2019 Racing for Rescues

Donate to a Participant, a Team, or the Event

Sunday, May 5, 2019
Dorothea Dix Park
9:00 a.m. - noon
Races begin at 10:00

The 2019 Racing for Rescues event features:

• Separate, timed 5K races for runners with dogs and runners without dogs
• A 1.5-mile walking course for people with or without dogs
• Adoptable dogs looking to visit with YOU!
• High-value Visa gift card raffle prizes (need not be present to win)
• Complimentary snacks and The Pyramids food truck with food and beverages for sale
• A vendor village catering to pet owners and athletes alike

In the event of inclement weather, we will post an update right here. If you're unsure if the event is happening, check back here!

Online registration has closed. DAY-OF REGISTRATION is available (cash, check, credit card) at the event starting at 9:00 a.m. for runners and 9:30 a.m. for walkers. Regular price for runners: $45. Student price for runners: $40. Regular price for walkers: $40. Student price for walkers: $35. See you at the event!

Not a runner (yet)? No problem! Download your 8-week training guide here!

See Participants’ Fundraising Pages

See last year’s photos!

KEY RACE DAY INFORMATION

Early Packet Pickup

Directions and Parking

Run and Walk Course Maps

Event Times

Food, Vendors, and More

WIN RACE, RAFFLE, AND FUNDRAISING PRIZES

Medals

Win a Race Prize!

Do you have a competitive streak? Do you enjoy competing against others, or even against yourself? The top 3 male and female finishers across our NEWLY-EXPANDED age cohorts for both the races (with and without dogs) receive medals! Additionally, the overall fastest male and female for both 5Ks (with and without dogs, for a total of 4 runners) win a $50 Fleet Feet gift card and a limited-edition Second Chance hoodie! Fastest dogs win, too! Three speedy doggos (one small, one medium, and one large) will bring home a pet-themed picture frame (to commemorate the victory!) and limited-edition Second Chance merchandise for more fun outings in the future (a backpack, a leash, and a collapsible water bowl).

Sign up today to compete in your first real 5K, improve your time, push yourself further, or take one of our awards on May 5! You gotta be in it to win it, so sign up now!

**Win a Fundraising* Prize!**

Win a great prize AND make a difference for the animals in our program! Every dollar raised helps to support the animals in our program. While some of the animals require medical care and surgery, all will incur routine costs such as food ($15-$40 depending on size), vaccinations ($15-20), and dewormer ($12 to over $50 for very large dogs). Additionally, all of our animals are spayed or neutered when adopted, with costs for cats and dogs ranging up to $159. Any funds you raise will allow us to help even more homeless dogs and cats in our community to find their forever home!

Prizes will be given to:
• the highest individual fundraiser (a person who is not leading a team): Summer Fun basket, including 4 tickets to a 2019 Durham Bulls game, $50 worth of gift cards to Mellow Mushroom (pizza located just near the Bulls stadium), and supplies for a patriotic 4^th of July party at home!
• the highest fundraising team: Ice Cream Pawty basket, including cones, sprinkles, syrups, bowls, spoons, a $20 Food Lion gift card (so you can pick up more of your favorite toppings), a $20 gift card to FRESH. Local Ice Cream, and a $10 gift card to Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream.
• one individual fundraiser who raises at least $35**, who will be chosen at random: Taco Night basket courtesy of Chuy’s at North Hills, including a gift certificate for dinner for 2, merch like shirts and margarita shakers, a toy for your dog, and more! Each $35 raised gains you one entry into the drawing (so, for example, if you raise $350, you have earned 10 entries!). (NOTE: winners of highest individual fundraiser and highest fundraising team are not eligible to win this prize.)

When you register, you have a chance to become a fundraiser with your own personal or team fundraising web page! You can share the link with friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers and ask them to support you as you become a hero for the animals–we even provide you with all the tools you need to make the ask, so don’t be shy, sign up today!

APRIL 23 – MAY 2: THE MINI-CHALLENGE RETURNS! See all the details by clicking HERE.

*Eligible online donations may be received until 5:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 4; eligible cash and check donations must be received by Second Chance by 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, May 3.
**Racing for Rescues registration fees do not apply; these must be donations only.

Win a Raffle Prize!

We’re raffling off Visa gift cards, and every ticket has THREE chances to win! You can win* by purchasing your tickets HERE or at the event.

*Need not be present to win.

Race Day Information

Early Packet-Pickup

This year we’re offering TWO opportunities for early packet pick-up! Get your event t-shirt (if applicable), bib, and goody bag in advance of the event and save time at the registration tables the day of the event! You can pick up your items between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Friday, May 3 at Fleet Feet (3532 Wade Ave.), or at Second Chance (6003 Chapel Hill Rd., Ste. 125) on Saturday, May 4 between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm (bonus: visit with our adoptable kitties!).

Directions and Parking

Racing for Rescues will take place at Dorothea Dix Park, at the intersection of Umstead and Blair, in Raleigh.

