Sportspectrum Firecracker 5k Race for Research
- Date Fri 4th July 2025
- Time 7:30AM EST
- Location Shreveport, Louisiana
- Price $16.90 - $24.32
- Races 2 races
- Distances 5km
Event summary
Get ready to ignite your Independence Day celebrations at the 41st Annual Sportspectrum Firecracker 5K Race for Research on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Shreveport, Caddo! This thrilling event not only celebrates community spirit but also supports vital spine research through the Spine Institute of Louisiana Foundation. Participants can choose between a challenging 5K (3.1 miles) that winds through the picturesque South Highland subdivision or join the fun with a Kids 1/2 Mile Fun Run, perfect for ages 10 and under.
Registration for the 5K starts at just $22 until June 1, with prices increasing as the race day approaches. Each child in the Fun Run will receive a finishers medal and an official race t-shirt, making it a memorable experience for all! The race kicks off at 7:30 AM, so lace up your running shoes and join in the fun, where you can enjoy post-race refreshments, great company, and the chance to win exciting prizes! Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to run for a cause and celebrate with the community on this special day!
Registration for the 5K starts at just $22 until June 1, with prices increasing as the race day approaches. Each child in the Fun Run will receive a finishers medal and an official race t-shirt, making it a memorable experience for all! The race kicks off at 7:30 AM, so lace up your running shoes and join in the fun, where you can enjoy post-race refreshments, great company, and the chance to win exciting prizes! Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to run for a cause and celebrate with the community on this special day!
Organiser's Description
WELCOME TO THE 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPORTSPECTRUM FIRECRACKER 5K RACE FOR RESEARCH RUN & HEALTHWALK.
THANKS SO MUCH TO OUR TITLE SPONSOR, SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION. THE SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)3 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE CURRENT SPINE TREATMENTS AND DEVELOP NEW ONES THROUGH INNOVATIVE RESEARCH. THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS IN THE ARK-LA-TEX HAVE DIRECTLY BENEFITED AS A RESULT OF THE RESEARCH THAT IS DONE THROUGH THE FOUNDATION. THE SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA HAS RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM THE RESEARCH PERFORMED AT ITS RESEARCH FOUNDATION. DONATIONS DIRECTLY BENEFIT SPINE RESEARCH AT THE SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION.
THIS RACE IS ALSO BEING RUN IN THE MEMORY OF THREE GREAT FRIENDS. RAN KIPER, JIM WILHITE, & ROBIN FELL. THEY ALL HAD A PASSION FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS, FROM A SATURDAY MORNING JOG WITH THE GROUP TO A COMPETITIVE HALF-MARATHON DOWN ON THE RIVERFRONT. THEY WERE ALL LEADERS, GIVING THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. THEY LOVED THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND WERE COMMITTED TO LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST.
THE 1996 FIRECRACKER 5K WAS RAN KIPERS LAST FOOT RACE. THE FOLLOWING DAY HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND PASSED AWAY THAT SEPTEMBER. MENS MUG #101 IS IN MEMORY OF RAN KIPER.
5K REGISTRATION:
$22 THRU JUNE 1
$27 JUNE 2 THRU JUNE 22
$32 JUNE 23 THRU JULY 3
RACE DAY $35.00
KIDS 1/2 MILE FUN RUN:
$15.00 UNTIL JULY 3
RACE DAY $20.00
DATE: FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2025
FUN RUN: 7:30AM. ALL KIDS PARTICIPATING IN THE 1/2 MILE FUN RUN WILL BE AWARDED A FINISHERS MEDAL. ENTRY FEE FOR KIDS FUN RUN (AGES 10 & UNDER) IS $15.00 AND WILL INCLUDE AN OFFICIAL RACE T-SHIRT. (DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO SIGN UP. KIDS FUN RUN SHIRTS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 200)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 5K (3.1 MILES) WILL START AND FINISH AT MALL ST. VINCENT PARKING LOT (DIRECTLY BEHIND SEARS) RACE WILL PROCEED THROUGH HISTORIC SOUTH HIGHLAND SUBDIVISION, ONE OF SHREVEPORTS OLDEST & MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. A SCENIC AND CHALLENGING ROAD RACE FOR RUNNERS, WALKERS, AND SIGHTSEERS.
