2026 Turkey Trot 2026
- Date
- Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Start time
- 8:30 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Decatur, Illinois
- Entry fee
- From $25
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 Mile Tot Trot (Ages 12 and Under) | Kids | Nov 21, 20268:30 AM | $25 | – |
| 10K Run | 10K | Nov 21, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
| 5K Run/Walk | 5K | Nov 21, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Nov 21, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
| Virtual 10KVirtual | 5K | Nov 21, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
| Virtual 5KVirtual | 5K | Nov 21, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 1/2 Mile Tot Trot (Ages 12 and Under): $25 until Nov 17.
- 10K Run and 5K Run/Walk and Half Marathon: $35 until Nov 17.
Online registration closes Nov 17, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about 37 percent below a typical half marathon in Illinois, which costs $56 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in Illinois runs 2:14:47, about 10:17 a mile, based on 23 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:20:39 and men in 2:03:10.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:47 AM, and the 1/2 Mile Tot Trot (Ages 12 and Under) starts at 8:30 AM. The start sits about 620 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
2095 W Eldorado St., Decatur, IL 62522
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (3 years)5K Run
10K Run
Half Marathon
Aggregated from official results for 2026 Turkey Trot. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at 2026 Turkey Trot?
At the 2025 5K Run, the fastest tenth finished in 23:16 or better, the top quarter in 27:43, and half the field in 32:46; the last tenth came in after 49:36.
At the 2025 10K Run, the fastest tenth finished in 48:45 or better, the top quarter in 53:37, and half the field in 57:21; the last tenth came in after 1:11:16.
At the 2025 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:44:05 or better, the top quarter in 1:52:11, and half the field in 2:04:59; the last tenth came in after 2:21:17.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 21:29 | 22:04 |
| 20-29 | 31:17 | 30:10 |
| 30-39 | 28:29 | 22:10 |
| 40-49 | 27:55 | 27:59 |
| 50-59 | 32:26 | 30:50 |
| 60-69 | 33:21 | 26:12 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 86 percent since 2023.
All events combined, from official results.
2026 Turkey Trot 5K year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 132 to 187 finishers, and the median time dropped from 32:50 to 32:46.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 187 (-6%) | 32:46 | under 23:16 | 18:24 |
| 2024 | 199 (+51%) | 34:36 | under 24:39 | 17:47 |
| 2023 | 132 | 32:50 | under 24:20 | 18:36 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Illinois 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:43, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here are about average.
- 10K: About average for Illinois 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 53:37, against 53:35 in a typical Illinois 10K, so times here are about average.
- Half Marathon: About average for Illinois half marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:52:11, against 1:52:06 in a typical Illinois half marathon, so times here are about average.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around November 21 the day usually runs from 34°F at dawn to 50°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 18% of days. Cold snaps dip to 22°F and hot years reach 61°F.
Based on 85 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 2095 W Eldorado St., Decatur, IL 62522Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 620 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 21, 2026), 2025 (Nov 22, 2025), 2024 (Nov 23, 2024), 2023 (Nov 18, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is 2026 Turkey Trot?
- Saturday, November 21, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $25 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 17, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Illinois?
- At $35, entry is about 37 percent below a typical half marathon in Illinois, which costs $56 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 187 runners finished the 5K Run; the median finish was 32:46 and the winner ran 18:24.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:43, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 2095 W Eldorado St., Decatur, IL 62522.
From the organizers
52nd Annual Turkey Trot - Fairview Park Decatur, IL 9 a.m., November 21st