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What to know: Annual Firekracker 5K returns to Fort Collins City Park for Fourth of July

chris abshire, fort collins coloradoan
·4 min read

Runners, on your mark!

An annual Fort Collins Fourth of July tradition returns to City Park on Tuesday, July 4, with the 24th annual Firekracker 5K.

The family-favorite holiday road race put on by the Fort Collins Running Club will roll through the City Park area again.

It kicks off a full day of Independence Day festivities in the area, with the city's annual parade rolling nearby shortly after, baseball games in City Park throughout the afternoon and a fireworks display at night.

Here's what you need to know about the 2023 Firekracker 5K:

Online registration available through Monday

Participants can register online through 6 p.m. Monday, July 3 at FireKracker5K.com or in person from 6:15 to 7:15 a.m. Tuesday near the starting line.

After midnight Friday, the registration price increases from $45 to $50 for the citizens race and the elite race. There is a $10 registration discount for runners age 17 and under competing in those races.

The kids 1-mile race has a $10 registration fee and is open to those age 12 and younger.

Runners have a couple options for packet pickup:

  • 2-6 p.m. Monday at Raintree Athletic Club (2555 S. Shields St., Fort Collins)

  • Beginning 6:15 a.m. Tuesday at a tent near the City Park starting line

Start times for Firekracker 5K events

As usual, there will be staggered start times for the different events.

  • 7:30 a.m.: 5K Citizens Race (National Anthem played beforehand)

  • 8:30 a.m.: 5K Elite Race

  • 9:00 a.m.: Kids 1-mile run

  • After kids race (about 9:25 a.m.): Awards ceremony

Firekracker 5K route runs around, through City Park

Runners cross the finish line during the elite runner's race of the Fort Collins FireKracker 5K on Saturday, July 2, 2022.
Runners cross the finish line during the elite runner's race of the Fort Collins FireKracker 5K on Saturday, July 2, 2022.

The start and finish lines for all races are in the middle of Fort Collins City Park, near the intersection of Sheldon and City Park drives.

Citizens 5K race route:

The course follows City Park Drive out of the park, and then goes north on Jackson Street heads west around the outer edge of the park along Mountain, Grandview and Laporte avenues to Taft Hill Road, Mulberry Street, Scott and Oak streets, and back into the park for a 100-meter sprint to the finish along City Park Drive.

The race map for the Citizen's Race in the 2023 Firekracker 5K in Fort Collins City Park
The race map for the Citizen's Race in the 2023 Firekracker 5K in Fort Collins City Park

Elite 5K race route:

The elite route is a bit simpler, as elite racers will run four laps around Sheldon Lake on the south side of City Park.

Runners in the Elite race will do four laps around Fort Collins City Park's Sheldon Lake in the 2023 Firekracker 5K on July 4.
Runners in the Elite race will do four laps around Fort Collins City Park's Sheldon Lake in the 2023 Firekracker 5K on July 4.

Kids 1-mile route:

The kids run will be a loop through the park. Runners head north to Oak Street, and then west to Bryan Avenue before looping around Sheldon Lake on City Park Drive, Mulberry Street and Sheldon Drive back to the finish line.

Road closures and parking restrictions around City Park

Roads in City Park will be closed all day Tuesday. Many surrounding streets will also have closures in place because of the race and other holiday activities.

There are no vehicle drop-off areas within City Park, and vehicles driving around traffic barriers can be ticketed or towed.

Per race organizers, there will be plenty of bicycle parking, and biking or walking to the race is encouraged. If you are driving and parking in surrounding neighborhoods, plan at least an extra 15 minutes to park and walk into City Park.

Here are the road closures in the City Park area on Tuesday morning:

  • All interior roads in City Park

  • Mountain Avenue: eastbound lane closed from Grandview to Jackson

  • Grandview: closed from Mountain to Laporte

  • Laporte: eastbound lane closed from Taft to Grandview

  • Taft Hill: northbound lane closed from Mulberry to Laporte

  • Mulberry: westbound lane closed from Shields to Taft

  • Jackson: both lanes closed from Olive to Mountain

  • Oak: closed from Scott to Jackson

Cash, pottery prizes presented to top finishers

Like last year, the top male and female citizens race finishers in all adult age groups will receive a custom piece of pottery, handmade by local artisan and runner T.S. Berger.

Medals will also be awarded to the top finishers in each youth age group.

Cash prizes will be given to the top seven overall men’s and women’s finishers in the elite race, plus the top three finishers in the Masters (40-plus) category. The cash purse is $6,500.

For a full breakdown of the awards, visit runsignup.com/Race/FireKracker/Page/Awards.

2022 Firekracker 5K winners, results

Runners finish in the elite men's race at the Fort Collins FireKracker 5K on July 2, 2022.
Runners finish in the elite men's race at the Fort Collins FireKracker 5K on July 2, 2022.

This event launched a star turn last year, as Christian Groendyk won the citizens race and launched an amazing cross-country state-championship senior season for the Fort Collins High School runner.

Here are some of the defending champions from last year's Firekracker 5K:

  • Citizens race overall winner: Christian Groendyk (Fort Collins) in 16 minutes, 3 seconds

  • Citizens race women's winner: Shelley McDonald (Loveland) in 18:18

  • Elite race overall winner: Ben Eidenschink (Boulder) in 14:13

  • Elite race women's winner: Jessica Watychowicz (Colorado Springs) in 16:40

  • Kids overall: Owen Kirkpatrick in 6:17

  • Top kids time (girls): Layla Bekkedahl in 7:59

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins Firekracker 5K: What to know, registration and course map