Race for the Underdogs 5K
Lake Padden, United States • 16 Aug 2026
Race for the Underdogs
Race for the Underdogs is the second annual running event held on August 16, 2026 at Lake Padden in Bellingham, Washington. The event is organized by Happy Tails Happy Homes, a nonprofit animal welfare organization that operates an at home foster program with no shelters, no offices, and no paid staff. All money donated to the organization goes directly to the animals. The group focuses on animals with medical or behavioral needs.
The event features a single 5K lap that runs counterclockwise around the lake on a mix of grass and trail surfaces. The course starts by the picnic shelter at the east entrance and follows the Primary Trail loop with the Padden Gorge section omitted. The route is mainly flat and more than half of it is wooded. There is one brief steep upgrade and three rolling hills located in the woods on the southwest side of the lake.
Advance registration is listed at $38.50. Race day registration is available on a limited basis for $50. Registration closes on Saturday, August 15 at 11:59 AM PT. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.