The second annual Chappaquiddick Point to Point race is set for this Sunday, August 30, after receiving notice from the USA Track and Field Association for the first sanctioned race in Massachusetts since the pandemic hit in March.

Last year, 150 participants ran in the inaugural five-mile race that began at the fishermen’s parking lot on Wasque and ended at the Chappy ferry dock. Proceeds were donated to the Trustees of Reservations and the Chappaquiddick Community Center. About $7,500 was raised for each organization.

Rick Schifter, a coordinator with the race committee, said last year’s event was a big success.

“The feedback was extremely positive and we were determined to do it this year despite all the challenges,” he said.

This year’s event will include regulations to promote social distancing and minimize crowding. Masks will be mandatory before and after the race, and runners will be released in 15-minute intervals with a maximum of 25 runners per wave. The USA Track and Field Association is requiring runners to certify they are symptom-free when picking up their bibs and prove they have been in Massachusetts for two weeks or provide negative test results before running.

“There are various compliance things we’re dealing with but we’ve organized the race so that we avoid the congestion you would typically have,” Mr. Schifter said. “We were planning on limiting the number of runners anyway and I think that makes it more feasible.”

The idea for a race on Chappaquiddick began several years when Mr. Schifter was waiting in line with his daughters to begin the Chilmark Road Race. One of them suggested a similar race on Chappy where they have a home. They spread the idea around, received positive feedback, then formed a committee to organize the event.

Another change this year is the course itself. Instead of beginning at Wasque, runners will start and finish at the Chappy point, with a route that heads out just past the turn onto Dike Road. Runners will be provided with water at the finish line but then crowds will need to disperse.

“We’re encouraging people not to linger, we need to be mindful,” Mr. Schifter said.

Mr. Schifter noted that “the support of our sponsors has been great.” With over 20 corporate sponsors, about 70 family and individual sponsors and official race merchandise for sale at Soft as a Grape, they’re hoping to raise as much money as possible for the Chappaquiddick Open Space committee and the Martha’s Vineyard Food Waste Initiative.

The open space committee’s mission is to purchase and preserve land on Chappaquiddick. The Martha’s Vineyard Food Waste Initiative recently launched a pilot program on Chappaquiddick that dispersed collection bins throughout the island for food waste that will be turned into compost.

As of now, Mr. Schifter reports 224 participants in the race, about half of them people who have homes on Chappy. The starting gun goes off at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.