Santa Cruz Turkey Trot 2026
- Date
- Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Start time
- 7:45 AM start (Los Angeles)
- Location
- Santa Cruz, California
- Entry fee
- From $5
- Included with entry
- Includes socks
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids 1k | Kids | Nov 21, 20267:45 AM | $5 | – |
| 5k | 5K | Nov 21, 20268:00 AM | $55 | – |
| 10k | 10K | Nov 21, 20268:30 AM | $60 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Kids 1k: $5 until Nov 20.
- 5k: $55 until Nov 20.
- 10k: $60 until Nov 20.
Online registration closes Nov 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $60, entry is about 40 percent above a typical 10K in California, which costs $42.99 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 10K in California runs 1:05:18, about 10:31 a mile, based on 285 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:09:57 and men in 59:47.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:52 AM, and the Kids 1k starts at 7:45 AM. The start sits about 970 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
2300 Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
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 (4 years)5k
10k
Kids 1k
Aggregated from official results (Mark McConnell) for Santa Cruz Turkey Trot. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Santa Cruz Turkey Trot?
At the 2025 5k, the fastest tenth finished in 21:39 or better, the top quarter in 26:33, and half the field in 32:54; the last tenth came in after 52:40.
At the 2025 10k, the fastest tenth finished in 43:28 or better, the top quarter in 51:33, and half the field in 1:00:01; the last tenth came in after 1:19:10.
At the 2025 Kids 1k, the fastest tenth finished in 4:52 or better, the top quarter in 5:47, and half the field in 7:07; the last tenth came in after 12:34.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 23:22 | 21:48 |
| 20-29 | 23:46 | 20:44 |
| 30-39 | 28:02 | 21:38 |
| 40-49 | 27:35 | 19:58 |
| 50-59 | 26:26 | 20:04 |
| 60-69 | 32:52 | 21:20 |
| 70+ | 34:43 | 28:42 |
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 76 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
Santa Cruz Turkey Trot 5K year by year
From 2022 to 2025, the field went from 154 to 264 finishers, and the median time rose from 30:40 to 32:54.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 264 (+25%) | 32:54 | under 21:39 | 17:24 |
| 2024 | 212 (+84%) | 30:33 | under 21:02 | 15:45 |
| 2023 | 115 (-25%) | 28:15 | under 20:14 | 16:05 |
| 2022 | 154 | 30:40 | under 20:23 | 16:34 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most California 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:33, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here run 14 percent faster.
- 10K: Faster than most California 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 51:33, against 56:15 in a typical California 10K, so times here run 8 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 21 the day usually runs from 45°F at dawn to 62°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 14% of days. Cold snaps dip to 40°F and hot years reach 69°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
- 2300 Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 970 feet
- Included with entry
- Turkey Trot Socks; Socks
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 21, 2026), 2025 (Nov 22, 2025), 2024 (Nov 23, 2024), 2023 (Nov 18, 2023), 2022 (Nov 19, 2022), 2021 (Nov 20, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
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Quick answers
- When is Santa Cruz Turkey Trot?
- Saturday, November 21, 2026, starting at 7:45 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $5 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for California?
- At $60, entry is about 40 percent above a typical 10K in California, which costs $42.99 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes socks, 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, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 264 runners finished the 5k; the median finish was 32:54 and the winner ran 17:24.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:33, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here run 14 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 2300 Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
From the organizers
2025 Finisher Photos can be found here. Thanks for a great race!
Flat, fast out and back courses that begin & end at the back entrance of Natural Bridges State Park. Run through the state park and then out to West Cliff for some spectacular ocean views!
10k, 5k, and kids 1k all offered.
Signature Santa Cruz Track Club finisher socks for all 5k and 10k finishers.
Prizes for top three overall.
Race day registration is available starting at 7:00 on race day morning. Race headquarters will be at the intersection of Natural Bridges Drive and Delaware Ave.
All race bib pickup is also at 7:00am race day morning—looking forward to seeing you there!