Canal Run Club hosts Pepe Canal Dash 5K at West Wetlands Park

Canal Run Club pushed its weekly meetups into a bigger civic moment at West Wetlands Park, where the Pepe Canal Dash 5K brought runners, supporters and local businesses together for the club’s first official race. The early start at 6 a.m. fit Yuma’s summer heat and turned one of the city’s signature parks into a morning gathering spot for residents looking for more than a routine workout.

The club described the event as “our first official Canal Run Club race” and called it “a fast, fun 5K built for the community.” Registration had already been officially open, and the race package went well beyond the course itself, with raffles and giveaways, a DJ, a post-race party, local vendors, free race photos and other extras that gave the day the feel of a neighborhood celebration. Professional Home Doctors and OneAZ Credit Union were listed as sponsors, adding commercial backing to a group that started as a grassroots running club.

West Wetlands Park gave the event a strong local anchor. The City of Yuma describes the 110-acre park as a public space with restored native habitat, a lake, picnic ramadas, parking, lighting, landscaping and walking paths. That mix of open space and built-out amenities made it a natural fit for a race designed to bring together serious runners and casual participants in the same place.

The turnout also reflected how quickly the Canal Run Club has built a following. In August 2025, more than 200 people showed up for one Saturday morning meetup, a sign that the club had already moved beyond a small circle of regulars. The Pepe Canal Dash built on that momentum by giving the group a signature event with sponsors, vendors and enough public energy to suggest it could become part of Yuma’s recurring weekend calendar.