Before you sit down to gobble up turkey with all the trimmings, lace up your shoes and get moving! These community races offer a variety of distance runs, plus walks and kids’ events to get the family outside burning off that pumpkin pie!
Pre-Thanksgiving Day Events:
Nov. 19:
1. Marine Corp Gobble Up Turkey Trot
www.marinemarathon.com/events/turkey-trot
Marine Corps Base Quantico, 3250 Catlin Ave., Quantico, VA
Runners of all ages are invited to gobble up the Turkey Trot 10K or Mile Run. The fast, 6.2-mile course unfurls amidst fall foliage alongside the creek aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. The festive finish includes a petting zoo and award presentations of frozen turkeys and pumpkin pies.
2. Cold Turkey 10K
Arundel High School, 1001 Annapolis Rd., Gambrills, MD
This race begins at Arundel High School and continues along paved roads through two neighborhoods and onto a paved trail. The course is an out and back with the finish line at Arundel Middle School, with an awards ceremony and refreshments immediately following the race in the school cafeteria.
Nov. 20:
3. 2016 Turkey Tumble for Autism 5K & 10-Miler
www.bishopsevents.com
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Path, 3700 Water St., Washington, D.C.
Get in the Thanksgiving mood with this race benefitting autism research. Walkers are also welcome to attend, and there’s even a virtual run option for those who cannot make it on race day.
4. The Columbia Turkey Chase 10K & Relay
www.columbiaturkeychase.com
8850 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD
Join fellow turkey lovers, runners and friends for an appetite-inducing morning of good-natured competition. The 5th Annual Columbia Turkey Chase is a 10K Run, 2-Person Relay and Kid’s Fun Run located in the heart of Columbia, MD.
5. Vienna Turkey Trot
www.viennaturkeytrot.org
Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Center St. South, Vienna, VA
The James Madison High School Band will be hosting the 14th Annual Vienna Turkey Trot 5K/10K and Fun Run. All proceeds benefit the JMHS “Pride of Vienna” band and the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. Enjoy the music, prizes and refreshments after the race at the Finish Line Festival.
Held Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24:
6. 15th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger
www.support.some.org
Freedom Plaza, Corner of 13th St., NW and Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
This popular 5K fun run and family walk benefits programs for the homeless, and helps So Others Might Eat serve more than 800 meals to the hungry every day of the year.
7. 34th Annual Turkey Chase
www.turkeychase.com
YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 9401 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD
Turkey Chase is the largest 10K in Montgomery County and the largest fundraiser for the YMCA and the BCC Rotary, raising over $4.7 million since the first event. All of the net proceeds benefit youth and families in Montgomery County through YMCA programs and local Rotary charities.
8. 41st Annual Alexandria Turkey Trot
www.alexandriaturkeytrot.com
Mt. Vernon and E. Spring St., Alexandria, VA
Started in 1975 with 244 runners, this popular event now has thousands of participants and offers generous cash and gift prizes to top finishers.
9. 17th Annual Turkey Chase Charity Race
www.campletts.org/discover-y/special-events/turkey-chase
YMCA Camp Letts, 4003 Camp Letts Rd., Edgewater, MD
The Turkey Chase is the camp’s largest fundraiser, and proceeds help send deserving children and young adults to overnight and day camp programs.
10. Fairfax Turkey Trot
www.runpacers.com/race/fairfax-turkey-trot
Next to Fairfax Fire Station #3, 4081 University Dr., Fairfax VA
Join Pacers Running for the most fun you can have on turkey day. Held in the heart of Old Town Fairfax, the second annual Fairfax Turkey Trot will benefit the City of Fairfax Fire Department Benevolent Fund.
11. Arlington Turkey Trot – 5K Fun Run/Walk
www.arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org
Christ Church of Arlington, 3020 North Pershing Dr., Arlington, VA
This run goes through Lyon Park and Ashton Heights and raises money for local Arlington charities, including Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, Arlington Thrive, Bridges to Independence, and Doorways for Women and Families.
12. Way Station’s Annual 5k Turkey Trot and 1k Fun Run/Walk
www.waystationinc.org/turkey-trot
William Talley Rec Center, 2nd and Bentz Streets, Frederick, MD
Way Station, Inc., an active member of the Frederick community for over 35 years, is hosting its annual 5K run and 1K fun run/walk to benefit children, adolescents and adults with serious mental illness. A commemorative gift will be given to the first 3,500 pre-registrants.
13. 28th Annual Virginia Run Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
www.varunturkeytrot.wixsite.com/2016
15355 Wetherburn Ct., Centreville, VA
The Virginia Run Turkey Trot was founded in 1989 to promote health, community spirit and raise money for a charitable cause. Since its inception, the race has donated over $1 million to Life with Cancer.
14. Ashburn Farm Thanksgiving Day 10K/5K/2K
www.ecrossroadsumc.org
Crossroads United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Dr., Ashburn, VA
In this annual fundraising event to support Africa’s Humble School, hundreds gather for a time of fun, fellowship and a good cause.
15. Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K
www.ymdturkeytrot.org/p/baltimore-city.html
Druid Hill Park, near East Dr. and Wyman Park Dr., Baltimore, MD
Adults, children and families from across the region come together to not only run (or walk, jog, stroll), but to raise funds so that children living in poverty in central Maryland have access to Y programs that will forever shape their lives.
