Fourth of July: Find a Race!

What do your Fourth of July plans include? A barbecue? Fireworks? Maybe watching a parade and snagging a few pieces of candy?

While all of that sounds fun, you might be surprised to learn that July 4 is actually the biggest race day of the year, according to Active.com. What that means is that there's likely a race near you that will tickle your fancy.

Are you a sucker for tradition? If you're in the Fairport, N.Y. area, be sure to check out the Fleet Feet Firecracker 5-mile. Established in 1976, this is one of the oldest Fourth of July weekend races out there, but take note: This race is on Saturday, July 3, not on the official holiday.

If you like running with a large group, why not join in the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Ga. (pictured here)? It's been the largest 10K race since the late 1970s with 55,000 participants. (Fun fact: the race requires 3,400 volunteers and 700 porta potties. Yikes!)

Of course, there's nothing like keeping it local on a fun-filled weekend. You can search for races near you on Fourth of July weekend (or any time) by filling in the search fields on Active.com. Narrow the choices by sport, date, and how far you're willing to travel!

If you plan to get active this holiday weekend, ready up on these summer running mistakes to avoid.