July 4 • 8:00 a.m.
Run | Walk | Ruck

Kick off your Fourth of July the Epic Races way: join us in downtown Ann Arbor on the 4th of July for our classic Firecracker 5K: Run, Walk, or Ruck!

Our 3.1-mile course gets underway at a truly red, white, and blue locale: the intersection of Liberty and 4th... where else would you start a race on the 4th of July? Racers then loop around downtown and come in for a spectacular star-spangled finish in front of thousands of spectators.

☆ Rucking Division: Carry a weighted rucksack or backpack for your 5K. (Competitive and "just for fun" subdivisions.)

☆ The Flag Carrying Division: Run or walk proudly bearing a mounted 3 x 5 American flag from start to finish.

☆ Hot Dog Eating Division:  It’s not the Fourth of July without hot dogs, and those who choose this challenge — up to 20 competitors — will try to chow down on four dogs in 76 seconds, then get their 5K underway. Consider it our version of the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.