mighty Mac!

ST. IGNACE, Mich. - Jan. 27, 2025 - PRLog -- Imagine running across the Mackinac Bridge as the sun rises surrounded by the sounds of seagulls high above the blue-green waters of the Straits of Mackinac. This is the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Run, and it is the only running event on the Mackinac Bridge.

The run is 4.3 miles and open to just 700 runners. While it is a non-competitive event, runners are expected to sustain a pace between 12-15 minutes per mile to stay ahead of the tens of thousands of walkers that follow the event for the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk.

Michigan's Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere and the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world.

The event is presented by Michigan Fitness Foundation and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports with support from Michigan Department of Transportation.

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. (https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/g-o-a-t/), as no other Michigan governor has beat her record to date.

Online registration is open through midnight on Thursday, August 30, 2025. Register here: https://runsignup.com/bridgerun.