5K-9 and Family Fun Run
De Soto, KS
- 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Following the De Soto Days festival, the annual family and fur-friendly 5K-9 & Family Fun Run is being presented by the local rescue Always & Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary. Come out to see some adorable adoptable dogs, get some fun exercise, and help make a difference in the lives of … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Aug 31):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 75 | 85 | 87 | 86 | 83 |
| L (°F) | 66 | 63 | 58 | 58 | 67 |
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Puppies are the stars, runners a treat
Typically, I hate driving further to a local race than it would take for me to run it. It helps that I am a back of the packer, so I … MORE
Typically, I hate driving further to a local race than it would take for me to run it. It helps that I am a back of the packer, so I get a good radius to choose from. Additionally, it helps that my running partner and I have started to add a 5k pre-race. Yet, this out and back course around the small pond is deserving of the drive. The picturesque trees, gentle small hills and smooth curves make this an enjoyable course for all. Additionally the path if wide enough that running traffic jams are easily avoided.
While a smaller-scale race, the amenities and support come to compete among the big boys. Runners are treated to free coffee, generously donated by the local Scooters coffee shop, donut holes, an assortment of other pre-packaged treats and bottled water. There is no worry that faster runners will finish the snacks because the snack tables were well stocked.
However, runners are second-tier at this race. The on-site raffle featured mostly pet products donated by various local business. Water stations probably cost runners a few more seconds than usual as each had different puppies available for adoption. I’m not sure what the top human runners received, but it most likely lacked the adorable-factor awarded to the top puppy runners. Human swag bags included a white tshirt, race medal (yes, it was in the swag bag) and different pet-related items. I don’t own a dog, and eventually gifted the chewable bone, poopy bags and collapsible bowl to someone at the local dog park.
For those looking for a local coffee shop or lunch spot, good luck. We ran another 5k after the race (yes, 9 miles total. Do not thank me…it was my running partner’s idea.), and were ready for lunch. The bbq place was a relatively short drive off the highway, but tasty. We were in the mood for bbq, but if I remember correctly, other options were limited. Since this race is going on the calendar for future races, I may seek out other independent shops
Second time at the new course
Call me nostalgic, but I think I'm the only person that liked the old course. That final push uphill to the end was always motivating. The new course is lovely, … MORE
Call me nostalgic, but I think I’m the only person that liked the old course. That final push uphill to the end was always motivating. The new course is lovely, and far better for the pups that are on showcase at this great little lake-front 5k for Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary. Bodies keeps the energy flowing on this circular out and back, and pups and volunteers are happy to greet you at the aid stations, which you hit on the way out around the lake and again on the way back. There is a short hill just before the finish line, so save some gas in the tank for that, but the final 40m or so is flat and gives you an easy sprint across the finish line. The medal is, shall I say, not the showcase of this event, but there are some wonderful raffle baskets available, and of course the money raised is for a good cause. Great energy at this race every year, and they were nice enough to bring free coffee for participants and volunteers, who were still adjusting from the heatwave a week earlier to the more appropriate autumn mornings of the race. It’s the going the extra mile like that which really ups the production quality of a race. Because it’s BRC, there is no time limit, so it’s a great beginner 5k opportunity.
Puppies by the lake
So many puppies! New course this year, avoiding the hill on the way back to the school that a lot of people apparently complained about this year. They also measured … MORE
So many puppies! New course this year, avoiding the hill on the way back to the school that a lot of people apparently complained about this year. They also measured better, so now we get an actual 5k. It’s an out and back on a loop shaped course, so you’re doing 90% of the way around the lake then turning around and going back the other way. Pretty flat for an “around the lake” course. Hopefully they’ll stick with this one.
Raffles and adoptable dogs are waiting at the start. I love this race. I can’t support it enough, so I hate to say this, but the medal isn’t even something that can generously be described as mid. 20 years ago it would have been fine, but times have changed. It’s one step above the medals you pull out of the bargain bin at the medal shop. Hopefully they’ll follow the lead (Ha!….look what I accidentally did there) of local races like KC Pet Project 5k and up their medal game. I could absolutely up the Swag rating to 4 or 5 there.
Great race great cause great course
So full disclosure, I'm a sucker for animal rescue races, and at this one they let me take one of the dogs with me on the race. It was hot, … MORE
So full disclosure, I’m a sucker for animal rescue races, and at this one they let me take one of the dogs with me on the race. It was hot, I had body armor on, so I was super hot, but I didn’t care because I had a very energetic dog with me.
Now warts and all, this race starts late, and I do wish it was earlier so we could beat some of the heat, so I have to deduct a shoe for that. The set-up on the course was great with mile markers clearly visible and COLD water out there frequently. Plus, there were dogs at each water station who were up for adoption. CAN you PR here? Yeah you probably can. I was so far off my PR or even my normal splits you’d think I was injured on the course, but my good boy had lots of smells to investigate and I wasn’t about to say no.
Down to the lake, around it, back to the (high school I think it was?) starting point. Nice raffles and great energy despite an oppressive muggy heat this year that really took a lot of people by surprise. I’ll be signing up for 2024 as soon as the links are updated. Hope to see you there.