By Grant Clark
The number really didn’t have any meaning. It was just something the group threw out there – almost in jest.
It was a couple years ago that Candy Oliver and her fellow Run Like a Dog event volunteers were discussing what the cutoff number of participants should be for the fund-raising fun run.
“We came up with 450 runners,” Oliver said. “I’m not sure how we even decided on that exact number, but that is where we placed the maximum at. We didn’t think it was even possible to come close to reaching that at the time.”
That ceiling, originally viewed as being out of reach, is likely to be reached during this year’s edition of the canine 5K.
The 10th annual Run Like a Dog Fun Run will take place Saturday, August 22, beginning at South Bay Veterinary Hospital – the event’s title sponsor. The event includes a 5K race and 5K fun run/walk with your dog.
A total of 430 participants of the two-legged variety – a record for the event – were registered last year.
According to Oliver, this year’s figures are slightly ahead of the 2014 numbers, meaning for the first time in the race’s history the number Oliver and company randomly selected as the limit may be reached.
“It is incredible how much this event has grown over the years,” said Oliver, who serves as the event’s organizer this year after volunteering the previous four races. “We set a goal a while ago thinking it wasn’t obtainable, but we should be close to it this year. It’s just a really fun, family event that serves a great cause.”
The race, set to begin at 9:00 a.m. at South Bay Veterinary Hospital, benefits the Thurston County Humane Society. Last year’s race raised nearly $8,000 – also an event record.
The donations help assist the Thurston County Humane Society with spay and neuter costs at a licensed Thurston County veterinarian in an effort to help reduce pet over-population in the area. Donations also help provide educational materials, promote awareness programs and contribute to animal welfare and animal service programs.
“Even if you’re not an avid runner,” Oliver said, “you can always make a donation or volunteer to help. We have a lot of different groups involved – 4H clubs, Boy Scouts, rotary clubs. We have a lot of people just asking, ‘How can I help?’”
With high temperatures the norm this summer and late August noted for its typical heat, the event boasts the inclusion of kiddie pools. Not something you see at every fun run. Prior to the start of the race, which includes sections on the Chehalis Western Trail, event volunteers place pools along the course and fill them with water. These provide a makeshift cool-down method for the fun-running pets.
“We weren’t sure how popular they would be at first,” Oliver said about the pools, “but the dogs seem to love it. They sprint right into them. Their (final running) time is little slower, but the dogs are happy.”
Registration, including group registration of 10 or more runners, can be made online at runlikeadog.com. Contact information about volunteering for the event can also be found on the event’s site.
“We see a lot of people come back the following year after running in it for the first time,” Oliver said.
“It doesn’t really matter how fast you are. We have an owner run it in every year with her two basset hounds. If you know anything about that type of dog breed, you know they are not really interested in running, but they always finish. Usually the owner is carrying one of them across the finish line, but they finish. We have runners of all shapes and sizes. We have dogs of all shapes and sizes. Everyone is just out there supporting each other.”
Registration packets can be picked up on Aug. 21 between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at South Bay Veterinary Hospital located at 3600 South Bay Rd NE in Olympia. The 9:00 a.m. race will be followed by an awards ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
In addition to South Bay Veterinary Hospital, the event is also sponsored by South Sound Running, Take Aim, Grateful Dog Grooming, Biobag, Elanco Animal Health, Comstock Physical Therapy, Johnson-Carr Insurance Agency, Marchetti Wines, Wanda Buckner of Healing Energy Services, Phillips Pet Food and Supplies, NW Remedies, Minuteman Press and the Oly Rollers.
