While many people would associate water or Gatorade with exercise, those people would be wrong, and the Tacoma Runners know it. Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., for the last four years, waves of runners head out from a Tacoma pub, following a 5K route announced at the start, before returning to the starting line for multiple hugs and carbohydrate-rich beers.

Mike and Lisa Hahn, Derek Young, Rob McNair-Huff and several others launched the social group in 2010, with Young, Sarah Cutting and McNair-Huff running it today, hosting a website and setting the routes for 3,347 Facebook members.

Thursday, July 3, the Tacoma Runners will celebrate our nation's independence with a fun 5K run, beers and karaoke at 8 p.m. at The New Frontier Lounge. Expect at least 25 Founding Fathers costumes.

TACOMA RUNNERS PRE-FIREWORKS RUN, 6:30-9:30 p.m., The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, no cover