The Cooper River Bridge Run, which annually draws up to 30,000 runners and walkers each year, on Friday joined the growing list of sports events postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 6.2-mile race from Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston has been rescheduled for Aug. 1. The event was originally scheduled for April 4.

The 42-year-old race is the largest participation sporting event in South Carolina and had never been postponed or canceled until now. A year ago, the 10,000-meter event had more than 29,000 runners and walkers cross the finish line. The Bridge Run is traditionally the third most popular 10K event in the United States.

Race officials said Friday they understand the decision to move the race to the heat of the summer in August might discourage some participants.

"There were many, many different factors involved in picking this date," said Cooper River Bridge race director Irv Batten. "We understand the concern about the heat, but we considered that and we will be prepared."

Atlanta's Peachtree Road Race is held on July 4. The race is the largest 10K in the world and annually has more than 60,000 participants, more than twice the Bridge Run.

"It's the largest 10K in the world and it's held during a hotter time of the year," Batten said.

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Daneil Clapper, 66, has run every Cooper River Bridge Run since 1985. Clapper said the decision to postpone the race did not surprise him.

“It was the right decision. That’s just something you can’t risk at this point," Clapper said.

The Burn the Bridge Run – the last running event to take place on the old Pearman Bridge - was held in late July 2005.

“It was one of those miraculous mornings in July when it was relatively cool,” Clapper said. “I’m hoping we get similar conditions on Aug. 1.”

Clapper, who is a retired nurse, said participants should start to hydrate during the week leading up to the event and not wait until the day before or on race day to drink fluids.

“If you’re well hydrated, the heat won’t bother you as much,” Clapper said. “You don’t want too much water in your stomach, because it’s harder to run if you wait until the day before or morning of the race.”

The Boston Marathon, one of the country’s oldest running events at 124 years, was postponed on Thursday.

The marathon, which annually draws more than 30,000 runners, was set for April 20. Organizers are hoping to reschedule the event for September. The marathon has only been fully canceled or postponed once – in 1918 when a military relay race was held during World War I.