Registration is set to open on Monday, October 17th with a special deal for anyone that jumps on board in the first 5 days!  Automatically get $5 OFF when you register before October 21st!

Hi Everyone!
We are so excited to have you all at our 5th Annual Fast and the Furry event.  Please encourage your friends and family to come out to the event.  Below are some important details so please read carefully:

​SCHEDULE:
Thursday, May 19th 
4:00pm - 8:00pm - Pre-race packet pickup at Mill City Running (411 E. Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55414)

Saturday, May 21st
7:00am - Participant check-in and race day registration opens
8:00am - 8K Race Start
9:15am - 8K Awards
9:30am - 5K9 Race Start
10:30am - 5K9 Race Awards and Fundraising Awards
12:00pm – Pet Expo close
 
RACE DAY REGISTRATION
We will be open for registering on race day this year if you have any last minute friends or family wanting to participate.  Cost is $40 per person with or without a dog.  Shirts are not guaranteed on race day though so have them save some time and pre-register online: 

LOCATION AND PARKING
Kelley's Landing Picnic Shelter - Harriet Island
200 Doctor Justus Ohage Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102
 
There is lots of space at the start/finish area for parking.   Do NOT park on Dr Justice Ohage Blvd.  If the lot fills up by the start/finish area, you will be directed by volunteers to an approved overflow lot along Plato.

AWARDS
We are excited to have expanded our awards this year!  Overall top 3 male and female humans in each race will receive an award.   Top large, medium and small in each race will also receive an award.   AND we have fashion judges this year for the “Best Dressed Dog” in each race.
 
FUNDRAISERS
Your fundraising incentive prizes will be determined based on your online fundraising page total at the end of day, Wednesday, May 18th.  You will pick up your prizes at the fundraising table on race morning.  Any cash/offline donations must be sent directly to the charity NO LATER than May 18th.
 
Top overall fundraisers will be determined on Friday, May 20th and will receive a confirmation email from us on Friday morning.
 
IF YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR DOG(S)
There will be water bowls available along the course and at the finish line. Your dog(s) can attend and participate as long as they are happy to be around a lot of other people and dogs, up to date on their vaccinations and leashed at all times. 
 
Everyone is responsible for picking up after their own pets.  With approximately 300 dogs in attendance, we need your cooperation on this to continue to be in good standings at Harriet Island.
 
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED
We still need a few more people to help out with jobs around the start/finish area.  If you have friends or family that would be willing to help, please have them sign up HERE.
 
Questions?  Please feel free to reply to this email or call/text 612-272-4107.
Thank you everyone and see you on the 21st!

Thanks to our sponsors from Milly City Running, we will be choosing the Best Dressed Dog in each race to receive a certificate for a 3/4 sleeve dog tee from Mill City Running

Custom race bib deadline is THIS FRIDAY:
The deadline for registering and receiving a custom race bib with your name and your dog's name is THIS FRIDAY, April 22nd.  If you have already registered, please click here to double-check your registration no later than this Friday, April 22nd and reply to this email if any changes need to be made to your information.  It's very important that all of this information is correct!

If you registered before March 30th, you chose a men's or women's size for your race shirt.   We have chosen a super fun shirt for 2016 participants but it only comes in men's (unisex) sizing.  So this won't affect the men but ladies, if you wish to adjust your size choice, you can do so my simply by May 1st

The Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge is offering our participants a rate of $109 per night. Just call and mention "Fast and the Furry" 

PET POLICY: Pets allowed based on the availability of pet friendly rooms. Up to 2 dogs per room with a 80 pound weight limit. Additional pet types (cats, birds, etc) may be accepted at the hotel’s discretion.

Overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Male and Female in each race will receive a medal and gift card for Mill City Running
 
Overall 1st Place Large, Medium and Small Dog in each race will receive an award statue and running leash from Mill City Running*
*Winning dogs must not be carried or carted in anyway and complete the race with all paws on the ground :)

Best Dressed Dog in each race will receive a 3/4 sleeve dog tee from Mill City Running

​We have reviewed the charity applications for the 2016 Fast and the Furry event and would like to congratulate Twin Cities Pet Rescue, Rescued Paws are Wonderful and Save a Bull MN on being a selected charity for fundraising!  Along with our contributing charity, People & Pets Together, Fast and the Furry provides a unique fundraising opportunity for our chosen MN-based animal charities.

Fast and the Furry encourages (not requires) all participants to fundraise for one of our annual charities.  We do so by providing incentive prizes through different contests and at different amounts of money raised.

Over $17,000 was raised in 2015 for our chosen charities.  In 2016, we will be shooting for $25,000!  All fundraising is done online and paid directly to the charity through our team pages on Razoo.com. 

CLICK HERE to read more about our charities and choose one to fundraise for!

REGISTER WITHIN THE FIRST 5 DAYS OF REGISTRATION (October 1-5) AND GET 5 DOLLARS OFF TO CELEBRATE THE KICKOFF OF OUR 5TH YEAR!

After multiple years of growing our relationship, we have named People and Pets Together as our primary charity benefiting directly from the event proceeds.  In addition, they will be providing valuable assistance to making the event a success.

We will be taking applications and choosing the additional charities to participate in our 2016 fundraising program in November 2015.  Click here to read the full details and download the application.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in last weekend's event.  We had beautiful weather and with nearly 300 dogs participating, there was also tons of fun and tons of fur!

55 participants took part in online fundraising for our chosen MN animal charities and thanks to their efforts, along with a per participant donation from the event, we were able to raise $17,386!  We can't thank all of you enough for your efforts and support of our charities and we hope you enjoy your incentive prizes!
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Click here to view the official race results by Final Timing

Check out all the fantastic images taken by our photography sponsor, Lisa of Tangerine House of Design. 
Tangerine House of Design - Fast and the Furry 2015 Photos

Click here to view ZapEvent's Photo Booth photos

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Registration for the 5th Annual Fast and the Furry will open in Fall of 2015.  Race date is set for May 21, 2016.  Hope to see you all again next year!