Corridor Goes Digital on Innovators' Race Event

Charleston's first night road race, the Innovators' 5K run, will be a blend of business networking, fitness and high-tech when it debuts April 19, according to Kimberly Taylor, program manager at the Charleston Digital Corridor and coordinator of the event.

"In order to do this right, we have to do it with quality in mind," Taylor said. "We have a Web site devoted to the race with online registrations ( www.ifivek.com). Now, some of those things we were able to get in trade through sponsorships, but the Web design is very sharp, very high quality."

"Being the Digital Corridor, we want everything to be as digital as possible. For instance, a lot of 5K runs don't have a chip system (for electronic timing of the runners) because it's a lot more expensive. But we're going for quality and high-tech. So how could we not have the chips?"

The impetus for the race came about through brainstorming over networking events, which Ernest Andrade, executive director of the Charleston Digital Corridor, noted is a critical component of business life.

"Events build relationships," Andrade said. "It is important for professionals in Charleston's knowledge economy to have a network of support as they face challenges building a successful business."

One of the corridor's most successful events is the "Corridor Bash," held every October. "The bash has become so successful," said Taylor. "For the first bash in 2004, we had about 125 guests. In 2005 there were 150, and last year there were over 200."

"People are enjoying the caliber of interaction at that event. So Ernest and I started talking about doing something in the spring," she said. "We also have the 'Fridays at the Corridor' networking gatherings, but we wanted this to be for another purpose besides getting together and having coffee."

Not that the coffee klatch isn't working; several dozen business people attend the monthly information meeting regularly. But Taylor said she felt something in the health and fitness realm would be better suited. "People are becoming more and more health aware," she said. "You see more runners out there, and a lot of companies, especially those we work with, have young, energetic people who want to stay fit. So I just pitched the idea."

But why an evening race? "As a 'wannabe runner' myself, I prefer to run at night rather than in the morning," she admitted. "I don't want to get up at 5 (a.m.) when it's chilly to go run. So I thought 'Why doesn't someone on the peninsula do a night run?' I know over at Daniel Island they do one, and the James Island County Park does one around the lights during the holidays, so I figured we could do one downtown."

The race has benefits beyond the networking and fitness aspects. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Burke Scholarship Fund, which will be earmarked for a student seeking higher education in a technology-related field.

Because the Digital Corridor is designed to be a creative effort to attract, nurture and promote Charleston's knowledge economy through technology-enabled initiatives, Taylor said the fundraising is a good fit.