Sgt. Ruff's Color Run
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Sgt. Ruff's Color Run
Sgt. Ruff's Color Run takes place on November 7, 2026 in Lenoir, North Carolina at 1050 Zacks Fork Rd. The event is organized to benefit Shepherds for Sheepdogs, a 501(c)(3) that purchases professionally trained service dogs for disabled veterans and first responders, with 100 percent of proceeds used for the dog and hero pairing.
Two race options are offered:
- 5K Big Dawg
- 1 mile Pup Run
The course uses the City of Lenoir Greenway with start and finish at the Lenoir Rotary Soccer Complex parking lot. Both events begin with a color party; the Pup Run course includes two additional color points and the Big Dawg course includes four. The course is out-and-back on a fairly narrow greenway, so avoiding color cannot be guaranteed.
All race registrants receive a white Sgt. Ruff T-shirt, a bandana, a pair of sunglasses, and an individual color bomb. All finishers receive a custom dog tag medal. A VIP Big Dawg ticket includes an additional color bomb, a sticker pack, and a special edition shirt; a family ticket is available for groups of four or more living at the same address. The event is dog friendly but requires dogs to remain leashed. Awards are given 1st through 3rd overall for men and women and for multiple age groups from 11-14 through 80 plus.
Registration details include listed entry fees, a t-shirt deadline of November 1, an online registration cutoff of November 4 with race-day re-open cash only, and a price increase on October 11. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
