Sat, Sep 12, 2026

Pups & Pastries

Cary, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2016

6.5 Miles5K1 Mile

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Sep 10, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Pups & Pastries

The course runs on the cross country grounds at WakeMed Soccer Park, a mix of dirt, grass, and natural trails. Footing can change a lot depending on what the weather has been like in the days before, so trail shoes are worth considering. It is not a certified road course, and GPS watches will not give you an accurate distance read out here.

Dogs are welcome in designated distance options, one per runner, on leash the whole way. The race supports Second Chance Pet Adoptions, and a portion of the dog registration fee goes directly to that organization. Younger children are not permitted in the dog-friendly waves, though they can run in other options.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Cary on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2025 results

207finishers

20:29winner

39:27median

1:10:43cutoff

Top 3: Kyle Joy (20:29) · Tucker Trueblood (21:36) · Yuanchen Lu (23:35)

6.5 Miles · 2025 results

30finishers

48:14winner

1:08:28median

2:13:07cutoff

Top 3: Robert Harbula (48:14) · Sterling Franklin (51:29) · Vince Hua (51:31)

1 Miles · 2025 results

18finishers

7:35winner

12:04median

29:52cutoff

Top 3: C. Krimm (7:35) · Jonny Donaghey (8:55) · Jamie Donaghey (8:55)

The Pups & Pastries has been held every year since at least 2016. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

6.5 Miles9/12/2026 09:00$50

5K9/12/2026 09:00$40

1 Mile9/12/2026 09:00$30

Kids in Strollers9/12/2026 09:00$5

6.5 Miles9/12/2026 09:00$35

5K9/12/2026 09:00$35

1 Mile9/12/2026 09:00$35

Exhibitor9/12/2026 09:00$100

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Cary — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Pups & Pastries

Will I finish last at the Pups & Pastries?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 39:27, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:10:43, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Pups & Pastries a good first 5K?

A field of 207 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Pups & Pastries?

The 5K winner ran 20:29 while the median finisher took 39:27. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.