Mike Seekings is the Cooper River Bridge Run new interim race director

Mike Seekings, a board member for nine years, is a very active runner in the community. He said he's taking on this role to pay tribute to Julian Smith, the former Cooper River Bridge Run director who died recently to his battle to cancer.

"Over the last 20 years has been Julian Smith's race," Seekings said. "This has been his vision, it's been his passion. He has built something in the community that is second to none, anywhere."

He said his part in this race is carrying on what Julian grew for decades.

"This is his run. This is his race," Seekings said. "It's for the community, and for those reasons, I am honored and really proud and honored, and happy, and a little bit humbled to be here for the last couple months getting this race ready to go."

So, during the next couple of days, there will be lots of final touches and sleepless nights, to make sure this event runs smoothly.

"We're going to make sure that logistically we're ready to go, the course is clear, that we've got everybody registered, everyone understands where they are, and what they're going to do," said Seekings.

Following the race, there's not much downtime before planning for the next year begins. 

"This run is at eight o'clock, Saturday, April 6th," Seekings said. "People will be across that bridge within two to three hours. The festivities will go on for that day. We'll take a deep breath on Sunday, April 7th and then planning for next year will begin Monday, April 8th."

Seekings said the board is moving forward with heavy hearts, but with lots of enthusiasm that this year will be good as any, running in Julian's honor.

posted Tuesday April 2nd