Five 10K races Charleston SC and Mount Pleasant SC runners need on the calendar now

The Charleston, SC, 10K season starts Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, and runs through the Cooper River Bridge Run on April 3, 2027. Blue Sky Endurance, the specialty running store in Mount Pleasant, SC, rounded up the local 10K races worth your entry fee, with dates, start locations and registration links for each one.

Use this list to pick a goal race, plan your training and get fitted for the right shoes before race day. Every date below comes from the organizer's own website as of late September 2026, so check each race page for last-minute changes.

Key takeaways for Charleston and Mount Pleasant runners

The Isle of Palms Connector Run on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, is the next 10K in the Charleston, SC, area.
Mount Pleasant hosts three 10K starts this season: a new trail 10K at Laurel Hill County Park, the Sweetgrass 10K & Half Marathon and the Cooper River Bridge Run.
The James Island Connector Run moved to Oct. 31, 2026, and is an 8K, not a 10K.
The 50th Cooper River Bridge Run is Saturday, April 3, 2027, and the 10K entry fee rises on Dec. 1.
Trail and asphalt courses call for different shoes, so get fitted for the surface you will race on.

Upcoming Charleston running races at a glance

Five 10K races sit within a short drive of Mount Pleasant between October 2026 and April 2027. Here they are in date order.

Isle of Palms Connector Run 10K: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, Isle of Palms
S.A.F.E. 1 in 26 10K: Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, James Island County Park
Shake Your Trail Feathers 10K: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, Laurel Hill County Park, Mount Pleasant
Sweetgrass 10K & Half Marathon: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, Park West Recreation Complex, Mount Pleasant
Cooper River Bridge Run 10K: Saturday, April 3, 2027, Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston

Isle of Palms Connector Run: an October bridge race next to Mount Pleasant

The Isle of Palms Connector Run and Walk for the Child crosses the IOP Connector, the bridge between Isle of Palms and Mount Pleasant. This is the 35th year of the race, and proceeds go to Lowcountry groups working to prevent child abuse and help survivors heal.

Date and time: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, 8 a.m.
Location: Isle of Palms, SC, near JC Long Boulevard
Distances: 10K, 5K run or walk, Family Fun Run
Entry: $65 for the 10K through Oct. 2
Registration: ioprun.com

Strollers are welcome, which is rare for a bridge race. The post-race party has live music, food and a kids' area.

S.A.F.E. 1 in 26: a new 10K at James Island County Park

South Carolina Advocates for Epilepsy hosts this first-year race to fund statewide epilepsy education and support for families. It runs in James Island County Park, a flat park on the Stono River with paved paths and wooded trails.

Date: Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026
Location: James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston, SC
Distances: 10K, 5K, stroll
Registration: S.A.F.E. 1 in 26 sign-up page

Shake Your Trail Feathers: Mount Pleasant's new trail 10K

Charleston County Parks debuts this off-road race in November at Laurel Hill County Park, where the course follows wooded dirt trails under moss-draped oaks. Costumes are encouraged, winners take home the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal and every finisher gets a medal.

Date and time: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, 9 a.m.
Location: Laurel Hill County Park, 1400 Highway 41, Mount Pleasant, SC (no entry through Park West on race day)
Distances: 10K, 5K, Kids Dash
Entry: $40 for the 10K, advance registration only, closes Nov. 4
Registration: Charleston County Parks event page

A trail 10K on dirt, roots and leaves rewards a shoe with more grip than your daily road trainer. Try a pair on before race week so your feet have time to adjust.

Sweetgrass 10K & Half Marathon: a flat, fast race day in north Mount Pleasant

The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department hosts the 7th annual Sweetgrass Half Marathon and 10K, which starts and finishes at the Park West Recreation Complex. The course winds through the Carolina Park neighborhood past marsh and pond views, and the 10K sold out before race day last year.

Date and time: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, races start at 7:30 a.m.
Location: Park West Recreation Complex, Mount Pleasant, SC
Distances: half marathon, 10K
Packet pickup: Friday, 3 to 6 p.m., at Blue Sky Endurance in Carolina Park, 3510 Park Ave Blvd, Suite 102, or race morning at the Lakeside Pavilion
Registration: Town of Mount Pleasant race page

Cooper River Bridge Run: the 50th race day in April 2027

The Cooper River Bridge Run is a point-to-point 10K that starts in Mount Pleasant and finishes in downtown Charleston after crossing the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The 2027 edition is the 50th, and it draws thousands of runners and walkers every spring.

