Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run 2026
- Date
- Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Start time
- 8:30 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Boiling Springs, North Carolina
- Entry fee
- From $25 · goes up to $40 on Nov 26, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K Run/Walk Participant | 5K | Nov 26, 20268:30 AM | $35$40 after Nov 26, 2026 | – |
| Kids 1/2 Mile Fun Run | Kids | Nov 26, 20269:20 AM | $25$30 after Nov 26, 2026 | – |
| Phantom RunnerVirtual | – | Nov 26, 20267:30 AM | $30$35 after Nov 25, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $40 on Nov 26, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K Run/Walk Participant: $35 until Nov 25, then $40 until Nov 26.
- Kids 1/2 Mile Fun Run: $25 until Nov 25, then $30 until Nov 26.
Online registration closes Nov 26, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in North Carolina, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in North Carolina runs 35:28, about 11:25 a mile, based on 761 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:55 and men in 31:23.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:12 AM, and the 5K Run/Walk Participant starts at 8:30 AM. The start sits about 840 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
110 South Main Street, Boiling Springs, NC 28017
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 (5 years)Aggregated from official results (GO Race Productions) for Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 24:19 or better, the top quarter in 28:57, and half the field in 37:43; the last tenth came in after 56:05.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 24:53 | 19:00 |
| 20-29 | 21:48 | 20:49 |
| 30-39 | 22:22 | 21:07 |
| 40-49 | 24:14 | 21:47 |
| 50-59 | 28:07 | 23:14 |
| 60-69 | 35:47 | 25:46 |
| 70+ | n/a | 43:13 |
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 41 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 567 to 797 finishers, and the median time rose from 35:04 to 37:43.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 797 (+26%) | 37:43 | under 24:19 | 16:35 |
| 2024 | 631 (+16%) | 37:46 | under 24:45 | 16:39 |
| 2023 | 545 (+3%) | 36:06 | under 23:43 | 15:27 |
| 2022 | 531 (-6%) | 35:42 | under 23:54 | 15:35 |
| 2021 | 567 | 35:04 | under 23:23 | 15:35 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for North Carolina 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:57, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, 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 26 the day usually runs from 37°F at dawn to 58°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 19% of days. Cold snaps dip to 28°F and hot years reach 70°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
- 110 South Main Street, Boiling Springs, NC 28017Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 840 feet
- Included with entry
- 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), 2022 (Nov 24, 2022), 2021 (Nov 25, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Ruby C. Hunt YMCA Turkey Trot 5K and Fun Run?
- Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $25 before processing fees, and rises to $40 on Nov 26, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 26, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for North Carolina?
- At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in North Carolina, which costs $30 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, 797 runners finished the 5K Run/Walk Participant; the median finish was 37:43 and the winner ran 16:35.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:57, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 110 South Main Street, Boiling Springs, NC 28017.
From the organizers
The Turkey Trot 5K is a family-favorite tradition that takes place on Thanksgiving morning before all of the festivities begin for the day. Be sure to bring your friends and family so that you can wobble before you gobble!
The 5K begins at the LYCC of Gardner-Webb University and the race route goes throughout the beautiful town of Boiling Springs. Running a race that matters this holiday season is what the Turkey Trot is all about; all proceeds from the race go to the YMCA's We Build People Scholarship Fund so that we can provide financial assistance to those in need so that they can have access to the YMCA. We can't wait to see you there!