Gan Fall Fun Run & Walk

Come celebrate the official start of Summer 2026 with us as we kick off the season with a fun and rewarding 5K in beautiful Sackets Harbor, NY. This event coincides with the Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 20th. Join us as we usher in the beauty and warmth the new summer ahead. The 5K course is mostly flat with spectacular views of Lake Ontario as you make your way along the 3.1 mile trek. Expect more that just a 5K run as we are teaming up with the 1812 Brewing Co., the Whiskey Coop and The Boathouse to extend the fun beyond the run!

Willow Running USA is teaming up with the Garrett W. Loomis Foundation, a 501c-3 committed to enhancing Fire Safety regionally in the memory of Garrett.

Join us if you love to run, love to have fun and especially if you love the sun!

5K Course Map

The 1812 Challenge Weekend continues! Join us in celebrating over a decade of The Challenge with a new exciting race and two new challenges, and a weekend of fun for yourself, your group, or the whole family!

Choose from FOUR distances, with a 5K and 5 Mile race starting and ending at the Brewery on Saturday. Then join us on Sunday for the 18.12 Challenge and Half Marathon you know and love!

Looking for an extra challenge? Register to participate in the Patriot Challenge (5K and Half Marathon) or the Victory Challenge (5K + 18.12 Challenge) or the Liberty Challenge (5K + 5M) or the Freedom Challenge (5K + 5M + 18.12 (26.22 total, marathon-equivalent) ! Finishers of these challenges will receive an additional medal or pin to commemorate your achievement.

PACKET PICKUP FOR ALL RACES

Friday, June 26th

Location: Confluence Running North Country (1035 Arsenal St, Watertown)

10 am - 6 pm

Saturday, June 27th

Location: 1812 Brewing Company

11:30 - 3 pm (look for the Confluence Running Tent)

Sunday, June 28th

Location: Sackets Harbor Battlefield

6:30 - 7:30 am (look for the Confluence Tent)

5K Course Map

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2612416?units=miles

Half Marathon Course

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1930617?units=km

1812 Challenge Course

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1947481?units=km

What better way to celebrate our nations birthday than with a run!

Picture it: running down the street on the morning of July 4th with dozens of other people all carrying an American flag!

The DENFIT1776 annual run is to honor and acknowledge the men and women who founded our nation, doing so with grit, determination, and perseverance. It is our American heritage to be able-bodied and demonstrate courage in the face of adversity.

Runners will have TWO event options to choose from and will start at 7:00am on July 4th: 1776 7.76mi, and 17.76mi Challenge. The course starts from Cape Vincent East End Park and is a scenic route through the village of Cape Vincent and along the river to Tibbetts Point Lighthouse - a very flat and fast 7.76mi bringing runners back to the start line. From there, 1776Challenge runners will start a second lap. All fitness levels are welcome and encouraged to participate. Run and walk at your own pace while enjoying the view of the river and our quaint village!

EVENT Options (be sure to read requirements below):

1776 7.76mi - a quick "out-and-back" lap while carrying an American flag of any size or dressing in red, white, and blue!

1776Challenge - 17.76mi (two laps) while carrying a 3x5 American flag on a pole the ENTIRE distance

REQUIREMENTS

All runners must provide an American flag and will be asked to display it as they run 7.76mi. It can be ANY size (such as a small cemetery flag...but the bigger the better). Stick a small flag in a pocket of a running vest; carry a small pole... whatever you choose, a flag must be on display.

For runners who take up the Challenge option and want to earn the coveted DENFIT CUSTOM SPEAR:

it must be a 3x5 flag on a pole and carried for the entire 17.76mi distance.

To guarantee your t-shirt sizing, register BEFORE 06/16/2026

This run is largely self-supported with one aid station located at the lighthouse turn around.

Course closes at 11am

Every participant receives a t-shirt and medal and will be provided light refreshments upon completing the course.

After the event, stick around for '4th of July Bike Parade', taking place also at Rec Park as the 1776 concludes. Watch as over a hundred kids carrying flags make their way through town on their bicycles!

The Thousand Island Park 5K, or TIP5K, is a memorial footrace to honor the memory of General TJ "Demon" Costello, who served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. This race started at a family reunion in 2013 and has grown to include the local community of TI Park. It's a small, family-oriented race that welcomes all levels of participation. Walkers and strollers are welcomed! Although, be advised that the course covers dirt roads, grassy lawns, and one trail. Also, the route will be poorly marked, open to traffic, and the timing crew will consist of a couple of teenagers with an iPhone. No timing chips here! So, your official time will likely be wrong, if it's recorded at all. However, I can guarantee a great scenic run, good times and camaraderie, and maybe a cold drink or two at the finish line.

Online registration closes on July 10th but you may register the morning of the race. If you would like a t-shirt, please register by Friday, July 3rd.

Youth Division (Ages 7-12) Register 2/1-4/30 ($10) Register 5/1-7/9 ($15)

Adult Division (Ages 13+) Save money with early registration!

Register 2/1-2/28 ($20) Register 3/1-3/31 ($25)

Register 4/1-4/30 ($30) Register 5/1-7/9 ($35)

Registration Perks:

• Register by Friday, July 3rd and receive a free T-shirt ($15 value)

• All registered participants receive a free admission ticket to the Scottish Festival ($10 Value)

• Beverages will be provided after the race for all of our “Bravehearts” by our race sponsor, Ogdensburg Pepsi Cola Bottlers.

• Special prize for first female and male adult and first female and male youth to cross the Finish Line. Prizes donated by race sponsor QT Laser & Design, Ogdensburg.

• Plus, there will be a *GRAND PRIZE drawing in both the adult and youth divisions to ONLY the first 100 registrants in EACH division:

*Adult Division Prize: $100 Cash donated by Vintage Doors, Hammond

• Youth Division Prize: Pizza Package donated by Ogdensburg Pizza Hut

*Drawing immediately following race. Must be present to win!

Important Race Details:

• This is a non-competitive event and times will be provided at the Finish Line.

• Don’t forget your kilt!! In order to participate, every runner/walker MUST wear a kilt that is tartan, has an apron front and a pleated back. If you don’t own one, an affordable kilt ($16-$28) can be found at store.stillwaterkilts.com (check the Thrifty section). To be fair to all participants and maintain the spirit of the festival, we will provide a refund and deny race participation if kilt requirements are not followed. It's a fun run! Enjoy the Celtic Spirit!

• Check-in starts at 7:45 a.m. at the museum and the race begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. A Bagpiper will lead everyone to the Starting Line!

• RACE ROUTE: The race starts at the museum where runners/walkers will proceed down County Route 6 which winds through beautiful farmland and past original stone houses built by Scottish settlers. The turn around for the loop back to town is off road and on the site of an 1830s Scottish stone home that sits atop a hill overlooking a pond and wooded area. The race ends at the museum so participants (with their free admission ticket) can enjoy the Hammond Scottish Festival.

At 9:00 the Scottish Festival kicks off with:

Celtic music Scottish dancers vendors pipers Kids Castle Obstacle Course petting zoo

Wee Bairns Tent blacksmith, spinning and weaving demonstrations "Dress Up Like a Scot" photo booth

Scottish Immersion Tent (Gaelic, penny whistle, and Scottish country dancing workshops, local Scottish stone house history, Hammond Tartan displays, and clan information)

...the very popular Highland Games!!