Age Groups and Awards

Everybody knows we have the most EPIC awards ever! 

Age Groups (Male/Female/Nonbinary Divisions)
8 and under, 9-10, 11-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

5K
1st Place Overall Male/Female/Nonbinary
1st Place Masters Male/Female/Nonbinary
Top 5 in each age group Male/ Female/Nonbinary

Hot Dog Eating Division
1st Place Overall 
1st in each age group Male/Female/Nonbinary

Flag Carrying Division
1st Place Overall Male/Female/Nonbinary
1st in each age group Male/Female/Nonbinary

Kids Race Free

All kids 10 and under race free with a registered adult at all Epic Races, compliments of Ann Arbor Sports Commission!

Rucking Division

Rucking is simply walking or hiking while carrying a weighted rucksack or backpack!

Join the "Competitive Division" for just ruck for fun in the "Fun Ruck"!

To qualify for the COMPETITIVE RUCKING DIVISION:

Participants weighing 149lbs or less, a 10-pound weight is required
Participants weighing 150lbs or more, a 20 pound weight is required.
Note: Weighted vests and plate carriers are allowed and do qualify. LEOs, Military, and Firefighters in full gear also qualify for the competitive rucking division.

Finishers who pass all weight requirements will qualify for overall and age-group awards. Rucks will be weighed at the finish line and must remain compliant with the prescribed weight from start to finish.

We enthusiastically welcome ruckers who choose not to carry the minimum weight requirement to participate in the FUN RUCK DIVISION! These participants will skip the weigh-in and will not qualify for a rucking award. Join us and give it a shot, even if you’re rucking with a yoga block! All participants are required to supply their own rucks and weights.

Hot Dog Eating Contest Division

How many hot dogs can you eat in 76 seconds?
Well… if the answer is 5, you won’t have that option!  Here are the rules:
This event will be a 76-second hot dog eating contest with a twist ... or actually, a run!
Participants will be given 4 hot dogs in buns and two 32 oz. cups of water for dunking or drinking. Condiments are BYO!
Classic Nathan’s FamousTM eating rules will be in effect: Food can be separated, dunked, and mashed in an effort to consume the most hot dogs.
Should a participant be observed hiding their hot dogs, dropping them under the table, or placing them on another participant’s plate, they will be disqualified. Participants who suffer a reversal of fortune and/or urges contrary to swallowing (i.e. vomiting) will be disqualified (and possibly laughed at). Once the 76 seconds are over and everybody is running, reversal of fortune will not be monitored.
The “Chipmunking Rule” will be in effect: All food must be swallowed 30 seconds after the 1-minute buzzer or it will not be counted. Participants who are found in violation of the “Chipmunking Rule” will be penalized 1⁄2 a hot dog.
Each participant will start the 5K run once the four hot dogs are consumed or the buzzer goes off, whichever comes first.
Judges will determine the final amounts eaten by counting what is left on each plate. One minute will be taken off of finish time for each hot dog that is gone. Percentages count as well!
☆BONUS☆ Any participant who finishes all 4 hot dogs before the buzzer goes off will get DOUBLE the time reduction!!
The event is limited to a total of 20 participants.
The overall winner will be awarded the Firecracker Heavyweight belt and have a chance to revel in their glory by riding in the 4th of July parade following the race!

You're a Grand Old Flag Carrying Division

The You're a Grand Old Flag-Carrying Race division is our tribute to that high-flying flag, the emblem of the land we love. Participants who register for this division must follow the following guidelines:

Each participant must carry an American flag for the entirety of the 5K.
Each participant must provide their own American flag for this event.
The American flag's blue field (canton) with stars must be in the upper left corner from the observer's perspective
The American flag to be carried must be a minimum of three (3) feet in height and five (5) feet in length.
The American flag must be mounted on a portable flag pole bearing no sharp edges or ends.
The American flag must never touch the ground at any point during this event.
The American flag and its pole must be carried with control throughout the duration of the event. Participants in the Old Glory division are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and carry the flag and pole in a safe manner, continually aware of the other participants in their vicinity.
Please note that the Old Glory division is its own separate category. Participants do not compete against the regular Firecracker 5K runners but rather have separate awards:

First Overall Male/Female/Nonbinary

Pacers

Looking for some extra support in your goal to finish the Ann Arbor Firecracker 5K? Are you looking to run a personal best? The Epic Pace Team will help you meet your performance goals!

We are proud to provide pacers for the 5K distances with our Epic Pacers! They will be available for the following distances:

5K – :21, :24, :27, :30, :33, and :36 total finish time

How will I find the Epic Pacers on race day? The pacers will be at the start line 15 minutes before the start of the race. This will give you a chance to talk to them, learn more about the plan for pacing, and ask any questions you might have. They will be holding signs with their goal pace and finish time and will be wearing a Epic Pacer uniform. 

Why should I run with a Epic Pacer? The Epic Pacers are set up to help you reach your goal time in the race. The pacers have been selected from a pool of applicants and proved themselves to be excellent at this job. These runners have volunteered to run with you, cheer you on, and inspire you to get to your goal. 

How will I know which pace group is right for me? The pace groups are assigned different finish times, to meet the goals of different runners. To determine your own goal time, use your past races, recent training runs, and current fitness. A good rule of thumb for beginners is to start at the pace of the longest run that you did during your race build-up. You can then accelerate during the later stages of the race if you find this pace is too easy. If you aren't sure how to match up your pace with your goal finish time, you can use this pace predictor to help choose your group.