Running With the Dawgs 5K
[Click Here for Race Results]

From the beginning of the We Let The Dawgs Out project, we knew we wanted to do a 5K road race with them. In Spain you run with the bulls, and in Athens you run with the dawgs.

The Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club focuses on improving the lives of children in our community. We wanted to impact young girls and help give them a strong foundation in their lives. This is done best by the Girl Scouts—they are helping girls grow strong and impact over 5,000 girls in the Northeast Georgia Council. All proceeds from the Running With the Dawgs 5K went go to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia.

The official start of the first annual Running With the Dawgs 5K.

The first annual Running With the Dawgs 5K (a Run and See Georgia road race) was held Monday, May 31, 2004. After months of planning and preparing the day finally came and the weather could not have been worse. We had a tornado watch, a severe thunderstorm warning and torrential rain. All that was missing was snow and ice! Since we were beginning the race at the Classic Center, we were able to move registration and the much sought after Jittery Joe’s coffee into the Theater lobby. The bad weather did not deter any runners or walkers. We were amazed that almost everyone who pre-registered came, and we had over 100 walk up register! We had a total of 335 entrants into the race. Everyone received a race bag filled with items from the sponsors and a process color T-shirt featuring all the bulldawgs on the course.

Club member Ruth Schriefer and Race Director Will Chamberlin welcome everyone to the race.

At 8:30 am , in the pouring down rain, the runners lined up at the starting line. Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club member Ruth Schriefer, welcomed and Race Director, Will Chamberlin, gave the rules and the race began. As the runners ran through the streets of downtown Athens they were greeted by happy club members and Girl Scouts Troops on the corner cheering them on and directing them the correct direction to turn at corners. The finish line was behind the Classic Center at the Foundry Street Warehouses. We had planned to have the food and awards on the plaza, but the weather forced us indoors. We held these in the beautifully resorted Foundry Street Warehouses. The runners devoured the bountiful spread of bananas, bagels and oranges. Thank you to Propel, Smoothie King and Jittery Joe’s coffee for after race drinks. After everyone had completed the race, awards were presented. The first place finishers in Male, Female and Masters received a brass bulldawg trophy. The first, second and third place finishers in each age category received pottery from Short Dog Pottery and R. Wood Studios. Everyone who enter into the race was eligible for the grand prize drawing—a 17” painted bulldawg “Run and See Georgia” by artist Brent Chitwood.

Jarryd Wallace, the lucky winner of "Run and See Georgia" bulldawg by artist Brent Chitwood.

With the support of the members of the Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club, Girl Scout Brownie Troop #2046 and Brownie Troop #2170, the runners and the following sponsors we raised $5,100 for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia. Thank you to Athens Parent Magazine, Bariatric Weight Loss, Chick-Fil-A Georgia Square Mall, Crown Transfer and Storage, The Classic Center, CowPainters, Forum Antiques, Foundry Park Inn, Donald W. Hansford, Attorney at Law, Clementi Holder, Jackson EMC, Jittery Joe’s, Johnson Insurance Services, Loco’s Deli and Pub, Lowe’s, Neese Grocery, Graphic Content Screeneprinitng, Jingles, Newman and Nail, DMD, Silver and Archibald, LLP, Smoothie King, UGA Alumni Association, Wheels and Waves and John Wolfe for making the race a success.

 

Previous Events

• Bulldawg Beach Party and Auction - October 24, 2003
• Adoption Party - February 21, 2003
• Unleashing Party - April 29, 2003