EARLY PACKET PICKUP: BELOW ARE THE PACKET PICK DATES AND TIMES AT SPORTSPECTRUM, 6970 FERN AVENUE.
THURSDAY JUNE 26TH AND FRIDAY JUNE 27TH - 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
SATURDAY JUNE 28TH FROM 9:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.
SUNDAY JUNE 29TH FROM 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
MONDAY JUNE 30TH THRU THURSDAY JULY 3RD FROM 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
RACE DAY AT THE RACE SITE FROM 6:45 A.M. - 7:45 A.M.
YOU CAN REGISTER ON RACE MORNING BUT YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED A RACE T-SHIRT.
RACE SHIRTS:
AGAIN THIS YEAR YOU GET YOUR CHOICE OF EITHER A SHORT SLEEVE TEE T-SHIRT OR A TANK TOP (ADULT SIZES ONLY FOR TANK TOPS). PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SELECT THE RIGHT ITEM WHEN YOU ARE REGISTERING.
YOU MAY PURCHASE ADDITIONAL T-SHIRTS OR TANK TOPS FOR AN ADDITIONAL $10.00 EACH.
RACE DAY REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN: MALL ST. VINCENT PARKING LOT BEHIND SEARS, 6:50 A.M. 7:45 A.M. RACE DAY CHECK-IN. YOU MAY REGISTER RACE DAY, BUT WE RECOMMEND EARLY REGISTRATION TO GUARANTEE T-SHIRT. RACE DAY REGISTRATION IS $40.00.
***PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL NOT HOLD OR MAIL RACE SHIRTS. ALL RACE SHIRTS NOT PICKED UP BY THE START OF THE RACE WILL BE GIVEN TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS***
SPONSORED BY: SPORTSPECTRUM & SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION
DRINK SPONSORS: GREAT RAFT, EAGLE DISTRIBUTORS
CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: FOSTER'S ORTHODONTICS, SMOOTHIE KING, MALL ST. VINCENT, SPORTSPECTRUM RACE MANAGEMENT, BROOKS, RYAN BATES, TEAM RWB, SPECIALISTS HEALTH SYSTEM.
SPECIAL THANKS: THE SRM TEAM, THE COSST SWIM TEAM, & ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!
AWARDS: OVERALL MALE & FEMALE WINNERS RECEIVE $500 EACH, 2ND OVERALL MALE & FEMALE WINNERS RECEIVE $250 EACH. CHECKS WILL BE MAILED. THAT WAY THE WINNERS DO NOT HAVE TO HANG AROUND UNTIL EVERYONE IS DONE.
FIRST 101 MEN AND FIRST 100 FEMALE FINISHERS BE AWARDED A 41ST ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MUG.
***NEW THIS YEAR THE FIRST 10 MALE AND FEMALE FINISHERS OVER THE AGE OF 50 WILL ALSO BE AWARDED A COMMEMORATIVE MUG***
NO AGE GROUP TROPHIES WILL BE AWARDED, JUST COME OUT AND HAVE FUN! A GREAT WAY TO START YOUR JULY 4TH ACTIVITIES.
$2500.00 IN PRIZE MONEY TO BE WON!
OVERALL MALE & FEMALE WINNER WIN $500.00 EACH!
OVERALL RUNNER-UP MALE & FEMALE WINNERS WIN $250.00 EACH!
BEAT THE COURSE RECORD AND WIN AN ADDITIONAL $500!!
COURSE RECORDS
MENS 2014 BEN CHESARS 14:38 WOMEN 2020 TAYLOR DARE 16:43
POST PARTY: HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS, FRESH FRUIT, ICE COLD GREAT RAFT BEER, OZARKA ICE COLD WATER.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 5K (3.1 MILES) WILL START AND FINISH AT MALL ST. VINCENT PARKING LOT (DIRECTLY BEHIND SEARS) RACE WILL PROCEED THROUGH HISTORIC SOUTH HIGHLAND SUBDIVISION, ONE OF SHREVEPORTS OLDEST & MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. A SCENIC AND CHALLENGING ROAD RACE FOR RUNNERS, WALKERS, AND SIGHTSEERS.
