NICEVILLE — Race director Joe Walker predicted the 800 to 900 runners he expects to turn out will find perfect weather Saturday for the inaugural, and possibly final, Connector Run.
They’re also going to find a fun “kind of rolling” course with a “kick it out” downhill finish, he said.
And in hopes more folks, particularly Niceville residents, show up to take part in the race starting at the Mullet Festival site, Walker has decided to set up a registration table to accommodate last-minute entrants.
“At the Mid-Bay Bridge Run the Niceville people showed up in droves,” Walker said. “This one, it’s a Niceville race and we’ve got a lot of people from Fort Walton Beach, probably more than from Niceville.”
The Connector Run, a half-marathon, 5K run and 5K walk, is scheduled to start at 8 a.m.
After the race and following a grand opening ceremony, the 16-mile limited access Mid-Bay Bridge Connector toll road will open to traffic to bypass Niceville.
Food and drink will be provided to race finishers, and Walker said his team has arranged things to allow runners to use their cell phones to check their finish times.
Walker said the temperature at race time is expected to have risen into the 50s, which he called “a very good temperature for running.” It could reach 60 by the time the after party gets rolling.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.