Welcome to Independent Animal Rescue’s

2024 Fast and Furriest 5K For the Animals!

The Fast and the Furriest is back and better than ever!

After a year’s pause, we’re thrilled to announce the return of our beloved fundraising 5k event! Get ready to lace up your sneakers and join us as we stride toward supporting our furry friends in need.

This year, we’re offering both in-person and virtual options, so whether you’re pounding the pavement with us on race day or hitting your local trails from afar, you can be a part of the action. It’s a paw-some opportunity to make a difference for animals in our community, no matter where you are!

By participating in The Fast and the Furriest, you’re not just running or walking a race — you’re helping to provide crucial support for our rescue efforts. Every step you take and every dollar you raise goes directly towards giving animals a second chance at a happy, loving life.

So mark your calendars, gather your friends (both human and furry!), and let’s make this year’s Fast and the Furriest the most unforgettable yet. Together, we can go the extra mile for animals in need!

Sign up today and join the movement for compassion and rescue. Let’s show the world that when it comes to supporting our furry companions, we’re the fastest and the furriest around!

See you at the starting line!

Race Results

Participants of all ages joined us at Gold Park for a day of running, walking, and supporting our furry friends. We’re grateful to each and every participant for their dedication and support—your involvement not only helped raise vital funds but also spread awareness about our cause in the community.

Congratulations to our top runners:

1st Place Men’s Overall: Joe Hiller
1st Place Women’s Overall: Eliana Mah of Team Funesla
2nd Place Men’s Overall: Jim Clabuesch of Carrboro Run Club
2nd Place Women’s Overall: Corrine McCarthy of Carrboro Run Club
3rd Place Men’s Overall: Yik Lam of Carrboro Run Club
3rd Place Women’s Overall: Clara Dwyer of Carrboro Run Club
1st Place Boy’s Under 18: John Middendorf and Finn Brown (tie)
1st Place Girl’s Under 18: Ella Mendlovitz

You can view all race results here.

Race to Rescue: Be a Fundraising Champion!

Join our Fundraising Campaign for The Fast and the Furriest 5k! Whether you register solo or join a team, you’ll be racing to raise vital funds for Independent Animal Rescue.

Here’s how it works:

Register: Visit the fundraising page and click “Fundraise For this Cause” to sign up as an individual fundraiser or create a team.
Set Your Goal: Choose a fundraising goal that inspires you! Whether it’s $100, $500, or beyond, every dollar raised helps make a difference for animals in need.
Spread the Word: Share your personal fundraising page with your network via email, social media, and word of mouth. Let them know why supporting IAR is important to you and how their contribution can make a difference.
Race to the Top: As you get ready for The Fast and the Furriest 5k, also race to the top of our fundraising leaderboard! Encourage your supporters to donate and cheer you on as you work towards your fundraising goal.

Ready to make a difference? Register as a fundraiser today!

The Virtual Event

What sets the Fast and Furriest Virtual 5k apart from others? You can “5k” however you want, and you can make a difference for animals in need!

Here’s how the weeklong virtual event works:

1. Register for the event as an individual or join/create a team. Stay tuned for the registration link!

2. Create a Fundraising Page for yourself or your team here. Set a fundraising goal for inspiration! No matter what your goal is, every dollar raised makes a big impact on animals in need.

3. Reach out to your family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances and let them know you are participating in the Fast and Furriest Virtual 5K. Share your Fundraising Page and ask them to sponsor you with a donation.

4. Donations made on your Fundraising Page will be added to your personal fundraising goal. All donations made will collectively go toward the overall goal of $40,000!

5. Work on and complete your 5k goal May 4-11. Here’s where you can get creative and take your 5K in whatever direction you choose! For example, you could opt for a traditional 5k goal and run or walk 5 kilometers. Or, your goal could be to do 5 handstand push-ups, read 500 pages, knit 5000 stitches–whatever clever spin you can put on the 5k challenge! And, of course, including your pet is highly encouraged!

You can post about your progress on your Fundraising Page, and don’t forget to share your success with your sponsors and with the IAR community on social media!

The In-Person Event

For the first time ever, the Fast and the Furriest 5k will culminate with an in-person event!

Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect:

The event will be held at Gold Park in Hillsborough, about 20 minutes away from the IAR office. Activities will include a timed 5k run and a 1 mile walk—plus, you won’t want to miss the vendor and sponsor booths, adoptable dogs, and the chance to connect with fellow animal lovers! Please note that while IAR will have adoptable dogs at the event, other pets are not allowed.

Take a look at the race routes here:

1 Mile Walk Route

5k Run Route

Please note: Due to the narrow nature of the race course, we have made the difficult decision not to allow dogs to join the 5k race or 1-mile walk to ensure a smooth experience for all. There is a fenced dog park on-site, so if you are bringing a friend who is not going to run the race but wants to join us onsite, the friend and the dog could hang out in the dog park and then meet up with you after you participate in your event. Thank you for your cooperation!