Information
Independence Day Run 🏃♀️
Kick off your 4th of July celebrations with a burst of energy at the Independence Day Run! Whether you’re running, walking, or simply enjoying the festive atmosphere, this patriotic event is the perfect way to celebrate freedom, fitness, and fun with friends and family.
Fox River Park offers a stunning natural setting with mature woodlands, wetlands, and a variety of wildflowers. It’s the perfect place to escape and feel like you’re in the northern woods of Wisconsin—without ever leaving Waukesha County.
Celebrate the spirit of freedom and independence with an unforgettable morning of fitness, fun, and community. Start your holiday on the right foot—literally!
Run, walk, or cheer… and let freedom ring! 🏅
📍 Important GPS Tip:
When navigating to Fox River Park, use the address, not the park name. Many GPS units may direct you to a different park!
Events
Half Marathon
543 spots left. Price increases after April 27, 2026 at 11:59pm CDT
Half Marathon - Early Start
543 spots left. Price increases after April 27, 2026 at 11:59pm CDT
Kids 1K Run
543 spots left. Registration ends June 27, 2026 at 11:59am CDT
Race Location
FOX RIVER PARK
W264 S4500 River Road
Waukesha, WI 53189 US
View Location on Map
Run/Walk Courses
Course Details
- The course winds through a beautiful forest canopy with a surprising number of elevation changes.
- 10K runners: The 10K is two laps of the 5K course.
- Reminder: Do not cross the finish line until you have completed both laps.
- 1 loop inside the park on the 5K course + 1 out-and-back on the Fox River Trail (paved) = 1 loop.
- You will complete this loop twice to finish the half marathon.
Please note: Course distances are approximate due to the nature of trail running. As much as we’d love to, the friendly park staff won’t let us cut down trees to create new paths!
Course Markings:
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- 12x12 turn arrows
- 3-foot tall course signs
- Orange SCSE cones
We don’t use traditional trail tape or markings—instead, all turns are clearly marked with signs for your guidance.
Race Day Packet Pickup & Schedule
Bring Your QR Code!
Please have your QR code ready for scanning.
- You don’t need to print it—just have the QR code accessible on your mobile device or save a screenshot to your photo library.
- Packet pickup tips
📅 Saturday, June 28, 2025
📍 Race Site
- 6:45 AM: Packet Pickup Opens
- 7:00 AM: Half Marathon Early Start
- 7:45 AM: 1K Kiddo's Race Starts
- 8:00 AM: 5K, 10K and Half Marathon Start
- 9:30 AM: Half Marathoners must have started final lap
- 10:30 AM: Finish Line Breakdown
- 11:00 AM: Course Closes
Course Timing and Early Start Policy
As much as we’d love to spend endless time at our favorite race sites, our permits limit the time we can occupy the course. To comply with these restrictions, the course will close for the final lap at 9:30 AM, and participants will not be permitted to continue once the course is officially closed.
Early Start Option for Half Marathoners
If you're concerned about finishing the half marathon within the allotted time, we're here to help you achieve your running goals! We offer an early start option for half marathoners who need extra time.
- Important Details:
- Early starters will receive a chip time.
- Early starters are not eligible for age group or series awards.
- The course may not yet be fully set up:
- Markings, course marshals, police, and aid stations may not be in place.
- The course will remain open to the public.
- Early starts are available only for half marathon participants.
Important Rules:
🚫 Non-Half Marathon Participants: Those starting early in other races will not receive an official time and will be disqualified.
🚫 Continuing After Closure: Participants who continue after being asked to stop will also be disqualified.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for everyone! 🏃♀️🏃♂️
T-Shirts
Race shirts are gender-specific, dry-wick, and guaranteed for those registered by noon on June 12. After that, shirts will be available only while online supplies last. Don’t miss your chance to grab a custom race shirt—register early! 🎽👟
Everything you need to know about shirts
Important Note: The female shirts run small, so consider sizing up for a looser fit. 😊
Get ready to rock your custom race shirt in style!
Walkers Welcome!
Walkers are welcome to join any distance. Just select your desired distance when registering and check the course closure time to ensure you can finish before the course closes.
Although the Walk Division is timed, it’s not competitive, and there are no age group awards. However, walkers will still receive a finisher woodle! 🎉
Enjoy the trail and have a great race! 🏃♀️🚶♂️
Team Challenge
We’re on a mission to support local running stores, companies, and YOU through the WTA Running Team Challenge—a fun, competitive, and completely FREE way to celebrate the Run Local / Buy Local movement.
Whether you’re part of a store team, a club, a training group, or just a bunch of friends who run—this challenge is for you!
We will let you in on a secret… you will never have to stand in a packet pickup line again!
Free Fresh Fruit Bar (Post-Race!)
Celebrate your finish at our FREE Fresh Fruit Bar—because you earned more than just a high five and a sweaty selfie. Enjoy a spread of fresh fruit, plus runner-favorite recovery drinks including pickle juice, lemon water, and cucumber water. It’s the perfect way to refuel, rehydrate, and pretend you’re “just here for the vibes” after conquering the course.
