SARATOGA FIRST DAY 5k

WHEN & WHERE

January 1, 2026 @ 11:00 a.m.

Saratoga Springs City Center (map)
522 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866

Start on Broadway, in front of the City Center; finish on Maple Avenue, behind the City Center.

REGISTER: First Day 5k

REGISTER: Lions Club Walk

COURSE MAP

SARATOGA FIRST DAY 5K

Ready to show the new year who’s boss? Runners and walkers are all welcome, so gather your family and friends and complete the course together.

This event celebrates a healthy start to the new year over a USATF-certified 3.1-mile course. Just like the Firecracker 4 race (but with cooler temperatures), this race begins and ends in downtown Saratoga Springs, so you can enjoy restaurants and other attractions afterwards.

All registered runners will receive a timing bib and race shirt. Walkers may choose, during registration, to opt out of receiving a timing bib and race shirt. Registration fees for the First Day 5K help FC4, Inc. to support various local non-profits committed to active recreation for all ages and abilities.

NEW FOR 2026

Lions Club Walk for Diabetic Awareness & Education

During the First Day 5K, the Saratoga Springs Lions Club will host a group of walkers in support of Diabetic Awareness & Education. To participate, you must register specifically for the Lions Club walk. A donation is optional. There are no shirts or timing bibs for this subset of the main race. Rather, these walkers will have the satisfaction of supporting a Lions Club project that can impact the prevalence of diabetes.

To advance the slideshow, click the white arrows on the left and right sides of the images.

RACE DETAILS & MORE

Race Information & Registration

Register HERE for the 5k race. There are several registration options available: run (timed), walk (timed or not timed), as well as the option of bundling your registration for the First Day 5K and the Firecracker 4 (on July 4th), to save money and reserve your place for both events.

Register HERE for the Lions Club Walk for Diabetic Awareness & Education and to make an optional donation to the cause. There are no timing bibs or shirts associated with this registration.

Course Description

Runners start on Broadway near the Saratoga Springs City Center, running south through downtown to a left turn onto Lake Avenue, and then continue past Lake Avenue Elementary School and the East Side Rec fields. After a left turn onto Patricia Lane and then connecting to the Excelsior Spring Avenue downhill, the route quickly becomes like the latter part of the Firecracker4 route, with a possible segment on the Spring Run Trail towards East Avenue if conditions permit. The final part of the course on Excelsior Avenue leads uphill to Maple Avenue and finishes behind the City Center.

Preview of 2026 Race Shirts, Bibs, and Awards

Volunteers Needed

Course Marshals, Packet Pick-Up Staff, Water Stop Teams
Our volunteer course marshals play a vital role in keeping race participants moving in the right direction at various intersections. In addition, there are water stops on the course staffed by volunteers. We also seek helpers for packet pick-up leading up to the race. Thank you to all these volunteers for helping the race to run smoothly!

Volunteer application (CLICK HERE)