A pack of runners heads out at the start of the 38th annual Bridgton 4 on the Fourth race Friday at Bridgton. Joel Page/Staff Photographer

Annika Pfitzinger of Auckland, New Zealand, hits the tape to win the women’s division of the 38th annual 4 on the Fourth race Friday in Bridgton. She was the seventh overall finisher in the field of 1,966 runners.

Moninda Marube of Auburn is starting his own Fourth of July tradition. He won the 4 on the Fourth race in Bridgton for the second consecutive year, finishing in 20 minutes, 29 seconds.

No, this isn’t the opening of stores on the day after Thanksgiving. It’s the start of the annual L.L. Bean 10-kilometer road race in Freeport. Along with the race in Bridgton, it’s become an Independence Day tradition. This year more than 1,300 runners hit the pavement.

The barbecues and pool parties were for the rest of the day. The appetite was built early in the morning when more than 1,300 runners covered 10 kilometers in the L.L. Bean race. Joel Page/Staff Photographer

Chris Harmon of Portland has the finish line in his sights Monday while winning the L.L. Bean 10-kilometer race in Freeport. Harmon finished in 33 minutes, 5 seconds. Tim Greenway/Staff Photographer

For Michelle Lilienthal of Portland, the Fourth of July got off to a wonderful start, winning the L.L. Bean 10K race, beating every other woman with a time of 35 minutes, 15 seconds. Tim Greenway/Staff Photographer