National Rescue Dog Day 5k & 10k

About the Event

The National Rescue Dog Day 5k & 10k is a community-focused evening race held at Bluemont Park in Arlington, Virginia. Scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the event celebrates the significance of rescue animals while providing an opportunity for local residents to enjoy a healthy, active outing. The course is recognized for being exceptionally flat and scenic, making it an ideal choice for participants looking to set a personal record or enjoy a relaxed stroll through the park's natural landscapes.

Category	Distance	Start Time	Location
Evening 10K	10 km	06:30 PM	Bluemont Park
Evening 5K	5 km	06:30 PM	Bluemont Park
Virtual Race	User Preference	Anytime	Remote

The event is designed to be highly inclusive, encouraging a wide variety of attendees including competitive runners, casual walkers, and families with strollers. For those who cannot attend the in-person event in Arlington, multiple virtual options are available, allowing supporters to participate from any location while still receiving commemorative items like medals or shirts.

Logistics and Participant Information:

-- Course Characteristics: The route within Bluemont Park is paved and predominantly flat, situated along a scenic corridor that is well-suited for participants of all mobility levels.
-- Virtual Participation: Several tiers are offered for remote runners, ranging from basic registration to packages that include an official finisher’s medal and event shirt.
-- Registration Deadlines: Digital registration remains open through the day of the event, though early entry ensures a spot before the final price increase on race day.
-- Event Merchandise: Shirts and medals are featured as part of the standard in-person registration and selected virtual tiers, celebrating the theme of National Rescue Dog Day.
-- Accessibility: Given the flat nature of the park paths, the event is stroller-friendly and welcomes participants who prefer walking the distance.
-- Communication: The event coordination is led by Travis Bishop, with full race details and updates available through the official event portal.

With its mid-week evening start time, this event provides a unique opportunity for the community to transition from the workday into an evening of fitness and advocacy for rescue dogs in a beautiful park setting.

Races Offered

10K

May 20, 2026

straighten

Distance — 10km

terrain

Type — Running

timer

18:30

sell

$49.64

5K

May 20, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5km

terrain

Type — Running

timer

18:30

sell

$33.63

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Arlington.

thermostat Temperature

13.3° / 23.2°

wb_sunny Feels like

11.8° / 22.2°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

9h 44m

water_drop Avg rainfall

4.5 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

9.4 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Moderate

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

High (6.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

71.5%

wb_twilight Sunrise

05:55

nightlight Sunset

20:13

About Arlington

Learn more about the host city, Arlington.

Arlington forms part of the urban conglomeration around Washington, D.C. - inside the beltway. In Northern Virginia, and directly across the Potomac River from D.C. proper, Arlington is one of America's most densely populated regions. It has a land area 26 sq mi (67 km2) and a population of 230,000. Despite its density, Arlington mixes the best of both big city and suburban environments. Like the greater Washington area, Arlington has grown over the last several decades in part due to growth of the federal government.