The countdown to the Run Thru History is on.

The 31st edition of the 10-kilometer run and 5-kilometer race walk through the Vicksburg Military Park is Saturday and will feature a few new wrinkles along with the same familiar party.

More than 400 people had registered as of this morning, with hundreds more expected throught the week. A total of 1,003 people participated in last year’s RTH. In 2008, 912 people paid the registration fee and 760 finished the race.

Runners and walkers can register through Friday at the Purks YMCA or Battlefield Inn or on Saturday from 7 until 8 a.m. at Battlefield Inn. The registration fee is $30 for the 10K run and 5K walk, or $12 for the Blue/Gray 1-mile fun run.

“We’re right on track compared to last year,” RTH committee member Casey Custer said. “Last year they had roughly the same number. We’ll get a lot in (today).”

The runners and walkers will compete with a new scoring system. For the first time, a computer chip will track their progress and register their time as they cross the finish line. Previously, participants were handed a card as they finished and then proceeded to a nearby table to hand it in. Times were recorded by hand.

The computer chip system has become popular in recent years at larger races, but technical issues and cost concerns kept RTH organizers from using it for their event.

“It’s a great system for managing a large number of people,” Custer said. “It was a committee decision. We wanted to evaluate how to tabulate results. Because of the sheer number of people we have, we thought it would be a good option.”

Custer, the associate executive director of the Vicksburg YMCA, is one member of a new organizing committee taking over the Run Thru History this year along with John Duett, Gary Sessums, Blake Teller, Dustin Blount, Andy Oakes, Briggs Hopson III, Jeb Blackburn and Francine Nosser.

The new group assumed control when the old committee of Mack Varner, Robert Sadler, Hays Latham, Bobby Abraham retired after 23 years heading up the race. Blount credited Varner’s committee with making this RTH the next link in a tradition rather than a rough transition year.

“The old staff that did it has made it much easier. Everything is in place. We’re just picking up where they left off,” Blount said.

Run Thru History

The 31st annual Run Thru History is Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the Vicksburg Military Park. You can register for the 10K run, 5K race walk and 1-mile fun run at the Purks YMCA or Battlefield Inn until Friday at 8 p.m., or at Battlefield Inn from 7 until 8 a.m. on Saturday. Registration fee for the 10K run and 5K walk is $30. The fee for the Blue/Gray 1-miler is $12.

For information, call 601-638-1071.

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com