For the last 8 years or so, my Thanksgiving tradition has included a morning 5k. Do not be impressed, I have only been able to run the event (ok, jog slowly) the last two years. In years past I would walk with family, most often my Dad in Clearwater Florida at the annual St. Pete Times Turkey Trot.
For the last three years, I have helped plan Roanoke's Thanksgiving Day 5k, the Rescue Mission Drumstick Dash. While it is generally warmer in Fla, the Roanoke event has become a tradition I look forward to all year.
The event raises money for the Rescue Mission's kitchen which feeds over 300,000 meals annually. Yes, you read that correctly, almost 1000 meals a DAY.
And thankfully, there are similar events and organizations all over the United States on Thanksgiving morning. While not every Thanksgiving run/walk across the United States benefits the homeless, or organizations to prevent homelessness, many of them do.
Please check to see if there is a Turkey Trot or Drumstick Dash in your area, and as my local Rescue Mission says, "Move your feet so others can eat!
I would love folks to comment if I have failed to include their local event - I will update the article until we have a complete list! Blessings to you all this Thanksgiving and always. See you at the starting line.
Alabama
- Huntsville - Helpline Turkey Trot 5k
California
- Folsom Co - 5k / 10k
- Long Beach - glad to see they trot in nice weather too
- Oceanside - www.osideturkeytrot.com to benefit the "Move your Feet so others can Eat" Foundation
- Orange Co. - Turkey Trot to benefit 2nd harvest food bank
- Topanga - Xterra Thanksgiving day Trail Run
- Silicon Valley - 5k & 10K to benefit 3 local charities for health hope and home
Florida
- Clearwater/ St. Pete - Times Turkey Trot 5k / 10k / 1 mile - (and my first Trot ever! Go Clearwater)
Georgia
Kansas
- Wichita - 5k and 10K Turkey Trot
Kentucky
- Glasgow - 5 mile race
Maryland
- Edgewater - YMCA 5k and 10k
- Hagerstown - 5k and Food Drive
Michigan
- Ann Arbor - 5k at UM's campus
- Detroit - 5k / 10k and "mashed potato mile"
New York
- Buffalo - Maybe one of the oldest Trots in the Nation
- Garden City - Ffun Run and Turkey Trot
- Saratoga Springs - 5k
- Troy - Turkey Trot
Oregon
- Astoria - 5k on the Coast
Texas
Utah
- Orem - Earn your Turkey Kids Run
Virginia
- Centerville - Virginia Run Turkey Trot
- Herndon - Sat. before Thanksgiving race to benefit Link
- Roanoke - biggest race in SW Virginia, downtown Roanoke to benefit Roanoke Rescue Mission
- Virginia Beach - 5k . 10k - 32nd Annual
Wisconsin
- LA Crosse - UWLax 5k (brr)












Comments
What a great race list! Thanks for letting me know about it. I've added a link on my article to this article :) Good luck with the Drumstick Dash.
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