Set Your Year On Fire 5k January 4th 2026 10am

🔥 Set Your Year On Fire 5k 2026

4th Annual

Date & Time: January 4th 2026 at 10am

Race Day Registration: Starting at 9 am

Start the year off on the right foot.

📝 Notable New Items This Year:

• Pets: We are going to allow pets to participate on course.
• Children Pricing: Child size shirt options available.
• Banners: Finish Line/Start Arch Banners will be present.
• Accommodations: Special arrangements for participants who may need them.

💙 Introduction:

This is a benefit 5k for the Ligonier Borough Volunteer Fire Company. All proceeds go directly to them.

Excited to be able to bring this race back to the Ligonier area for the 4th year to kick off the start of 2026. We want everyone to have a good time while having a great healthy start that we hope you continue to follow throughout the year. Hope you come and join us. We will do our best to give you a great race and race experience.

🎽 Bib/Shirt Pickup:

This will be at the trailhead at the far end of the football field where the finish line will also be.

🏃‍♂️ Course Information:

The course for the most part is an out and back style course. It will begin in front of Weller field little past where you go into the stadium to pay. There is a yellow "Watch Children" sign that will serve as the start line. From there, you run straight very briefly before making the first right-hand turn between the field and friendship park. You will run to the end of the road then make a right going onto the bridge that is the start of the Ligonier Valley Trail. The bridge is about .25 miles into the race.

From there you will run the entire Ligonier Valley trail. You will cross two roads: both will have someone there stopping traffic so you don’t have to stop if a vehicle is coming. The end of the trail is 1.62 miles from the start. At the end of the trail, there is a sign with history of a train derailment that happened many years ago in the area, it’s a big white sign. Run behind that sign not in front: you can see how the trail is worn behind the sign as a turn around point.

As you come back over the bridge, you will make a right-hand turn staying in the lower parking lot. The finish is in the lower end parking lot. There will be signs or someone telling you where to go: you’ll be able to see the finish line as you come over the bridge. The exact finish line is at the batting cages at the lower end parking lot area.

💰 Pricing:

Pricing is $20 until December 7th at 6pm, then it becomes $25 till registration closes January 3rd at 1pm, then it's $30 day of the race. There is day of registration starting at 9am and ending at 9:50am. Only cash or check will be accepted day of. Please allow ample time to sign in day of the race. If you are registering day of, please come early.

New for this year, children 10 and under will be free till registration closes: then children will be $10 day of. They must still purchase a t-shirt to get one.

📍 Location:

Address: 203 Boquet Street Ligonier, PA 15658 (Behind Weller Field and Friendship Park)

Coordinates: 40.247321, -79.234746

🏆 Awards:

Top 3 Male & Female overall, top 3 in each age group for the run: 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+. Top 3 Male & Female for Walk.

Children 10 and under must run the race under their own power to be eligible for age group awards. Awards will not be mailed.

Time Limit: 1 Hour 05 minutes (20:55 minute pace per mile).

🕒 Schedule for the Race:

1. 9 am: Registration opens
2. 9:50 am: Registration closes
3. 10:00 am: Race starts
4. 11:05 am: Race ends (must be across mats by 11:05am to be included in results)
5. 11:10 am: Awards ceremony

🎉 Accommodations:

We want to ensure participants who may need some accommodations are certainly welcome. Please reach out ahead of time so we can take care of those needs.

🚶 Walk Division:

We will be awarding the top 3 overall Male and top 3 overall Females in the walk division. You must also finish within the 1:05 time frame. There is no running allowed in the walk division. If caught running, you will be disqualified.

📝 Registration:

Opens at 9:00 am and closes at 9:50 am. Race starts at 10:00 am sharp. Awards at 11:10 am. Must be across mats at 11:05 am to qualify for awards.

🎁 What's Included:

Custom race Bib Number, chip finish timing, post-race snacks, a chance to make lasting memories while celebrating the New Year and a New You! Stickers specific to the race and cool awards. Custom unisex t-shirt if you purchased one while registering before the shirt deadline (December 7th at 6pm).

📝 Results:

Results will be posted online after the race at www.smileymiles.com. Please be patient: it may take 24 hours for results to be fully posted.

💧 Food/Liquids:

We will provide water at the midway point and post-race snacks. There will also be water at the finish line.

🚗 Parking:

Parking will be how you normally would for a game or to use the playground. There is plenty of parking between Friendship Park and Weller field. Please do not use the lower end parking lot if you have to leave before awards are all given out.

📜 Rules:

We are testing the free child registration option for those 10 and under. We require at least one adult to be present at the event to watch the child. No unsupervised children will be allowed to participate. If found, they will be stricken from results.

Pets are allowed but must be controlled at all times. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Headphones are allowed, but please be courteous to fellow runners. No smoking, alcohol, or drug use is permitted in any area the race will be using.

🚫 No Refunds:

We do not offer refunds, cancellations, or transfers at this time. This event will go on no matter the weather unless a state of emergency is declared.

📆 More Information:

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