Please note that while the directions below point out two convenient parking lots closest to the race plaza in particular, you are welcome to park in any parking space you find on the campus that is not reserved or accessible, and all parking is free. If you plan to leave the event before all runners and walkers have completed the courses, we advise selecting a parking space that is not on the course itself so that you can safely depart (see the course maps on this page below).

Please be aware that some roads will be closed starting at 9:45 a.m. that morning for the safety of our runners, so we highly advise parking before 9:45!

Directions from Western Boulevard:

Turn into the park on Hunt Drive.
Your first opportunity to turn is onto Umstead; turn right onto Umstead.
You will see the Racing for Rescues plaza ahead on your right.
Parking options: when traveling on Umstead, there is a small parking lot to your left just BEFORE the race plaza. You are welcome to park there, but please be aware that this parking lot will be closed from 9:45 to 11:30. If you need to leave earlier, please do not use this lot. Alternatively, continue past the race plaza, past Blair Drive, and past the buildings on both your right and left. After passing the buildings on your left, there will be an entrance on your left to a large parking lot in which you may find spaces.

Directions from Centennial Parkway:

Turn on Blair Drive heading east.
Continue to Umstead.
You will see the Racing for Rescues plaza in front of you.
Parking options: when traveling on Blair, you will pass Barbour and then find that there is a large parking lot to your left just BEFORE the buildings on your left and the race plaza ahead. You are welcome to park there. Alternatively, continue to Umstead (race plaza in front of you) and turn right onto Umstead and you will find–after passing the race plaza but before coming to Hunt–that there is a small parking lot on your right in which you might find spaces, but please be aware that this parking lot will be closed from 9:45 to 11:30. If you need to leave earlier, do not use this lot.

LAKE WHEELER between Centennial and Maywood will be closed on May 5.

Directions from Lake Wheeler Road, traveling northeast (e.g., from I-40):

Turn left on Centennial.
Turn right on Blair Drive. Continue to Umstead.
You will see the Racing for Rescues plaza in front of you.
Parking options: when traveling on Blair, you will pass Barbour and then find that there is a large parking lot to your left just BEFORE the buildings on your left and the race plaza ahead. You are welcome to park there. Alternatively, continue to Umstead (race plaza in front of you) and turn right onto Umstead and you will find–after passing the race plaza but before coming to Hunt–that there is a small parking lot on your right in which you might find spaces, but please be aware that this parking lot will be closed from 9:45 to 11:30. If you need to leave earlier, do not use this lot.

Directions from Lake Wheeler Road, traveling southwest (e.g., from Western Blvd.):

Turn into the park by making a right on Goode Street.
Make a left onto Biggs Drive, which turns into Barbour Drive.
Turn right onto Blair Drive and continue to Umstead. You will see the Racing for Rescues plaza in front of you.
Parking options: when traveling on Blair, you will find that there is a large parking lot to your left just BEFORE the buildings on your left and the race plaza ahead. You are welcome to park there. Alternatively, continue to Umstead (race plaza in front of you) and turn right onto Umstead and you will find–after passing the race plaza but before coming to Hunt–that there is a small parking lot on your right in which you might find spaces, but please be aware that this parking lot will be closed from 9:45 to 11:30. If you need to leave earlier, do not use this lot.

Course Maps

We’re using Dorothea Dix Park’s “standard 5K route” for the run with only slight modifications, so if you’ve participated in an event here before, you’re probably pretty familiar with the course. PLEASE NOTE: There are water stops on the course, but we strongly encourage participants to bring your own water bottles (and water for your dogs) so you have access to water at all times!

Click here to see the 5K run “in action” and click here to see the 1.5-mile walk.

5K Map

1.5-Mile Walk Map

Timing of the Events

9:00 – Check-in opens for all participants who registered in advance; food truck begins serving

9:00 – Check in opens for 5K runners who need to register that day

9:25 – Meet the adoptable dogs of Second Chance!

9:30 – Check in opens for walkers who need to register that day

9:45 – Roads begin closing (for your convenience, please park before this time)

10:00 – The 5K without dogs takes off

10:10 – The 5K with dogs takes off

10:15 – Join 6 Hairy Legs in an optional pre-walk warm-up for humans and dogs alike

10:45 – The 1.5-mile walk begins

11:00 – Race awards

11:30 – Fundraising awards and raffle prizes

12:00 – Event concludes

Food, Vendors, and More

Food

Food and beverages will be available for purchase from The Pyramids food truck at this event. Of course, you can also count on some complimentary items like nuts and fruit to power you up before you take off on the course!

Vendors

You can look forward to visiting dozens of vendor booths to learn more about local businesses that cater to runners, pet owners, and lots of other clientele! Check in for freebies, goods for sale, and more.

Note for Those with Dogs

Please plan to use short (4-6 feet) leashes. For safety reasons, please do NOT bring your dogs on retractable leashes. All dog owners must be able to provide proof of rabies vaccination if necessary (tag or certificate). As always, please plan to clean up after your dogs! You may also want to bring water for your dog so s/he has access to drinking and wetting paws for cooling at any time on the course (and not just at the water stops).