The Leonide J. Lemire VFW 4th of July 4.9 Road Race in Southbridge is the longest running 4.9-mile road race in the country! The race starts and finishes at the Y. The route takes a scenic course through Southbridge passing all monuments and memorials honoring our local veterans. This race is the perfect way to start off your Independence Day.
Gun start is 8am. The Y is normally closed on July Fourth, but locker room facilities will be available for the race. Finisher prizes for age groups along with random prize drawings and refreshments will be provided.
A little about the history of this race: The VFW Post created the 4.9 mile road race to honor Leonard J. Lemire, the Southbridge native who was killed at Pearl Harbor while serving on the battleship USS West Virginia. He was the first Southbridge resident casualty of WWII. All proceeds from this race go to YMCA in Southbridge, which annually gives memberships for our military, veterans and those on active duty.
Race Information:
Location -Tri-Community Family Branch, 43 Everett Street, Southbridge, MA 01550
Start time- 8:00am
2 Water stations along the race route
Awards will be for in person only:
1st overall Male/Female
Southbridge Resident 1st Male/Female
Military 1st Male/Female
Duo chair team 1st
Solo chair 1st Male/Female
1st Male/Female in the following Age Groups:
10-19
20-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70+
RACE RESULTS FOUND ON: empiretiming.com
Additional Race Instructions:
1. There will be NO early bib pick up. There will be race day registration starting at 7am at the YMCA, 43 Everett Street, Southbridge.
2. Parking is available at the Credit Union on Main Street on race day.
3. Parking in the YMCA lot is reserved for staff, volunteers and Team Hoyt New England. The lot will be closed at 7:15am. Cars will not be allowed to leave until the completion of the race.
4. Race will start with the wheelchair athletes at 8:00am, then runners & walkers at 8:05am.
5. Post race refreshments and prize table will be available
6. Results will be available online on The EMPIRE Timing Co. website.
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
08:00
$25.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
08:00
$25.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
08:00
$0.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
08:00
$0.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
08:00
$25.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
08:00
$20.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
18 days remaining
$10.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
18 days remaining
$10.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
18 days remaining
$10.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
18 days remaining
$0.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
18 days remaining
$0.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
18 days remaining
$10.00
Jul 04, 2026
Distance — 4.9 Miles
Type — Running
18 days remaining
$10.00
These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for July in Southbridge.
Learn more about the host city, Southbridge.
Southbridge is a town in southern Central Massachusetts, about 60 miles from Boston. Southbridge is a close-knit community with a downtown area of friendly small businesses. The area was initially inhabited by the Nipmuck and Mohegan tribes, with the Quinebaug River dividing their territories. In 1730, it was settled by Europeans. Water power from the Quinebaug River made Southbridge a good location for sawmills and gristmills in the 18th century, and textile mills in the 19th century. After the Civil War, many immigrants of Irish and French Canadian descent came to work and live there; by the 1930s they had been joined by Poles, Greeks, Italians and others.
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