Paws for Life 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Start time
- 10:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Rolesville, North Carolina
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mile | 1 Mile | Oct 3, 202610:00 AM | See registration | – |
| 5k | 5K | Oct 3, 202610:00 AM | See registration | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in North Carolina runs 35:28, about 11:25 a mile, based on 761 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:55 and men in 31:23.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:09 AM, and the 1 Mile starts at 10:00 AM. The start sits about 410 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
701 Granite Falls Blvd, Rolesville, NC 27571
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (3 years)Aggregated from official results for Paws for Life. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Paws for Life?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 26:38 or better, the top quarter in 31:40, and half the field in 37:56; the last tenth came in after 57:21.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 31:20 | 24:14 |
| 20-29 | 33:58 | n/a |
| 30-39 | 34:39 | 30:57 |
| 40-49 | 34:29 | 23:31 |
| 50-59 | 35:25 | 35:37 |
| 60-69 | 53:29 | 36:59 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 75 percent since 2023.
All events combined, from official results.
Paws for Life 5K year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 56 to 98 finishers, and the median time rose from 33:47 to 37:56.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 98 (+17%) | 37:56 | under 26:38 | 20:12 |
| 2024 | 84 (+50%) | 36:36 | under 25:29 | 19:33 |
| 2023 | 56 | 33:47 | under 24:56 | 18:52 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most North Carolina 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 31:40, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, so times here run 11 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 3 the day usually runs from 60°F at dawn to 77°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 16% of days. Cold snaps dip to 50°F and hot years reach 82°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 701 Granite Falls Blvd, Rolesville, NC 27571Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 410 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 3, 2026), 2025 (Oct 4, 2025), 2024 (Oct 5, 2024), 2023 (Oct 7, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Paws for Life?
- Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- See the registration page for current pricing.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- What distances can I run?
- 1 Mile, 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 98 runners finished the 5k; the median finish was 37:56 and the winner ran 20:12.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 31:40, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, so times here run 11 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 701 Granite Falls Blvd, Rolesville, NC 27571.
From the organizers
This is one race which is happy to say "they have gone to the dogs." The featured 5K, which begins at 10 am, is followed by a 1-mile walk for participants and their dogs.
The race starts and finishes at the Sanford Creek Elementary School in Rolesville.
Profits from the event will benefit the Paws for Life Animal Rescue (formerly known as the Franklin County Humane Society) in their goal to build an animal shelter where area pets find safe refuge until they can be adopted to permanent homes.