Race for the Underdogs 5K
Lake Padden, United States • 16 Aug 2026
Race for the Underdogs - 5K
The Race for the Underdogs is the second annual 5K held at Lake Padden in Bellingham, Washington, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. 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. Donations received by the organization go directly to animals. The organization focuses on animals with medical or behavioral needs that require additional support.
The course is one counterclockwise 5K lap around the lake on grass and trails, beginning by the picnic shelter at the east entrance. The route is mainly flat and more than half of it runs through wooded areas. It includes one brief steep upgrade and three rolling hills located in the woods on the southwest side of the lake. The course follows the Primary Trail loop excluding Padden Gorge.
Access to the park is from Interstate 5 via the N. Lake Samish Exit 246 or the Samish Way Exit 252. From either exit, follow local signage to the East Lake Padden entrance and to the playground area where race activities take place. Registration closes on Saturday, August 15 at 11:59 PM PT. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.