Thanksgiving is the biggest race day of the year in the US. RunSignup counted 1,330,726 people registered for 1,056 Thanksgiving races on its platform in 2025, up 20% on 2024. Lots of them were first-timers, families and walkers. If you signed up (or are about to), this guide tells you how far you are going and how to get ready in the time left.
How long is a turkey trot?
| Distance | Also known as | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5K | 3.1 miles | The classic. RunSignup says 91% of turkey trots on its platform offer a 5K. |
| 1 mile | 1.6 km | Fun runs and kids’ races, often next to the main event. |
| 8K | 5 miles | Buffalo’s turkey trot, the oldest, is about 8K. |
| 10K | 6.2 miles | Offered at some bigger trots for regular runners. |
The YMCA Buffalo Niagara Turkey Trot started in 1896 and calls itself the oldest continually running public footrace in North America. Yours is probably much smaller and much more relaxed. Costumes, strollers and walking are normal.
Who this plan is for
This plan is for you if you can walk briskly for 30 minutes but do not run much yet. It has three short sessions a week and uses run-walk, where you switch between easy running and walking. Run at a pace where you could still talk in short sentences. Walk breaks are not cheating; plenty of experienced runners use them in races.
Starting today (late October)? Use this week to walk 20–30 minutes on three days. Then begin Week 1 on Monday 2 November. If you have a health condition or have not exercised in a long time, check with your doctor first.
The 4-week turkey trot plan
Do the three sessions on non-back-to-back days, for example Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Every session starts with 5 minutes of brisk walking.
| Week | Day A | Day B | Day C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (2–8 Nov) | Walk 5 min, then run 1 min / walk 2 min × 7 | Same as day A | Run 1 min / walk 2 min × 9 (about 30 min) |
| Week 2 (9–15 Nov) | Walk 5 min, then run 2 min / walk 2 min × 6 | Run 2 min / walk 1 min × 7 | Run 2 min / walk 1 min × 9 (about 30 min) |
| Week 3 (16–22 Nov) | Walk 5 min, then run 4 min / walk 1 min × 5 | Run 5 min / walk 1 min × 4 | Cover 2.5 miles (4 km) at run 4 / walk 1 |
| Race week (23–26 Nov) | Mon: run 3 min / walk 1 min × 5, very easy | Tue: 20 min walk, or rest | Thu 26 Nov: turkey trot! Run 4 / walk 1, or however feels good |
A few simple rules:
- Repeat a week if it felt too hard. Finishing comfortably on Thursday matters more than finishing the plan on schedule. You can always walk more on race day.
- Missed a session? Just do the next one. Do not squeeze two into one day.
- Want different intervals? Our run-walk interval calculator builds a split that fits your pace.
- Treadmill is fine. If it is dark or icy, a treadmill session counts the same.
Watch your plan grow
Run&Grow is a free iPhone run tracker. Every training run grows a plant in your garden, so 12 sessions leave you with a dozen new plants by Thanksgiving.
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How long will it take me?
Here is roughly how long 5K (3.1 miles) takes at different average paces:
| Average pace | 5K finish time |
|---|---|
| 10:00 per mile (6:13 per km) | about 31 minutes |
| 12:00 per mile (7:27 per km) | about 37 minutes |
| 15:00 per mile (9:19 per km) | about 47 minutes |
| 20:00 per mile (12:26 per km), brisk walk | about 1 hour 2 minutes |
A run-walk beginner often lands somewhere between 35 and 50 minutes. To guess yours from a recent run, try our race time predictor. Curious how you compare? See the average 5K time by age.
Already a runner? Aim for a turkey trot PR
If you already run 5K comfortably, use the four weeks to get faster. Keep your usual easy runs and add one quality session a week: 5 × 3 minutes at your goal 5K pace with 2 minutes of easy jogging between. In race week, cut your running by about half and keep a few short, quick strides. Plan your splits with the pace calculator, and do not start too fast in the crowd.
Race-day tips for Thanksgiving morning
Arrive early
Big trots fill the roads and car parks. Aim to be there 45–60 minutes before the start, and pick up your bib the day before if you can.
Dress for mile two
Late November mornings are cold in much of the US. Dress as if it is 10–15°F (about 6–8°C) warmer than it is, and use a throwaway layer at the start.
Keep breakfast normal
Eat what you usually eat before a run, two to three hours before the start. Race day is not the day to try something new. The big meal can wait until after.
Start at the back
Walkers and run-walkers should line up near the back. You will not get swept along too fast, and passing people in the last mile feels great.
For more on the morning itself, read our first 5K race tips and race-day morning routine. If it is properly cold where you live, our cold-weather running gear guide helps.
Not in the US? The same plan works for any 5K
- UK and Australia: There is no Thanksgiving, but there is parkrun: a free, timed 5K every Saturday morning. Finish this plan on Saturday 28 November instead. Our parkrun beginners’ guide explains how it works.
- Australia: Late November is warm spring, so run early in the day and carry water on longer sessions.
- Canada: Thanksgiving was Monday 12 October 2026, so use the plan for a December or New Year’s 5K.
Keep going after Thanksgiving
The hardest part of a turkey trot is not the race. It is what happens in December, when the race is done and it is cold and busy. That is where Run&Grow helps. Every run grows a plant in your garden, so you can see your effort pile up. Skip a week? Your garden waits. It reads runs from Apple Health, so runs from your Apple Watch or another app count too. No public feed, no pace shaming.
For more ways to stay motivated, see how to stay consistent with running.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is a turkey trot?
- Most turkey trots are 5K, which is 3.1 miles. RunSignup reported that 91% of the Thanksgiving races on its platform in 2025 offered a 5K. Many also have a 1-mile fun run, and some offer 4 miles, 5 miles (8K) or 10K (6.2 miles).
- Can I train for a turkey trot in 4 weeks?
- Yes, if you can already walk for 30 minutes without trouble. Four weeks of run-walk sessions, three times a week, is enough to finish a 5K comfortably. Most turkey trots welcome walkers, so you do not have to run the whole way.
- Can you walk a turkey trot?
- Yes. Turkey trots are some of the most walker-friendly races of the year, with families, strollers and costumes. At a brisk walk of about 20 minutes per mile, a 5K takes around an hour. Check your race page for a time limit or stroller rules.
- When is the turkey trot in 2026?
- Most turkey trots are on Thanksgiving morning, which is Thursday 26 November 2026 in the US. A few run on the weekend before or after. Canada’s Thanksgiving was Monday 12 October 2026, so Canadian trots have already happened.
- What is the oldest turkey trot?
- The YMCA Buffalo Niagara Turkey Trot in Buffalo, New York, first run in 1896. It is about 8K (roughly 5 miles) and calls itself the oldest continually running public footrace in North America. Its field is capped at about 14,000 runners.
Keep running, keep growing
Run&Grow turns every run into a plant, so you can see your consistency grow. Free on iPhone, and it reads your runs from Apple Health.
Get the free appFree on iPhone · Also on Android