Poultry in Motion; Waco Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K and 1K Run/Walk 2026
- Date
- Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Waco, Texas
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $40 on Oct 30, 2026
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1K Non-Timed Fun Run/Walk - includes cotton blend short sleeved shirt, guaranteed only if registered by November 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST | Kids | Nov 26, 20268:00 AM | $35$40 after Oct 30, 2026 | – |
| Kids 10 and under - untimed, does not include shirt, which is available as an extra purchase | Kids | Nov 26, 20268:00 AM | $25 | – |
| Who's Your Side Dish? Untimed option, no shirt | 5K | Nov 26, 20268:00 AM | $25$30 after Oct 30, 2026 | – |
| 5K - Timed Run/Walk - includes cotton blend short sleeved shirt, guaranteed only if registered by November 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST | 5K | Nov 26, 20268:30 AM | $45$50 after Oct 30, 2026 | – |
| Pie Eating Competition | – | Nov 26, 20269:15 AM | Free | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Kids fee goes up to $40 on Oct 30, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 1K Non-Timed Fun Run/Walk - includes cotton blend short sleeved shirt, guaranteed only if registered by November 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST: $35 until Oct 30, then $40 until Nov 26, then $45 until Nov 26.
- Kids 10 and under - untimed, does not include shirt, which is available as an extra purchase: $25 until Nov 27.
- Who's Your Side Dish? Untimed option, no shirt: $25 until Oct 30, then $30 until Nov 27.
- 5K - Timed Run/Walk - includes cotton blend short sleeved shirt, guaranteed only if registered by November 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST: $45 until Oct 30, then $50 until Nov 26, then $55 until Nov 26.
Online registration closes Nov 27, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $25, entry is about 29 percent below a typical 5K in Texas, which costs $35 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Waco runs 35:49, about 11:32 a mile, based on 17 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:30 and men in 30:21.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:05 AM, and the 1K Non-Timed Fun Run/Walk - includes cotton blend short sleeved shirt, guaranteed only if registered by November 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 460 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
101 N. University Parks, Waco, TX 76701
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2025 results
All results (3 years)Aggregated from official results for Poultry in Motion; Waco Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K and 1K Run/Walk. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Poultry in Motion; Waco Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K and 1K Run/Walk?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:37 or better, the top quarter in 28:12, and half the field in 35:16; the last tenth came in after 52:41.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 20:58 | 16:20 |
| 20-29 | 24:46 | 20:18 |
| 30-39 | 23:35 | 17:56 |
| 40-49 | 24:11 | 21:47 |
| 50-59 | 27:08 | 24:16 |
| 60-69 | 30:04 | 26:18 |
| 70+ | 51:40 | 35:57 |
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 99 percent since 2023.
All events combined, from official results.
Poultry in Motion; Waco Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K and 1K Run/Walk 5K year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 464 to 924 finishers, and the median time rose from 34:14 to 35:16.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 924 (+38%) | 35:16 | under 23:37 | 16:19 |
| 2024 | 668 (+44%) | 34:19 | under 23:37 | 15:59 |
| 2023 | 464 | 34:14 | under 24:16 | 17:24 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Texas 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:12, against 30:02 in a typical Texas 5K, so times here run 6 percent faster.
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 26 the day usually runs from 47°F at dawn to 65°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 19% of days. Cold snaps dip to 39°F and hot years reach 77°F.
Based on 75 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
- 101 N. University Parks, Waco, TX 76701Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 460 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt; Cotton Blend Short Sleeved T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 26, 2026), 2025 (Nov 27, 2025), 2024 (Nov 28, 2024), 2023 (Nov 23, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Poultry in Motion; Waco Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K and 1K Run/Walk?
- Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $40 on Oct 30, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 27, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Texas?
- At $25, entry is about 29 percent below a typical 5K in Texas, which costs $35 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, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 924 runners finished the 5K - Timed Run/Walk - includes cotton blend short sleeved shirt, guaranteed only if registered by November 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. CST; the median finish was 35:16 and the winner ran 16:19.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:12, against 30:02 in a typical Texas 5K, so times here run 6 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 101 N. University Parks, Waco, TX 76701.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on Ride with GPS; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Burn those thighs before those pies!
Join your fellow pilgrims on Thanksgiving Day morning for a one mile fun run and a 5K run/walk in downtown Waco! We have even added a last minute "Side Dish" option for your last minute, more reluctant buddy that doesn't want to pay full price (and maybe doesn't want to get off the couch??)
And the "Spirit" of the holiday season .... all that quality family time... we have everything you need with an amazing new title sponsor this year, Bosque Spirits! Check out their two locations, one on LaSalle and one on Bosque! https://wacobarsupply.com/