TACOMA INDEPENDENCE DAY 5K

Thursday, July 4, 2024
2024 REGISTRATION IS OPEN

2024 Independence Day 5K!

Join us for the 11th Annual Independence Day 5K on July 4, 2024 for a fun and FAST 5K! This event features a fast point-to-point course that takes runners and walkers from the top of Tacoma and finishes at beautiful Point Ruston.

The 5K is a chip timed race on a fast, flat and downhill course starting at N 37th St & N Vassault St in Tacoma, close to Vassault Park, and finishing at the newly renovated Owen Beach at Pt. Defiance Park. While this is a speedy course for fast runners, it also is a fun course for a power walk before your Independence Day barbecue! Everybody is welcome to participate!

The Owen Beach finish line is also where the Kids 1K will start at 9:15 am. The kid’s run is an out-and-back, so the runners can cross the official finish line as well!

5K

Start Time: 8:00 am
Start Location: N Narrows Dr – South of Vassault Park
Finish Location: Owen Beach

USATF Certification: WA23025RMB

Kids 1K

Start Time: 9:15 am
Start/Finish Location: Owen Beach

>> COURSE MAP HERE <<

Registration Information

Registration includes:
  • Independence Day 5K Medal (or Kid’s 1K Finisher Ribbon)
  • Tech Tank Top (5K) – Order by 6/4 to guarantee a shirt and size
  • Collective Bib
  • Optional merchandise may be available for purchase during registration while supplies last

Register as a team and save! Discounted pricing kicks in for teams of 4, 10, and 15. A $5 refund will be processed when your team reaches each of these sizes. The bigger the team, the bigger the discount!
*Discount not valid during 2-day opening.

Late registration will be available online during packet pickup & on day of race. Online registration closes 15 min prior to race start.

  • 5K

  • January 10 - 11: $35 (2-Day Opening Special! On sale at 10:00 am.)
  • January 12: $45
  • March 15: $50
  • April 15: $55
  • May 20: $60
  • June 20: $65
  • July 3 - 4: $70
  • REGISTER NOW
  • Kids 1K

  • Registration for 2024 is open!
  • Ages 12 and under: $10
  • Parents running with their kids in the 1K do not need to register.
  • REGISTER NOW

A portion of proceeds goes toward the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County. Additional donations can be made during registration.

 
CONFIRM REGISTRATION >> HERE <<

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A small transaction fee is assessed when registering online. Price increases occur at midnight. 

*Please Read! TCMA Policies* All entry fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Sorry, no transfers to another individual, and no roll-overs to the following year. All participants under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian in order to participate. Sorry, no exceptions.

TCMA reserves the right to alter or change race course(s) of events, without warning, based on the needs of the event, municipality requirements and/or other factors that may be out of the control of TCMA. While we do our very best to keep our courses consistent, year after year for their respective events, circumstances may arise that require TCMA to alter or change a course. As an organization that utilizes city streets, parks, and other such pathways for our events, we work very closely with the local municipalities, police departments and fire departments to ensure the safety of our participants, volunteers and staff. While we don’t like to have to change a familiar course, there are instances where we are required to do so in order to be granted permission to host the event. We appreciate your understanding as we work hard to keep the events safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.

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Sponsored by:

Medical Services. & Hydration Therapy On-the-Go Provided by:

A portion of proceeds goes toward the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County. Additional donations can be made during registration.

Independence Day 5K Medals 

Celebrate your accomplishment and add some more bling to your collection! All runners will receive their hard earned commemorative finisher medal as you come across the finish line. 

Race Swag

*2024 Swag TBA*

Race swag will be available for pick up during packet pickup or at the finish line on race day. Unclaimed swag cannot be mailed out after the race, so don’t forget to grab yours before you leave!

  • 5K Runners receive a tech tank-top (guaranteed shirt & size cutoff is 6/4*).
  • Optional Merchandise may be available for purchase during registration while supplies last.

*We do our best to estimate numbers to account for registrations after the shirt cutoff date but to help ensure that as many runners are able to get a shirt as possible, we cannot do size exchanges until the end of the day on race day.

Packet Pickup Information

Your packet will contain:
  • Race bib with timing chip attached to back and safety pins
  • Gear check tear tag attached to bottom of bib – please fix this to your gear bag if you are checking one on race day

We highly recommend you pick up your packet prior to race day to avoid long lines on race morning. You may also pick up a packet for a friend/family member, if you do so, please make sure they know you will be picking up their packet.

Pre-Race Pickup

Date: Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Packet Pickup Location:
Central Co-op
4502 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Day-of-race packet pickup will be available at the 5K start line from 6:30 am – 7:45 am. 

*Please Note*
Packets will not be available for pickup before stated times. Please do not call the pick-up location with packet pickup questions. If you have a question, please email us at info@tcmaevents.com. 

