About

The Santa Cruz Firecracker 10K and Kids 1K is an annual benefit event put on by the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club. Over the past 4 years the event has grown to attract more than 500 runners and is considered the best "fun" run in the area. But don't underestimate the challenge of the FC10K's daring road & trail course - culminating with the fabled and dreaded "hill"! The FC10K is fun for the whole family, an excellent way to kick off your 4th of July weekend and is a great warm-up for the Wharf to Wharf.

100% of the FC10K's proceeds are used to help fund charitable projects serving the local, national and international communities. Support for local activities includes a competitive scholarship program for graduating High School seniors; grants to organizations serving the youth, elderly and disabled; and various community improvement projects including the new Rotary Track and Field at Santa Cruz High School. We also participate in national or international projects annually. Recently, teams were sent to Louisiana and Mississippi to aid in hurricane relief. We've been to Mexico building schools and will be establishing a MicroBank in South America next year.

What runners are saying about the Firecracker 10K

"Thanks for such a nice event on the 4th. The run is such fun -- I've probably run it four or five times... and the pancake breakfast was great! Lovely way to start a three day weekend."
- Heidi McGough (2008 4th place finisher, 55-59 age group).

"I was a first time Firecracker 10k runner and had a blast! It was so much fun, even the hill! I'm sort of glad I didn't know how steep it was before I actually faced it, and I loved the fun signs along the way. Thanks so much for putting on a great race!""
- Nina R. Miller (2008 1st place finisher, 35-39 age group).

"It's a good way to start the Fourth of July. It's more of a local, chill race. If they can do this, they know they can run a lot faster at the Wharf to Wharf because it (the Wharf to Wharf) is such an easier course. This course is hard. It's hard to race uphill."
-Aaron Jacobsen (2008 1st place overall. Quote from the Santa Cruz Sentinel 7/5/08).