I've ran this race 5 years in a row and I finally set a PR for myself on this course! The Arizona Road Racers 4 miles on July 4th is an Arizona tradition. It's a race that I always look forward to because I get to meet up with friends and enjoy delicious food after. Here are my top 4 reasons to run 4 miles on the 4th of July with AZ Road Racers.

🇺🇸Perfect for People Watching: Everyone is dressed up in red, white and blue. There was even a guy in a full body flag suit, someone raced while holding a full-size flag, and even faces were painted. If you want to smile by seeing fellow racers dressed up, then you'll love this race. This year, I switched it up and dressed up in all BibRave orange. I was channeling my inner firework.

🇺🇸TONS of Free Food: The finish line is like a smorgasbord. Burgers, watermelon, chips, soda and lots of water. The lines get long but they go fast. I think I ate my weight in watermelon this year!

🇺🇸Value for Your Money: I paid $22 to run this race. Ok, so I didn't get a medal or a tech shirt but I PAID $22 and got free lunch and ran a well organized race. Sometimes races aren't about the bling and swag but more about the camaraderie and running with a pumped community.

🇺🇸Excellent Venue: The race location is at a huge public park in Peoria (west of Phoenix.) The parking is free and there is tons of it. Lot's of bathrooms, places to sit, playground equipment for kids too. The course itself is great. It's mostly flat and runs on a New River sidewalk trail. You do have to share the road with fellow non-race runners and cyclists, but overall it's ok and the non-racers didn't bother me.

Of course I'll be running this race again in 2020. Will you join me?