FIRECRACKER RACE RETURNS ON TUESDAY
Registration ends at midnight Monday
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Saratoga Springs will launch its AllAmerican celebration with a bang Tuesday, July 4, when more than 4,000 runners take part in the city’s 11th annual Firecracker 4 road race.
Starting and ending at the Saratoga Springs City Center, the event gets under way at 9 a.m. with the main attraction, the four-mile road race, which will be bib-tag timed with gun and net times. More than 3,500 runners are expected to follow a friendly course that takes them south on Broadway to Circular Street, east through the historic residential district and then returns to the City Center. There are multiple bands along the course to keep runners moving. The first 3,700 registrants to sign up at firecracker4.com will receive an ASICS gender-specific tech shirt, goodie bag and finisher’s certificate. Registrations are being accepted through midnight Monday at firecracker4.com. The fee is $30. Participants can also sign up in person for $35 at Registration/Packet Pick Up held Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday from 7 to 8:45 a.m. at the City Center.
Runners are encouraged to form male/female/co-ed teams for the Firecracker 4, which is both a USATF Team Championship- and USATF/Saratoga Stryders Grand Prix- sanctioned event. The Run Your Colors team with the most registered runners will win a $1,000 first place team award donated to the not-for-profit of its choice. The second and third place teams will receive $500 and $250 respectively to donate to a charity of their choosing. Organizers will also hand out awards in five-year increments, as well as a special award category for military and public safety participants.
The second annual Firecracker Sparkler Kids’ Run — a half-mile event for more than 500 kids of all ages and abilities — will follow the four-mile run at 10:55 a.m. All participants will receive a commemorative finisher’s medal and refreshments. The fee is $5. People can register online through midnight Monday at firecracker4. com. Participants can also sign up in person at Registration/Packet Pick Up on Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday from 7 to 8:45 a.m. at the City Center.
“We’re expecting 2017 to be another fantastic event,” said Green Leaf Racing COO Patrick Lynskey, who is serving in his first year as event director. “This event is already well run and well established at the grassroots level within Saratoga County but we see a great opportunity to make this a destination event in the region. In the next few years with all that the Spa City has to offer, we envision welcoming 8,000 to 10,000 runners to town for this treasured July 4th celebration!”
After both running events conclude, participants and spectators are invited to wander through the event’s Vendor Village featuring an array of food, apparel and running/fitness/health vendors. A partial vendor list includes: Fleet Feet Sports, Bodywork Professionals, Orangetheory Fitness, Grasso’s Italian Ice, Camp Bow Wow, Camp Abilities, Power House Athletics/Protein Surge Nut Butters, 9 Miles East, SPoT Coffee and more.
Grit N Whiskey, a Saratoga Springs-based modern country music band will perform from 8:45 to 11 a.m. for runners and spectators from the main stage located at the City Center.
Participants and spectators are then invited to enjoy the city’s festive All-American Celebration featuring a parade, sidewalk sale, BBQ, classic car show, Fireworks at dusk in Congress Park and much more. A full event schedule can be found here: http://www. saratogajuly4th.com/events/program.htm
For more information or to register, please visit firecracker4. com or call (518) 587-1571. Sponsors include Fleet Feet Sports and ASICS; Hannaford Supermarket; Saratoga Eagle; Zappone Motors; D.A. Collins Companies; Adirondack Trust Company; Towne, Ryan & Partners P.C. Bouchey Financial Group; The Barrelhouse; Druthers Brewing Company; Gaffney’s; and, Dunkin’ Donuts.