COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Mark Sanford will run with his 10-year-old son in the 27th Annual Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston on Saturday.

Sanford and his son, Landon, will join the nearly 18,000 runners in the 10 kilometer race from Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston.

"The guy's in tremendous shape," said Sanford's spokesman Will Folks. "Landon's got some speed as well."

The governor challenged South Carolinians in his State of the State address in January to get in better physical shape.

"When you look at the numbers, lack of physical activity is a big reason why we as a state are near the top the list for whole host of diseases related to unhealthy lifestyles," Sanford said Friday in a statement.

Sanford has called on South Carolinians to join him in bike ride across the state next month as part of his Family Fitness Challenge.

"No matter who you are or what kind or shape you're in, a healthier state starts with all South Carolinians challenging themselves to start getting out and walking, running or biking for a few blocks or a few miles," Sanford said.

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On the Net:

Cooper River Bridge Run: http://www.bridgerun.com/.

Gov.'s Family Fitness Challenge: http://www.scgovernor.com/.