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Day of Race Schedule

5K

Date: Thursday, July 4, 2024

Start Location: N Narrows Dr – South of Vassault Park
Finish Location: 
Owen Beach

6:30 am: Packet Pickup & Gear Check Start
6:45 am: Shuttle Service Starts
7:45 am: Packet Pickup & Gear Check End
8:00 am: 5K Start
9:30 am: Last Post-Race Shuttle 

Kids 1K

Date: Thursday, July 4, 2024

Start/Finish Location: Owen Beach

8:00 am: Packet Pickup & Gear Check Start
9:00 am: 
Packet Pickup & Gear Check End
9:15 am: Kids Run Start

Parking

Parking is available in the Vassault Park parking lot and there is street parking along N 37th St. Please keep in mind that there will be road closures, N Vassault Street will be closed to cars but N Pearl Street will be open. Shuttle buses will take you from Owen Beach (Finish Line) back to your car at Vassault Park once you finish.

You can also park in the surrounding area outside Pt Defiance Park, walk up to the start and walk back to your car after the event. That way you get a warm up and a cool down.

Shuttles

Option 1. Park at Owen Beach, please carpool, parking is limited. Shuttle Buses will depart from Owen Beach located in Pt Defiance at 6:45 am. Buses will depart as they fill, do not wait for the last bus. Return shuttles will go continually back and forth from the Finish at Owen Beach to Vassault Park after you finish. The last post-race shuttle will depart at 9:30 am.

Option 2. Park halfway on 51st St. or surrounding neighborhoods, walk to start, map here << Walk from Finish back to car at halfway street parking, map here <<

Gear Check

Gear check will be available until 15 min before the start of the race. Please plan to bring your own bag. Gear bags will be transported to the finish line, you may claim your bag after you finish by providing your bib number. Tear your gear check tag off of your bib and attach to your gear check bag.

Please do not put valuables in your bag. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Finish Line Amenities

Once you cross the finish line, you will be greeted with a variety of food and beverages to aid in your recovery.

Results & Photos

Timing provided by Ready, Set…Time! Photos & free downloads provided by CJ Photography.

Results will be posted online shortly after you come across the finish line. Photos will be posted online in the week following the race, you will receive an email when they’re available. Results & Photos from previous years are also archived below.

Awards & Rules

Age Group Ribbons

Awards for the top Overall Male & Female and age group ribbons will be available for pick up at your convenience at the results tent*. Age group ribbons will be given out to the top 5 finishers in the following age groups: 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90+.

How to Claim Your Ribbon

After you have finished your race, check the results computers and get your print out. If your results are not yet posted please check back again in 10-15 minutes as they are updated often. If you are in the top 5 in your age group, proceed to the awards table to claim your ribbon. Congratulations! 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & USATF RULES: 
(1) If you win both an overall and age group spot you will be presented with both awards, overall winners ARE NOT knocked out of their respective age group.
(2) To be eligible for overall and age group awards or USATF submissions, you cannot be paced by or accept aid from a non-registered runner at any time during the event and you must complete the full course.
(3) Failure to complete the course in its entirety will result in disqualification.
(4) Use of personal music devices/headphones is discouraged for the safety and benefit of all participants. If you choose to wear them, please be safe and don’t turn them up so loud that you can’t hear volunteers or police. We recommend leaving one earbud out

*Please Note* 
Awards cannot be mailed out after the race, so please pick up your ribbon before leaving!

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Awards & Rules

Age Group Ribbons

Awards for the top Overall Male & Female and age group ribbons will be available for pick up at your convenience at the results tent*. Age group ribbons will be given out to the top 5 finishers in the following age groups: 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90+.

How to Claim Your Ribbon

After you have finished your race, check the results computers and get your print out. If your results are not yet posted please check back again in 10-15 minutes as they are updated often. If you are in the top 5 in your age group, proceed to the awards table to claim your ribbon. Congratulations! 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & USATF RULES: 
(1) 
If you win both an overall and age group spot you will be presented with both awards, overall winners ARE NOT knocked out of their respective age group.
(2) To be eligible for overall and age group awards or USATF submissions, you cannot be paced by or accept aid from a non-registered runner at any time during the event and you must complete the full course.
(3) Failure to complete the couse in its entirety may result in disqualification.
(4) Use of personal music devices/headphones is discouraged for the safety and benefit of all participants. If you choose to wear them, please be safe and don’t turn them up so loud that you can’t hear volunteers or police. We recommend leaving one earbud out.

*Please Note* Awards cannot be mailed out after the race, so please pick up your ribbon before leaving!

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HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Volunteer support means everything to us and our runners. We couldn’t do this without the hard work and efforts of dedicated volunteers who provide encouragement and a helping hand from getting our runners ready to hit the start line to fueling them through the finish.

Sign Up to Volunteer
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