14-15 after skipping 2021 in what the event is calling the "Frozen Finale" at the Savannah Civic Center. The Enmarket Savannah Hockey Classic returns on Jan. More: Calvary's Chad Griffin receives surprise award Savannah High's Tim Jordan honored But now we've moved the banquet to May permanently." So it doesn't feel we get much of a break until the Women's Half is over. "From the time that (Rock 'n' Roll race) starts, and then we go into the Bridge Run and the holidays are all in there, and then hockey and then a little bit of a break before the Women's Half (on April 2, 2022), but that event takes a lot of work like all of them do. "It is a very hectic period," Wells said. The Bridge Run is always the first Saturday in December - pandemic-related restrictions permitting. The Sports Council assists in operating the event, part of a national running series. The Sports Council really hits its stride in the winter months, beginning with the Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Savannah Marathon & Half Marathon on the first Saturday in November. The Sports Council's annual sports awards luncheon was postponed from the early fall of 2020 to May 2021, and that month will be its new home on the calendar going foward. Memorial Stadium hosted the NAIA Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Invitational in May after the 2020 event was canceled. Savannah and the Sports Council have adapted. We understand that people don't like it, but it's what we need to do to make sure we have a safe event." Changing the calendar We're trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone. "We're offering on-site rapid testing at the expo and on race morning. "The biggest protocol that's different is we are requiring everyone to either show proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours," Wells said. Slowly, some events popped back up on the calendar while following health and safety protocols. Running news: Runners brave nasty weather as Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Marathon is shortened to 13.1 miles The Publix Women's Half & 5K was delayed, rescheduled and ultimately canceled. The Sports Council had to grapple with postponing and canceling events, like so many others have, after the pandemic hit in March 2020. I'm very happy with where we're going to end up." It's nobody's fault - it's the pandemic's fault. "I think when we saw that uptick in August, September, that just really derailed us. We were ahead of our 2019 pace," Wells said, noting the rate slowed as the number of coronavirus cases rose. "Back in July, August, our numbers were doing really well. Wells said Wednesday that registration so far was down slightly from 2019 rate, but more than at this point in 2017 and about even with 2018. The 2019 race drew more than 4,800 competitors across the three race categories (5K, 10K and the combination, called the Double Pump). Wednesday deadline, and more registration hours in person at the Health & Wellness Expo from 10 a.m. Wells expects the event to draw between 4,200 and 4,500 runners, with over 4,000 signed up online by the 11:59 p.m. Sports news: High energy, passionate former MLB player to manage Banana Ball team The T-shirt design is very similar to the very first shirt we did. We're celebrating the 30th year (of the Bridge Run) this year. The kids race is now Friday night, which is exciting. We've got a new venue for the expo at Trustees' Garden. "I'm hoping so," said Rob Wells, director of the Savannah Sports Council, which this weekend stages one of its biggest annual events, the Enmarket Savannah Bridge Run after canceling the 2020 road race. But after the COVID-19 pandemic basically erased so many events from the sports calendar in 2020 into 2021, this year finally is feeling like old times - 2019. It may be hard to sound nostalgic about something that happened only two years ago.
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