Mushing Mutts Canicross Race and Dog Friendly 5k

🐾 Mushing Mutts Canicross Race

North Carolina Urban Mushing is back for the 2nd year Hosting Mushing Mutts Canicross Race & a Dog Friendly 5k (for those with or without dogs who want to enjoy the course!).

🎉 Join Us for a Fun Day!

Whether you are joining us for fun or competing for a top spot on the podium join us on December 6th, 2025 for the best day out with your dog!

🐕 Supporting a Good Cause

• Partnership: We are excited to announce we're partnering with Saving Grace NC, a local dog rescue group.
• Donations: All donations and any profits from the race will go to support their mission!

🏅 Participation Perks

• Finisher Medal: Every participant will receive a finisher medal.
• Goodie Bag: Expect a goodie bag with items for you and your pup.
• Awards: The top 3 Male / Female / Non-binary / Junior / Masters in the Canicross Class are awarded!
• T-Shirt: Note: Due to Cost Increases, Race T-shirt is an optional add-on this year.

🏃‍♂️ What is Canicross?

Canicross is dog-powered trail running where both the human and dog runners are in harnesses connected by a bungee line.

🔗 Event Requirements

• Canicross Requirements: Non-restrictive harness for the dog, hands-free waist belt for the human, bungee line connecting dog to human.
• No Lagging: The dog should not lag behind the human runner.
• Dog Friendly 5k: This event takes the same 5k course and is open to all runners (with and without dogs).
• Leash Policy: Requirements for those with dogs: No haltis (or other head/mouth-based harnesses) while running, and no extendable leashes or leashes over 6ft.

👶 Children's Participation

Children under 15 will need to run with a registered adult. The course contains gravel, grass, dirt, roots, and hills: it is mostly double track trails, but one uphill section through the woods is single track.

📅 Race Day Schedule

All races will be timed via a provided chip device and have a rolling start based on event size. We will have groups of 3-5 runners/teams start lines in regular intervals to reduce crowding and bottlenecking on the course.

• 7:00 AM: Parking area opens
• 8:00 AM: Packet Pickup begins
• 8:45 AM: Canicross Race Briefing
• 9:00 AM: 5K Canicross Start
• 9:45 AM: Dog Friendly Run/Walk Briefing
• 10:00 AM: 5K Casual Dog Friendly Run/Walk Start

There will be one water/aid station approximately halfway into the course. We will have a professional photographer located on the course, who will have photos available for purchase after the event.

🐕 Dog Policy

Although this is a dog friendly event, we have a “NO GREET” POLICY. Dogs must be kept on a leash, and under handlers' control at all times including in the parking lot and the event area. Dogs should not interact with other dogs or humans while attending our event. Muzzles are allowed and can be worn on the course if the dog has ample room for panting. Remember, YOU are responsible for your dog's actions at all times.

🙌 Volunteers Needed!

If you can help during race day it would be much appreciated! We will need help with setup, breakdown, and during the race. If you would like to run and participate, we can accommodate you and offer our volunteers a discount on registration for participating.

🛍️ Event Area and Sponsors

Stick around for some of our vendors and dog-related sponsors! If you are a business and are interested in vending or sponsoring our event, please fill out our vendor/sponsor form and submit it no later than November 15, 2024.

We are excited to feature vendors and sponsors that support dog-related sports and activities. If you want to become a vendor or sponsor at our event, please review our sponsor packet HERE and complete the FORM. SPONSOR deadline November 15, 2025, VENDOR deadline December 1, 2025.

🌦️ Weather Contingency Plan

The race committee feels that aside from a particularly extreme weather event, the race should be able to proceed as planned. However, in the event that conditions prevent the race from proceeding as planned, the first alternative will be to delay the start of the race until the weather event has cleared the area. The second alternative option is to convert the race to virtual if there is no way to continue as planned.

🚑 Medical Response Plan

The Race Directors have considered a full spectrum of possible incidents and injuries in planning the event. The nature of dog-friendly and Canicross racing requires competitors to be cognizant of needs of themselves and their dog.

• Emergency Response: Additionally, emergency response planning is required to address potential human and canine issues.
• Cellular Devices: Competitors will be allowed to carry their own cellular devices on course to call for help if race personnel are not in sight.
• Medic on Site: We will have a medic on site for human injuries/illnesses.

⚠️ Safety Briefings

Participants will be briefed before the race starts. The race brief will include course details, known hazards, race rules, and emergency procedures. In the event of a minor injury to a human competitor, participants are to locate an aid station volunteer to seek access to first aid care. In the event of a significant injury to a human competitor, participants are to use their phone to contact 911 or contact the nearest course official or aid station volunteer. In the event of an injury to a canine competitor, we aim to have a vet tech on-site to determine appropriate next steps, otherwise local vets that are open on Saturdays are Petfolk Veterinary Urgent Care and Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital- Both in Holly Springs.

For more information and to register, visit our event page: Mushing Mutts Canicross Race & Dog Friendly 5k.