My wife Jennie and I are poring over the Michigan Runner Calendar to select a July 4 weekend race. For the past five years, we have ventured to Hannibal, MO, to run the Hannibal Cannibal, which Jennie's brother organized. We had fun, but are back in Michigan this year.

We may join the Yoopers running the Billy Mills 10K in Sault Ste. Marie. Mills, who won the 10,000-meter gold medal in the '64 Tokyo Olympics, still draws a crowd at this annual event. Director Jessica Dumback says Billy will be in attendance again this year.

In northwest Michigan, we could run the Firecracker 5K in Beulah July 4 and/or the scenic Forest Festival 5K in Manistee July 6. In the middle of the state, you have the July 6 Grand Blanc Festival 5K, where Anne Gault gives finishers golf shirts instead of t-shirts. Or we could run Frankenmuth's mighty Volkslaufe, now in its third decade. At the Volkslaufe, you can stay overnight, watch massive fireworks, run in the morning, then replace calories with a chicken dinner and beer in their lively park. Director Steve Eirick expects a great crowd again this year.

In lower Michigan, you can chose among the Tortoise and Hare 5K July 4 in Ann Arbor, or the Whitmore Lake July 4 runs. Hanover fire Capt. Jeff Heath tells us that their Firecracker 5K July 4 keeps on growing. Participants run from fire stations in Hanover to Horton, then ride a bus back. Proceeds are used for fireworks shot that night.

As always, it will be a tough choice. We hope to see you at one of these fine events.