Battle of the Branches 5K (Syracuse) 2026

The Battle of the Branches 5K is a military-themed 5K run at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. It takes place before the CNY Veterans Parade and Expo. The race is framed as a friendly fitness competition where runners select a team representing a service branch: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force. The event welcomes both service members and their supporters. The participants include veterans, families, friends, and community members, not exclusively competitive runners. Each participant receives a custom Battle of the Branches shirt and a finisher Challenge Coin. These items connect the finish line to military tradition and the branch-versus-branch theme.