If you plan to participate this year in the Tar Heel 10 Miler and Fleet Feet Sports 4-Mile Run on Saturday, you can head over to University Mall’s Pre-Race Expo on Friday to pick up a packet, and get information on race events.

Steve Lackey is the founder of Endurance Magazine and producer of the event, and as usual, he expects it to be big.

“We’re expecting between 6,300 and 6,500 for this year,” said Lackey. “We’ll sell out at 6,500.”

And that’s just the runners.

“We usually have about 12,000 people out there, between spectators and volunteers,” said Lackey. “And we’re lucky, because a lot of the people who produce it are locals.”

It’s the eighth year for the Tar Heel 10 Miler and Fleet Feet Sports 4-Mile Run, which takes place early Saturday morning on Stadium Drive. WCHL is one of the sponsors of the event.

Both races begin and end at the Bell Tower this year. Post-race events will still be held inside Kenan Stadium, which has been undergoing renovations, and in the Blue Zone concourse.

The 10 Miler has grown as an attraction every year since it started. These days, participants come from as many as 38 states.

“The overwhelming majority of people come from North Carolina,” said Lackey, “and we have a great representation from the Triangle.”

This year, the UnitedHealthcare Corporate Challenge joins the list of related activities.

“The idea is that we want to celebrate the wellness of the community’s companies across the Triangle,” said Lackey. “And so we have awards for the fittest company.”

Also, the fastest company.

One of the most popular related competitions is “Crash the Party.” The top three schools with the highest representation are awarded custom T-shirts.

Duke has won five years in a row.

Participating runners can pick up packets at the Pre-Race Expo at University Mall on Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

And you can visit Tarheel10miler.com to donate, sign up, or register to volunteer.

Bathrooms at Kenan Stadium open at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, which is when participants are expected to start arriving.

Runners begin lining up at the South Bell Tower at 6:45 a.m.

The Four-Miler starts at 7:20, and the 10 Miler takes off at 7:30.

Traffic will be detoured throughout downtown Chapel Hill on Saturday from 6 until 10 a.m. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

Click here for more information on road closings during the Tar Heel 10 Miler and Fleet Feet Sports 4-Mile Run.