{"id":17006,"date":"2015-06-05T20:55:58","date_gmt":"2015-06-06T00:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2015\/06\/firecracker4-race-4th-of-july-celebration-expected-to-draw-thousands-to-downtown.html"},"modified":"2015-06-05T20:55:58","modified_gmt":"2015-06-06T00:55:58","slug":"firecracker4-race-4th-of-july-celebration-expected-to-draw-thousands-to-downtown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2015\/06\/firecracker4-race-4th-of-july-celebration-expected-to-draw-thousands-to-downtown\/","title":{"rendered":"Firecracker4 Race, 4th Of July Celebration Expected To Draw Thousands To Downtown"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"firecracker4\n<\/div>\n
Runners take off at the start of last year’s Firecracker4 road race that began on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Registration is open for this year’s event, though same-day sign-up is available\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Race organizers for Saratoga’s four mile
\n“Firecracker 4” road race on July 4
\nexpect to crest the 4,000 runner mark this
\nyear when the race known for supporting
\ncommunity causes holds its ninth annual
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n

“The growth of this race and the numerous
\nbusinesses and individuals who support
\nit through their running, appearances
\nin our vendor village, and sponsorships
\ndemonstrate the importance of healthy
\nlifestyles and running solidarity here in
\nSaratoga Springs,” said race co-director
\nBob Vanderminden.<\/p>\n

Fleet Feet Sports, locally-owned running
\nshops in Malta and Albany, returned
\nthis year as the race’s presenting sponsor,
\n“because they share our passion for wellness
\nand building stronger communities
\nthrough running,” said race co-director
\nPeter Goutos.<\/p>\n

Vanderminden said registrations are
\nsolidly ahead of last year at this time, a
\ntribute to the growing regional popularity
\nof the event.<\/p>\n

The race starts at 9 a.m. at the Saratoga
\nSprings City Center, traverses Broadway
\nthrough the downtown shopping district,
\nand then winds through the historic
\nstreets of Saratoga’s East Side neighborhood,
\nwhere more than 20 bands play on
\nstreet corners and local residents cheer
\nand set up garden-hose misting stations
\nto benefit the runners.<\/p>\n

A Vendor Village–with local businesses,
\nnonprofit groups, food tents, sports
\nmassage therapists, and other displays–is
\nset up adjacent to the finish line. Runners
\nfinish the Independence Day race
\nunder a giant American flag hoisted by
\nthe Saratoga Springs and Maple Avenue
\nFire Departments.<\/p>\n

A grand parade downtown is held directly
\nafter the race. In Congress Park after
\nthe race there is a barbecue and dessert
\nfestival, classic car show, live music, city
\ntours, face painting and fireworks at dusk.<\/p>\n

Discounted $31 race registration runs
\nthrough July 2 at www.firecracker4.com.<\/p>\n

Registration is $35 on-site registration,
\nheld at the Saratoga Springs City Center
\nfrom 4-8 p.m. on July 3 and on the day
\nof the race beginning at 7 a.m. Anyone
\nregistering the day of the race is urged to
\narrive to the Saratoga Springs City Center
\nno later than 8:15 a.m. to ensure an on time
\nstart.<\/p>\n

It is followed by the All-American Celebration
\nthroughout downtown Saratoga
\nSprings, with holiday activities for families.<\/p>\n

FC4 Inc., the nonprofit organization
\nthat manages the race, will donate proceeds
\nfrom the event to five local community
\norganizations this year:<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Camp Abilities Saratoga program,
\na Saratoga Springs Lions Club project
\nproviding youth who are blind, visually
\nimpaired, and deaf a one-week developmental
\nsports camp experience.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Veterans Business Council of the
\nSaratoga County Chamber of Commerce,
\nfacilitating opportunities for Saratoga
\nCounty veterans.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Saratoga Regional YMCA West Avenue
\nfacility expansion.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Saratoga Greenbelt Trail, an initiative
\nseeking to connect trails around Saratoga
\nSprings into a nine-mile loop for multiple
\nrecreational uses.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Saratoga High School boys’ and girls’
\nindoor\/outdoor track and field and crosscountry
\nrunning teams.<\/p>\n

“It’s very important to us to help move
\nthe wellness and fitness movement ahead
\nin our region,” said Goutos. “We give the
\nproceeds of this race to organizations
\nthat are forward-thinking and supportive
\nof athletes of all ages, abilities, and
\nbackgrounds. We also want to help build
\ninfrastructure here that will be used for
\nmany generations to come.”<\/p>\n

The 2015 event includes these new
\nfeatures:<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Three largest teams of runners in the
\n“Run Your Colors” program will win $1,000,
\n$500, or $250 donations to the charities of
\ntheir choice<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Expanded runners’ villages for high
\nschools, USATF teams, and military\/veterans
\nteams to set up pop-up tents where
\nthey can gather before and after the race<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Food-raiser for the Regional Food
\nBank of Northeastern New York, whereby
\nrunners and spectators are invited to donate
\nshelf-stable food at Fleet Feet Sports
\nstores and at the race registration\/packet
\npick-up area<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2 Announcement of “It’s a big world. Go
\nrun it,” a travel prize where the winner will
\nreceive two round-trip airfares (maximum
\nvalue $1,500) courtesy of Asics\/Fleet Feet
\nSports, enabling travel to attend a dream
\nrunning event<\/p>\n

The first 4,000 registered runners will
\nreceive an Asics “Ready Set” textured mesh
\nrunning shirt, courtesy of Asics and Fleet
\nFeet Sports.<\/p>\n

There is $6,000 in monetary prizes to
\nthe top individual and team finishers
\nand 174 award categories and prizes for
\nrunners of all ages. There will be special
\nrecognition of military and public safety
\n(police\/fire\/EMS) competitors including
\nteam competitions.<\/p>\n

The day also includes the Saratoga Stryders
\nGrand Prix event, USATF Adirondack
\n4 Mile Grand Prix Event and USATF Team
\nChampionship Race.<\/p>\n

“Fourteen teams have already registered
\nfor the 2015 Run Your Colors event.
\nIt’s simple to win: gather your friends,
\nfamily, neighbors, or co-workers and be the
\ngroup with the most registered runners,”
\nGoutos explained.<\/p>\n

“Over the past nine years, this race has
\nhelped to define a Saratoga July Fourth
\ntradition. We are excited this year to make
\nthe race more inclusive and inviting to local
\nmilitary veterans,” said Vanderminden.<\/p>\n

Photo Courtesy Dave Harmon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Runners take off at the start of last year’s Firecracker4 road race that began on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Registration is open for this year’s event, though same-day sign-up is available Race organizers for Saratoga’s four mile “Firecracker 4″…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[57,69,74,115],"class_list":["post-17006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news","tag-business-news","tag-events","tag-fundraisers","tag-saratoga-springs"],"yoast_head":"\r\nFirecracker4 Race, 4th Of July Celebration Expected To Draw Thousands To Downtown - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2015\/06\/firecracker4-race-4th-of-july-celebration-expected-to-draw-thousands-to-downtown\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Firecracker4 Race, 4th Of July Celebration Expected To Draw Thousands To Downtown - Saratoga Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Runners take off at the start of last year's Firecracker4 road race that began on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. 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