Popular Conquer the Bridge in San Pedro will mark its 15th year on Labor Day

San Pedro’s popular Labor Day tradition will return once more — with thousands of people trying to “conquer” the port town’s iconic bridge.

The 15th annual Labor Day Conquer the Bridge Run will step off at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2, at the foot of the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The popular run-walk spans 5.3 miles from San Pedro to Terminal Island, offering participants stunning bridge-top views of the Port of Los Angeles. Both the ports of L.A. and Long Beach are closed on Labor Day, making the bridge run — which requires shutting down traffic for a few hours — possible.

This year, though, will be different in one big way: Michael Patrick-Hogue, who created and organized the event, and was race-day announcer throughout its impressive history, died on Christmas Eve, leaving his son, Derek, to pick up the baton and put on this year’s event.

“This is the very first (race) without my dad,” said Hogue, who had helped his father with the race in all its years.

The 2024 race also poses some future questions centered around a state transportation project to replace the road bed on the bridge. Work is set to kick off in 2025 and mostly close down the bridge for at least a year.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” Hogue said of next year’s uncertainty.

But, he added, those details should become clearer in the coming months.

From its inception, the event — which took many years to initially get onto the calendar because of the many permits needed to pull it all off — has grown into one of the most anticipated end-of-summer events in the region.

Online registration ends Thursday, Aug. 29, and after that, late registrations are in-person only at Road Runner Sports, 25359 Crenshaw Blvd., in Torrance. Bib pickups will also be at the store on the weekend before the race.

Participants can also show up and register on the day of the race, if space remains, but they should plan to arrive by 5:30 a.m. to do so, Hogue said.

The registration fee is $55 through Sunday, Sept. 1, and $60 on race day.

The first race, on Labor Day 2009, drew some 1,500 participants. More recently, numbers have been in the 3,000 range.

New this year will be a designated all-star team — with returning race winners again participating.

For more information, go to the Conquer the Bridge website. The website provides driving instructions and a printable parking map. Downtown trolleys will run from parking areas to the race starting line at Fifth Street and Harbor Boulevard.

If you go

When: 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2.

Where: Fifth Street and Harbor Boulevard, in San Pedro.

Cost: $55 until Sunday; $60 on race day.

Information: conquerthebridge.com.