Image by Flickr user Brian Cribb

Update April 1: Check out the videos.

Update March 31, post race: Well, it turns out the rain wasn't the biggest challenge for the 35th bridge run.

But, first, the results: Ethiopian Solomon Deksisa, 21, won the mens in 29:37. And American Janet Cherobon-Baucom, 33, finished in 33:01. 

Live 5 News has a solid report with video of the run; watch it here.

But this year's run will mostly be remembered for the problems with the busses taking folks to the starting line — the race was due to begin at 8 a.m., and the last bus left to carry runners over the bridge to the Mt. Pleasant start at 8:15. Ouch.

Update March 31: Happy bridge run day!

The weather forecast is still calling for a good chance of rain, tapering up at 6 a.m. and getting more likely from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — and with a forecast high of 77 degrees, look to be sprinkled and "refreshed" during the run.

But don't worry, there's plenty of ways to drink away your woes today in town.

Good luck with it, I'm going back to bed.

First reporting: The 35th annual Cooper River Bridge Run starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, but the traffic pinch begins today.

Yep, the run expo starts today, March 29, at the Gaillard Auditorium, clogging everything fore blocks around 77 Calhoun Street — the expo runs from noon to 8 p.m. today and on Friday from 8 to 8.

If you don't yet have a place reserved, you'll have to buy one of the 1,200 remaining $150 charity tickets.

The map

Come March 31, the map below is gospel — runners will follow it from Mount Pleasant to downtown, and all other will drive around it.

You can get full details on street closures here, but plan to avoid that route from 7 a.m. to at least 1 p.m. And the bridge does close in both directions.

The app

This year the bridge run has an Android and iPhone app to track runners, times, get results, and a few more bits of gadgetry; check it out here.

Getting there and more

Looking for help getting to the start line? There are buses and more to help; check out this info on the bridge run website.

Eat

Brunch and mimosa specials will abound around town — but the reservations can be competitive, so don't wait to make them. (Have a brunch special at your restaurant? Let us know down in the comments.)

Check back

We'll, of course, have any noteworthy updates before the race and a post-event update. Be sure to check on back later.