BABY JOGGERS: STROLLERS, WAGONS, BABY JOGGERS, AND ANY HAND PUSHED OR PULLED VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE COURSE, BUT AT A WALK PACE CAPACITY ONLY. ABSOLUTELY NO IN-LINE SKATES, ROLLER SKATES WILL BE ALLOWED ON RUN COURSE. THIS RULE IS AN RRCA REGULATION!
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A VOLUNTEER IN ANY CAPACITY BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER THE RACE, PLEASE CALL MATT MCVICAR AT 798.1241 OR SEND YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER TO [email protected] SUBJECT: FIRECRACKER VOLUNTEER.
THANKS SO MUCH TO OUR TITLE SPONSOR, SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION. THE SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)3 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE CURRENT SPINE TREATMENTS AND DEVELOP NEW ONES THROUGH INNOVATIVE RESEARCH. THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS IN THE ARK-LA-TEX HAVE DIRECTLY BENEFITED AS A RESULT OF THE RESEARCH THAT IS DONE THROUGH THE FOUNDATION. THE SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA HAS RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM THE RESEARCH PERFORMED AT ITS RESEARCH FOUNDATION. DONATIONS DIRECTLY BENEFIT SPINE RESEARCH AT THE SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION.
THIS RACE IS ALSO BEING RUN IN THE MEMORY OF THREE GREAT FRIENDS. RAN KIPER, JIM WILHITE, & ROBIN FELL. THEY ALL HAD A PASSION FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS, FROM A SATURDAY MORNING JOG WITH THE GROUP TO A COMPETITIVE HALF-MARATHON DOWN ON THE RIVERFRONT. THEY WERE ALL LEADERS, GIVING THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. THEY LOVED THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND WERE COMMITTED TO LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST.
THE 1996 FIRECRACKER 5K WAS RAN KIPERS LAST FOOT RACE. THE FOLLOWING DAY HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND PASSED AWAY THAT SEPTEMBER. MENS MUG #101 IS IN MEMORY OF RAN KIPER.
5K REGISTRATION:
$22 THRU JUNE 1
$27 JUNE 2 THRU JUNE 22
$32 JUNE 23 THRU JULY 3
RACE DAY $35.00
KIDS 1/2 MILE FUN RUN:
$15.00 UNTIL JULY 3
RACE DAY $20.00
DATE: FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2025
FUN RUN: 7:30AM. ALL KIDS PARTICIPATING IN THE 1/2 MILE FUN RUN WILL BE AWARDED A FINISHERS MEDAL. ENTRY FEE FOR KIDS FUN RUN (AGES 10 & UNDER) IS $15.00 AND WILL INCLUDE AN OFFICIAL RACE T-SHIRT. (DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO SIGN UP. KIDS FUN RUN SHIRTS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 200)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 5K (3.1 MILES) WILL START AND FINISH AT MALL ST. VINCENT PARKING LOT (DIRECTLY BEHIND SEARS) RACE WILL PROCEED THROUGH HISTORIC SOUTH HIGHLAND SUBDIVISION, ONE OF SHREVEPORTS OLDEST & MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. A SCENIC AND CHALLENGING ROAD RACE FOR RUNNERS, WALKERS, AND SIGHTSEERS.
EARLY PACKET PICKUP: BELOW ARE THE PACKET PICK DATES AND TIMES AT SPORTSPECTRUM, 6970 FERN AVENUE.
THURSDAY JUNE 26TH AND FRIDAY JUNE 27TH - 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
SATURDAY JUNE 28TH FROM 9:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.
SUNDAY JUNE 29TH FROM 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
MONDAY JUNE 30TH THRU THURSDAY JULY 3RD FROM 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
RACE DAY AT THE RACE SITE FROM 6:45 A.M. - 7:45 A.M.
YOU CAN REGISTER ON RACE MORNING BUT YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED A RACE T-SHIRT.
