20TH Annual
Columbus Humane's 20th Annual Defend Your Friend 5K & Dog Festival
Columbus Humane's 20th Annual Defend Your Friend 5K & Dog Festival is a running race on September 13, 2026 in Lockbourne, OH, with an entry fee of $55.
- Date
- September 13, 2026 (52 days to go)
- Location
- 1570 Rohr Road, Lockbourne, OH
- Price
- $55
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
Join Columbus Humane's 20th Annual Defend Your Friend 5K & Dog Festival, a community event raising funds to support animals in need across Franklin County.
For 20 years, our community has come together for one incredible morning to change the lives of animals. Every step taken at Defend Your Friend helps Columbus Humane provide lifesaving care, protect animals from cruelty, keep pets with the families who love them and create a more humane community for all.
Join us on Sunday, September 13, 2026, as we celebrate this milestone anniversary at our exciting new location, Bank Run Metro Park, located just 20 minutes from downtown Columbus.
Whether you choose the timed 5K, the 1-mile walk or simply come to enjoy the festival, you'll be making a difference for thousands of animals who rely on Columbus Humane every year.
Registration includes a Defend Your Friend T-shirt and professional race timing provided by Race Penguin. Stay tuned for this year's T-shirt design. Children 5 and under do not need to register unless they would like an official race bib and T-shirt.
Schedule of Events
7:30am: Race Day Registration & Packet Pickup Begins
8:00am: Festival Opens
9:00am: 5k Run / Walk Begins
12:00pm: Event Concludes
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
81°
Typical Low
56°
Chance of Rain
22%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Columbus-Valley Crossing, 5 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Lockbourne, OH
Population
906,480
as of 2023
City Elevation
682 ft
Nearest Airport
CMH
John Glenn Columbus International Airport · 14 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A big city race. Expect multiple lodging options and plenty to do the day before.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Columbus Humane's 20th Annual Defend Your Friend 5K & Dog Festival, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
52
Days to train
- Race
- Columbus Humane's 20th Annual Defend Your Friend 5K & Dog Festival
- Date
- September 13, 2026
- Location
- 1570 Rohr Road, Lockbourne, OH
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More Running races near Lockbourne, OH
Lululemon ECDC Color Run
5K · Lululemon Athletica Distribution Center
4 miles away
Golden Harvest Half Marathon & 5k/10k - Columbus
1 Mile · 5K · 10K · Half Marathon · From $17 · Smith Farm Park
4 miles away
Movimiento con Sazón - Latinos for Health
1 Mile · 966s S High St
7 miles away
Latin Hispanic Friends Run
1 Mile · 5K · From $20 · 1570 Rohr Road
2 miles away
Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Lockbourne than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to LockbourneFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Columbus Humane's 20th Annual Defend Your Friend 5K & Dog Festival
Sep 13, 2026