PAWS Cedar Dog Jog will feature new downtown route for 5K run/walk

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

A couple passes over an iconic suspension bridge, then strolls through Central Park.

You can’t beat that for a scenic saunter through Charles City, no matter if you’ve got two legs or four.

The Eighth Annual PAWS Cedar Dog Jog 5K fundraiser kicks off an exciting weekend on Saturday, June 22.

Julie Taylor, PAWS Humane Society director, said the event has had some substantial path modifications this year.

Runners, joggers or walkers will veer toward downtown Charles City after coming off the suspension bridge and walk/run through Central Park. In prior seasons, the Dog Jog started at the Labyrinth and bypassed downtown.

“This year it’s starting at the end of Leland Avenue. It’s right in that area where there’s that concrete slide and there’s a small shelter with picnic tables,” said Taylor.

The event gets underway at 8:30 a.m. and encompass a trip along the scenic Cedar River, hooks up with Riverside Drive and then goes all the way to the suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge the run/walk will loop around Park Drive and Chautauqua Avenue, then back across the suspension bridge suspension bridge and off onto Joslin Street, which will run into N. Illinois Street.

The path will then roll into Blunt Street, which will lead joggers into the heart of Central Park, where the local farmer’s market will be going on. Once past Central Park, the route takes runners and dogs onto Main Street, back across the river, over the pedestrian bridge then back to the initial starting point.

“There’s still a lot of along-the-river time,” said Taylor. “We kind of thought having the route go a little bit more through town … would showcase the community a little bit more.”

Taylor said there will be three water stops located along the run/walk.

Dog Jog entrants can also partake in a shorter one-mile fun run/walk. There will be microchipping offered for a fee for any puppy or dog from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

The pre-registration deadline is Thursday, June 13. Taylor said anyone can register after that deadline and the morning of the dog jog as well. Pre-registered pets each receive a race bandana. Walkers/runners will receive a race T-shirt and water bottle.

Taylor has also sent out registration forms to people who have adopted canines from PAWS in the last three years in hopes that they continue to attend the Dog Jog or register for the first time.

“That’s kind of fun. It’s kind of a reunion,” she added.

The dog jog and PAWS Rummage sale are two of the animal shelter’s main fundraising events. Taylor said last Saturday’s rummage sale brought in close to $3,000.

“We had a really good turnout,” she said.

Dog Jog registration forms are available to print on the PAWS Facebook page and at www.pawscharlescity.com. You can also register online by scanning the PAWS QR code or by visiting register.chronotrack.com/r/49537. If anyone has any questions they can email pawscharlescity@gmail.com or call or text 641-228-0441.