RACE SHIRTS:
AGAIN THIS YEAR YOU GET YOUR CHOICE OF EITHER A SHORT SLEEVE TEE T-SHIRT OR A TANK TOP (ADULT SIZES ONLY FOR TANK TOPS). PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SELECT THE RIGHT ITEM WHEN YOU ARE REGISTERING.
YOU MAY PURCHASE ADDITIONAL T-SHIRTS OR TANK TOPS FOR AN ADDITIONAL $10.00 EACH.
RACE DAY REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN: MALL ST. VINCENT PARKING LOT BEHIND SEARS, 6:50 A.M. 7:45 A.M. RACE DAY CHECK-IN. YOU MAY REGISTER RACE DAY, BUT WE RECOMMEND EARLY REGISTRATION TO GUARANTEE T-SHIRT. RACE DAY REGISTRATION IS $40.00.
***PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL NOT HOLD OR MAIL RACE SHIRTS. ALL RACE SHIRTS NOT PICKED UP BY THE START OF THE RACE WILL BE GIVEN TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS***
SPONSORED BY: SPORTSPECTRUM & SPINE INSTITUTE OF LOUISIANA FOUNDATION
DRINK SPONSORS: GREAT RAFT, EAGLE DISTRIBUTORS
CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS: FOSTER'S ORTHODONTICS, SMOOTHIE KING, MALL ST. VINCENT, SPORTSPECTRUM RACE MANAGEMENT, BROOKS, RYAN BATES, TEAM RWB, SPECIALISTS HEALTH SYSTEM.
SPECIAL THANKS: THE SRM TEAM, THE COSST SWIM TEAM, & ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!
AWARDS: OVERALL MALE & FEMALE WINNERS RECEIVE $500 EACH, 2ND OVERALL MALE & FEMALE WINNERS RECEIVE $250 EACH. CHECKS WILL BE MAILED. THAT WAY THE WINNERS DO NOT HAVE TO HANG AROUND UNTIL EVERYONE IS DONE.
FIRST 101 MEN AND FIRST 100 FEMALE FINISHERS BE AWARDED A 41ST ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MUG.
***NEW THIS YEAR THE FIRST 10 MALE AND FEMALE FINISHERS OVER THE AGE OF 50 WILL ALSO BE AWARDED A COMMEMORATIVE MUG***
NO AGE GROUP TROPHIES WILL BE AWARDED, JUST COME OUT AND HAVE FUN! A GREAT WAY TO START YOUR JULY 4TH ACTIVITIES.
$2500.00 IN PRIZE MONEY TO BE WON!
OVERALL MALE & FEMALE WINNER WIN $500.00 EACH!
OVERALL RUNNER-UP MALE & FEMALE WINNERS WIN $250.00 EACH!
BEAT THE COURSE RECORD AND WIN AN ADDITIONAL $500!!
COURSE RECORDS
MENS 2014 BEN CHESARS 14:38 WOMEN 2020 TAYLOR DARE 16:43
POST PARTY: HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS, FRESH FRUIT, ICE COLD GREAT RAFT BEER, OZARKA ICE COLD WATER.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 5K (3.1 MILES) WILL START AND FINISH AT MALL ST. VINCENT PARKING LOT (DIRECTLY BEHIND SEARS) RACE WILL PROCEED THROUGH HISTORIC SOUTH HIGHLAND SUBDIVISION, ONE OF SHREVEPORTS OLDEST & MOST BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. A SCENIC AND CHALLENGING ROAD RACE FOR RUNNERS, WALKERS, AND SIGHTSEERS.
BABY JOGGERS: STROLLERS, WAGONS, BABY JOGGERS, AND ANY HAND PUSHED OR PULLED VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE COURSE, BUT AT A WALK PACE CAPACITY ONLY. ABSOLUTELY NO IN-LINE SKATES, ROLLER SKATES WILL BE ALLOWED ON RUN COURSE. THIS RULE IS AN RRCA REGULATION!
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A VOLUNTEER IN ANY CAPACITY BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER THE RACE, PLEASE CALL MATT MCVICAR AT 798.1241 OR SEND YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER TO [email protected] SUBJECT: FIRECRACKER VOLUNTEER.
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