Awards, Awards & More Awards
🏆 Overall Awards
The top overall male and female runners in each distance will receive a custom award provided by our partner, Ridgeway Woodworks.
🥇 Age Group Awards
The top 3 male and female finishers in 5-year age groups will receive a custom woodle. Age groups start at 0-14, then continue in 5-year increments.
🎉 Finisher Woodles
Every participant will receive a magnet woodle crafted by Ridgeway Woodworks as a special keepsake
🏃♂️🏃♀️The Average Joe & Jane Awards
Not everyone can be first, but someone has to land right in the middle—and we celebrate that! The Average Joe & Jane Awards are presented to the male and female runners who finish exactly in the middle of all registered participants. More about the Average Joe & Jane awards.
🏅 Miss Your Award?
If you missed picking up your award, here’s how to get it.
Celebrate your achievement and take home something special!
Kiddos Run for Free!
Kids can participate in the FREE Kiddo's 1K if a parent is registered for the event. 🎉
Here’s what they’ll get:
- A race bib
- A finisher medal
- A puppy, sugar straw, energy drink & kazoo!
- Ok, one of the above bullet points is not true
Important: Registration is required for kids to participate.
Optional: Shirts are available for purchase during registration if you'd like one for your little runner! 🏃♂️🏅
New! Preassembled Team Packets
We’re making race day even easier for teams! Here’s how it works:
If your team has 4 or more members by Monday, Junew 22nd at noon, we’ll preassemble your entire team’s packets—including:
- Race shirts
- Bibs labeled with each runner’s name, shirt size, bib number, gender, age, and event
These will be ready in one convenient bundle for pickup. We encourage you to pick up your team's packet at early packet pickup.
Important:
- One person (Team Captain or designee) should pick up the entire team’s packets. Make sure you tell your team where you are going to meet them to distribute packets.
- No individual pickups will be allowed for qualifying teams.
- Teams with fewer than 4 members can still pick up individually.
📣 Heads-up for Captains:
If you registered team members using your own email address, they won’t receive race communications. Be sure to forward this info so everyone is in the loop!
How to Join a Team (Even if You’re Already Registered)
It’s super easy (and again, free!):
- Head to your race registration at RunSignUp.com
- Click on your Profile
- Scroll to the race
- Select Group/Team
- Join an existing team or create a new one!
Parking Information 🚗
Parking is available at the parks, but please note that a county park day pass or an annual pass is required. Both the annual pass and day pass must be purchased online BEFORE the event—no in-person payment will be available on the day of the event.
Plan ahead to secure your pass and ensure a smooth parking experience. Visit the park's official website to make your purchase.
Buy Now
Day of Registration
We highly recommend registering in advance—it’s quick and can be done from your phone!
If you choose to register on race day, you must register electronically; paper registration is not available.
See you on race day! 🏃♀️
Volunteer Opportunities
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with everything from aid station support to course marshaling. Your assistance makes these events possible, and we’d greatly appreciate your help!
Volunteer Perks:
All volunteers will receive a free entry to a future race as a thank-you for their time and support.
How to Volunteer:
- Click the Volunteer link in the menu above to sign up.
- For more details on volunteering, click here.
Join us in creating an amazing event experience for everyone! 🙌🏃♀️
Charity Partner
The Silver Circle Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to support our firefighters, police officers, veterans, and troops serving overseas.
Through charitable giving, care packages, and fundraising efforts, we aim to provide much-needed assistance and show our gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
Your participation helps make a difference—thank you for supporting this important cause!❤️
Partner with Us for Your Workplace Wellness Program!
Let us support your workplace wellness initiatives and make it easy to get your team involved.
How It Works:
- Reach Out: Share your workplace information with us.
- Custom Code: We'll create a unique discount code for your wellness members to use during registration. The code can waive or reduce the registration fee based on the discount your program offers.
- Post-Race Invoice: The day after the race, we’ll send you an invoice for the discounted registrations, which can be conveniently paid online.
It’s that simple! Let’s work together to promote health and wellness in your workplace.
Insurance
We get it—life happens! That’s why we recommend purchasing event insurance during checkout.
What is RegShield Insurance?
Race insurance, provided by RegShield (a FanShield product), offers peace of mind by reimbursing the registration cost if you’re unable to attend due to covered reasons, including:
- Accident
- Illness
- Family emergency
Need Help with Insurance?
RegShield is a third-party provider. For any questions related to your plan, contact FanShield:
📧 help@fanshield.com
📞 1-844-849-4827 EXT.
Silver Circle Sports Events
This event is professionally produced, timed, owned, and managed by Silver Circle Sports Events, LLC. We handle the details, timing, and race-day flow so your only job is to show up and send it.
What is rucking?
Rucking is a physical activity that involves walking or hiking with a weighted backpack (called a rucksack). The term comes from the military, where soldiers train and operate carrying heavy loads over long distances. In civilian fitness and recreation, rucking is gaining popularity as a versatile and low-impact workout. We now offer it at all Chilly Willy Events!
More information about rucking.
Although the Ruck Divisions are timed, it’s not competitive, and there are no age group awards. However, ruckers will still receive a finisher woodle!
Any questions? Contact us today!
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
