There’s no better way to make a little extra room for that second piece of pie than with a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning. To find one in your neck of the woods, check out the list below of races taking place on November 23.
Turkey Trots in DC
So Others May Eat (SOME) Trot for Hunger 5K
Starting line: Freedom Plaza (corner of 13th Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW); 9 AM.
Registration: $45 on SOME’s website
The SOME’s 16th annual turkey trot draws as many as 10,000 from the region to run the 5K, which benefits the organization’s goals of preventing poverty, hunger and homelessness.
Turkey Trots in Maryland
Turkey Chase Charity Run 10K
Starting line: 9401 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda; 8:30 AM.
Registration: $46 on Turkey Chase’s website
The 35th annual Turkey Chase race supports the YMCA’s Youth and Family Services, YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club Foundation, and helps provide kids and families in needs with access to their programs.
Project ECHO’s Thanksgiving Day 5K
Starting line: 355 West Dares Beach Rd., Prince Frederick; 7 AM
Registration: $30 (increases to $35 after November 18) on Project Echo’s website
This 5K is hosted by Project ECHO, a non-profit which provides emergency shelter and transitional housing to those who are homeless.
Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS) Turkey Trot 5K
Starting line: Alice B. McCullough Field (Montgomery St. & 8th St., Laurel); 8 AM
Registration: $40 on Athlink’s website
The 13th annual LARS turkey trot raises money for the non-profit, which assists low-income families seeking financial stability.
Fleet Feet Sports Turkey Trot 5K
Starting line: 318 6th St., Annapolis; 9 AM
Registration: $35 with t-shirt, $20 without t-shirt on Fleet Feet Annapolis’ website
The running store’s 11th annual Thanksgiving run through downtown Annapolis benefits Girls on the Run Greater Chesapeake and the Travis Manion Foundation.
Arnold Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K
Starting line: West Campus Drive entrance to Anne Arundel Community College; 8:30 AM
Registration: $35 (includes complimentary Y membership) on the Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K website
Arnold’s 4th annual turkey trot supports The Y in Central Maryland, a non-profit which provides programming for kids.
Eastern Shore Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K
Starting line: Choose one of the six Eastern Shore locations (Queenstown, Ridgely, Easton, Salisbury, Pocomoke City, and Chincoteague); 8:30 AM
Registration: $35 (includes complimentary Y membership) on the Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K website
The six turkey trot installments across the Eastern Shore give Marylanders plenty of opportunities to run and support the YMCA of the Chesapeake.
Turkey Trots in Virginia
Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler
Starting line: 1005 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria; 9 AM
Registration: $20 on Alexandria Turkey Trot’s website
This turkey trot comes with small cash prizes. It also comes with the opportunity to support ALIVE’s efforts to feed the less fortunate by brining non-perishable food donations on race day.
Arlington Turkey Trot 5K
Starting line: 3020 N. Pershing Dr., Arlington; 8 AM
Registration: $45 on Arlington Turkey Trot’s website
Now in its 11th year, this 5K supports the Arlington Food Assistance Center, the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, Arlington Thrive, Bridges to Independence, Offender Aid and Restoration, and Young Life South Arlington.
Fairfax Turkey Trot 4 Miler
Starting line: 9330 Pentland Pl., Fairfax; 9 AM
Registration: $30 through November 22 ($35 on race day) on Fairfax Turkey Trot’s website
This four-mile family-friendly run has donated to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Britepaths, Alternative House in Fairfax, Warrior Canine Connection, and the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia.
Giving Thanks 5K
Starting line: 131 Church St., NE, Vienna; 8:10 AM
Registration: $40 on Active’s website
This 5K is in honor of those who have served for their country, and it benefits both the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and the Fisher House Foundation.
Ashburn Farm Thanksgiving Day 10K/5K/2K
Starting line: 43454 Crossroads Dr., Ashburn; 8:15 AM for 10K start; 8:25 AM for 5K start
Registration: $30 for 5K and 10K (through November 19, then it bumps up to $35) on PR Races’ website
The 24th annual Ashburn turkey trot will donate proceeds to Ugandan children who live in poverty as a part of a mission supported by Crossroads UMC.
Turkey Trot for Parkinson’s 5K
Starting line: 8501 Silverbrook Rd., Lorton; 9 AM
Registration: $35 on Turkey Trot for Parkinson’s website
Since its start in 2015, this Lorton race has supported Parkinson’s research. This year’s proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
