Place
7775 North Friant Road
Fresno, CA US 93720
Location
The Juneteenth Freedom Run will be held at Woodward Park. Enter from the NE entrance (N Fort Washington Rd & N Friant Road). Use the kiosk to pay the $5 for parking once you find a spot.
Description
The Juneteenth Freedom 5K/5 Mile Run is an event that goes beyond just a race. Juneteenth commemorates the day when 250,000 slaves in Texas, which became the last bastion for slavery during the final days of the Civil War, were declared free.
All participants in the live and virtual race will receive a t-shirt and medal. The live 5K/5 Mile race will have placement awards.
NEW THIS YEAR: Kids' age group awards!
The 5 Mile race is a 30-point race in the Central Valley Runner of the Year series.
Early Packet Pickup
June 12th 4:00pm - 7:00pm
REI in Riverpark, 7810 N Blackstone, Fresno, CA 93720
June 13th 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Fleet Feet, 9447 N Fort Washington Rd #106, Fresno, CA 93730
Race Day Packet Pickup @ Woodward Park
June 14th 7:00am to 7:30am
This packet pick-up is mainly for out of town registrants. Bib pickup will close at exactly 7:30am.
LOCATION: Woodward Park, Fort Washington and Friant entrance; first parking lot, west of the Art of Life sign.
History
You are invited to join us on June 15, 2023 for the third annual Juneteenth Freedom Run 5K/5Mi run/walk. Juneteenth is the African American community’s addendum to Independence Day. It is a nationally recognized and celebrated holiday which commemorates the notification of the Emancipation Proclamation to Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. The Fresno community has been celebrating this historical moment for over 30 years. The run/walk is part of many Juneteenth celebration events in Fresno. To take part in other wonderful Juneteenth festivities, please visit http://fresnojuneteenth.com/.
Proceeds from the race will continue to fund scholarships for college-bound youth and community service projects. Additionally, fitness promotion scholarships will be awarded to organizations that promote running and health, and have 20+ participants on their team.
To participate in the run or walk at Woodward Park on 6/15/23, sign up at https://www.juneteenthfreedomrun.com/ and join a team!
5K Run
Walkers and runners of all ages can enjoy the 5K distance.
Age group awards will be awarded to the top three males and females in each of the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80 and over.
The 2022 record, held by Emilio Ramirez, is 19:20.
5 Mile Run
The 5-mile run distance is twice the length that Opal Lee, the 96-year-old who is known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” walked to collect signatures to make Juneteenth a holiday. The initial 2.5 miles were a symbol that, in Texas, “the enslaved didn’t know they were free until two and a half years after the emancipation.” Age group awards will be awarded for participants
Age group awards will be awarded to the top three males and females in each of the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80 and over.
Race Amenities
- Finisher’s medal
- Tech shirt
- Hydration along the course
- Fabulous race cheerleading
- Age group awards
- Pancake breakfast
Free Race Training
There are FREE trainings for the walk/run starting on 3/30/24. Wear comfy clothes to walk or run in, and bring water. Please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out the liability release form for the training.
Thursdays - Cottonwood Park in Clovis at 7:00pm.
We'll meet at the SW corner of N Clovis Ave & Alluvial Ave, Clovis, CA 93612.
There is lots of free parking by the pond on Alluvial.
Saturdays - Woodward Park at 8:00am (will change as heat rises - updates on Instagram at juneteenth5k.5mi).
We'll meet at the entrance of N Fort Washington Rd & N Friant Rd, Fresno, CA 93730, inside the first parking lot, by the Art of Life sign.
Park admission is $5.
Pancake Breakfast Included
Thank you to the Kiwanis for donating a pancake breakfast for race participants.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Volunteer
If you would like to help with this event, please share the race sign up link. You can also sign up to sponsor the race or volunteer by emailing the Race Director at run4healthcoaching@gmail.com.
