MEDIA

Firecracker 4 Road Race Invites Runners and Walkers to Kick Off July 4th in Saratoga Springs, New York

Free Running Training Program Begins June 11

Race Celebrates 20th Year of Supporting Area Running and Recreational Causes

(May 27, 2026; Saratoga Springs, NY) – The July 4th Firecracker 4 road race in Saratoga Springs, New York, popular with both runners and walkers, is open for registration at firecracker4.com. Area runners of all abilities are invited to join a free seven-session training program beginning June 11 to help prepare them for the summer racing season.

The Firecracker 4 race is celebrating its 20th year in 2026. Co-Directors Peter Goutos and Bob Vanderminden, Jr. have championed the race since its 2007 inception, when just 142 runners competed. This year’s event is expected to attract more than 2,500 people. Race participants will range in ability from elite athletes, who complete the four miles in under 20 minutes, to everyday families and individuals who are trying to become healthier through running or walking. Proceeds from the Firecracker 4 benefit trail development, recreation programs, and other healthy lifestyle programs.

“Over the past two decades, the Firecracker 4 has become a summertime tradition in Saratoga Springs, thanks to numerous community partners, generous sponsors, and dedicated volunteers, as well as the strong running and walking community in the Capital Region,” said co-director Peter Goutos.

The Firecracker 4 provides an impressive start to a full day of July 4th festivities in Saratoga Springs, which includes thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course and special activities in Saratoga’s historic downtown.  

“While we began this race in 2007 as a fundraiser for our local high school running program, for the past several years proceeds from the event have supported numerous local recreation projects, including trail development and programs to support recreation for people of all abilities,” noted co-director Bob Vanderminden, Jr.

Free Pre-Race Training Program
To help prepare adult and teen runners for the race, the Fleet Feet stores in Albany and Malta and the sports brand ASICS are offering a free, twice-weekly training program in Saratoga Springs beginning June 11. Combining runs through local neighborhoods on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. with outdoor track workouts at Saratoga Springs High School on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m., the program will offer a combination of speed work, hill training, and course previews.

Fleet Feet, ASICS, and several local restaurants—including 9 Miles East, Thirsty Owl, Thorn & Roots, and Wheatfields—are providing participants with post-workout hospitality. Exact details for all dates of the program are on the firecracker4.com website.

2026 Race Prizes & Features
The 2026 Firecracker 4 includes these highlights:

• $1750 total awarded to the three teams with the most registrants in the Run Your Colors program, for donation to their charities of choice, with an additional $500 awarded for any team with more than 100 registrants.
• $5450 in cash prizes total awarded to the top three male and female finishers in both the Open division and Masters division, with an additional $500 awarded to anyone setting a new course record.
• $2000 in cash prizes total awarded to the top three USATF men’s and women’s teams.
• All registered runners and walkers will receive a performance athletic shirt.
• All race finishers will receive a 20th year commemorative medal.

“The Firecracker 4 is not just a local race, but has grown over the years to attract visitors from all over the country,” said Bob Vanderminden, Jr. “The strength of this event is evidence of the Saratoga region’s commitment to active, healthy living.”

Race Day Events Kick Off Saratoga’s July 4th Celebration
On race day, preceding the Firecracker 4 race, the Sparkler Run for young children begins at 8:15 on Maple Avenue behind the Saratoga Springs City Center. This short 0.2-mile race is held on the final segment of the main race, so kids experience the fun of crossing the real finish line. Parents or older siblings are welcome to accompany their young runners. The Sparkler Run is sponsored by Building on Love, a non-profit which supports local families facing medical emergencies.

The Firecracker 4 four-mile race starts at 9 a.m. on Broadway in front of the City Center, proceeds through the downtown shopping district, and then winds through the historic streets of Saratoga’s East Side neighborhood, where numerous bands play on street corners and residents cheer and set up garden-hose misting stations to benefit the runners.

Through the generosity of the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Safety, participants finish this Independence Day race under a giant American flag hoisted by the Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa Fire Departments.

Continuing for 2026 is a Team Village in the Ellsworth Jones lot behind the City Center where teams may set up canopies prior to the race where their athletes may gather.

Sponsors include 9 Miles East, Building On Love, CASmith, LLC, Dizzy Chicken, Greenwich Ford, Interactive Media Consulting, That’s It., Thirsty Owl, Thorn and Roots, Upstate Sports, and Wheatfields.

The event’s community partners include the Saratoga Springs City Center; Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce; Discover Saratoga; City of Saratoga Springs Fire, Police, and Public Works Departments; Ballston Spa Fire Department. The Firecracker 4 race is produced by FC4 Inc. and Raven Events, with race timing by AREEP.

Race Registration and Packet Pick-up
Registration is open at firecracker4.com for both the Firecracker 4 ($43.33, including the processing fee) and the Sparkler Run ($6.30, inclusive of fee). Packet pick-up will be Wednesday, July 1 (Fleet Feet in Albany, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.); Thursday, July 2 (Fleet Feet in Malta, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.); Friday, July 3 (Saratoga Springs City Center, 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.); and again at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Saturday, July 4, beginning at 7 a.m.

Background
The Firecracker 4 race is managed by FC4, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which is committed to improving the health and wellness of local communities and supporting recreational pursuits through the development of trails for runners, walkers, cyclists, and others. FC4, Inc. currently manages four annual events: the First Day 5K on January 1; the Firecracker 4 on July 4; the Silks & Satins 5K, to be held this year on September 5; and the Revolutionary Run 5K, held this year on November 7. Further information on all events is at fc4events.com.