Doggie dash kicks off mini-marathon weekend in Myrtle Beach

Dogs and their people kicked off the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon weekend of events with a 5K and a doggie dash Saturday morning.

Around 1,300 runners hit the streets at 7:30 a.m. Saturday for the Coastal 5K that started and ended at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes.

Then dogs joined in on the fun with a 1.5-mile Doggie Dash at 9:15 a.m.

The mini marathon is slated for a 7 a.m. start Sunday and has around 3,600 participants. It begins at Coastal Grand mall and finishes at Ninth Avenue North and Plyler Park on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.

Several intersections will be closed to road traffic during the race. Times are estimated:

U.S. 17 Bypass is not part of the race course, so Myrtle Beach Public Information Officer Mark Kruea recommends that drivers use U.S. 17 to travel north and south.

Visit runmyrtlebeach.com for additional information.

This story was originally published October 18, 2014 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Doggie dash kicks off mini-marathon weekend in Myrtle Beach."