Date and time: Saturday, April 3, 2027, 8 a.m.
Course: Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston over the Ravenel Bridge
Entry: $60 plus fees through Nov. 30, then $65 starting Dec. 1
Options: in-person 10K or a virtual 10K with shipped shirt and medal
Packet pickup: pre-race expo only, no race-day pickup
Registration: bridgerun.com

The bridge puts a long climb early in the race. Weekly hill repeats in your training will make that stretch feel far easier.

James Island Connector Run: a Halloween 8K, not a 10K

The James Island Connector Run moved from Oct. 17 to Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at the request of the City of Charleston. It now offers an 8K and a 5K on an out-and-back course with views of the Ashley River and the downtown peninsula.

Date and time: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, 8 a.m.
Start: base of the connector on James Island, near Folly Road
Distances: 8K run, 5K run or walk
Registration: jicrun.com

At 4.97 miles, the 8K works as a tune-up one week before the Nov. 7 trail 10K. Costumes are welcome for the Halloween date.

How to start 10K training in Charleston, SC

A 10K is 6.2 miles, and most newer runners can build to it in eight to 10 weeks. Lowcountry heat and humidity hang on into October, so schedule runs early in the morning.

Pick your goal race and count back eight to 10 weeks.
Run three or four days a week, keeping most runs at an easy, conversational pace.
Add one longer run each week, building to six or seven miles.
Train on your race surface: asphalt for the bridge races, dirt trail for Laurel Hill.
Cut your mileage in the final week so your legs feel fresh at the start.

Training with a group makes the early alarms easier. Blue Sky Endurance hosts free group runs and rides for every pace, and runners who want low-impact cross-training can add cycling on a bike or indoor trainer.

Race day gear for Lowcountry running races

Shoes matter more than any other piece of 10K gear, and the right pair depends on your foot, your pace and the course surface. Blue Sky Endurance and The Foot Store fit runners in Nike, On Running, Adidas and Mount to Coast shoes, with Oofos recovery footwear for after the finish line.

Road shoes for asphalt races: browse men's running shoes and women's running shoes, then try more than one pair side by side in the store.
Light, sweat-wicking race clothes: shop men's running apparel and women's running apparel, including Pearl Izumi pieces built for humid mornings.
A GPS watch or tracker: pick one up in electronics and accessories to hold your pace and log your finish time.
Recovery footwear: slip into a pair of Oofos after the race to give tired feet a break.

Frequently asked questions about Charleston running races

Is there a 10K race in Charleston, SC, this fall?

Yes. The Isle of Palms Connector Run 10K is Oct. 3, 2026, the S.A.F.E. 1 in 26 10K is Nov. 1 at James Island County Park, and the Shake Your Trail Feathers trail 10K is Nov. 7 in Mount Pleasant.

Is the Cooper River Bridge Run a 10K?

Yes, the Cooper River Bridge Run is a 6.2-mile point-to-point 10K from Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston. The 50th race is Saturday, April 3, 2027.

Is the James Island Connector Run a 10K?

No. The 2026 James Island Connector Run offers an 8K and a 5K on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.

What is a good 10K finish time for a first race?

Many first-time runners finish a 10K in about 60 to 75 minutes, and walkers often take 90 minutes or more. For a first race, a steady pace and a strong last mile matter more than the clock.

Do I need different shoes for a trail 10K and a road 10K?

A trail race like Shake Your Trail Feathers calls for a shoe with extra grip and protection on dirt and roots. Road races on asphalt, like the Cooper River Bridge Run, favor a lighter, cushioned road running shoe.

Get race-ready at Blue Sky Endurance in Mount Pleasant

Pick your race, register this week and book your shoe fitting before your first long run. Bridge Run prices go up Dec. 1, and the Sweetgrass 10K sold out last year, so the early sign-up gets the spot.

Shop men's running shoes, women's running shoes and the full run shop online, or stop by the Carolina Park store to try on your next pair of race-day shoes.