Shreveport’s largest road race of the year returns with added precautions for its 36th year. Thousands of runners will compete for $3500 in prize money. The race begins and finishes in the St. Vincent Mall Parking lot and winds through the historic South Highland neighborhood. The kids half mile fun run will begin at 7:30 AM, and the 5k begins at 8AM with a patriotic prerace program. Runners from around the country compete to break the standing course records of 14:38, Ben Chesars (men), and 17:18 Megan Saloom (women).
The Firecracker 5k will be among the first large races to return after the Covid-19 shut down of events in March of 2020. Staged starting positions, social distancing precautions, and changes in the pre and postrace activities made it possible to hold the race. A portion of monies raised goes to the Spine Institute of Louisiana Foundation, a not for profit organization, whose mission is to improve current spine treatments and develop new ones through innovative research.
“Firecracker returns, and will be one of the first major road races since Covid-19. We hope to provide a safe opportunity to celebrate America, and participate in what has become a 4th of July tradition for a lot of local families.”
“We worked with guidance from medical officials, government agency leaders, running and triathlon national leaders, and the community to build what we think will be a great Firecracker 5k, while responsibly protecting our participants.”
