Shirt and medal
2026 Gobbler Finisher's Medal
This is a mock up of the 2026 Gobbler Finisher's Medal. All finishers of all 3 races receive a medal.
The Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K & 5K 2026
- Date
- Sunday, November 22, 2026
- Start time
- 6:30 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $65 on Nov 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Register on RunSignup
Registration is open.
Likely to sell out. 176 finished the 5K in 2025, and this year's cap is 183.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race Volunteer | – | Nov 22, 20266:30 AM | Free | – |
| 10K Run/Walk | 10K | Nov 22, 20268:30 AM | $57$65 after Nov 1, 2026 | 225 |
| Half Marathon Run | Half Marathon | Nov 22, 20268:30 AM | $75$85 after Oct 1, 2026 | 318 |
| 5K Run/Walk | 5K | Nov 22, 20268:40 AM | $43$49 after Nov 1, 2026 | 183 |
| Virtual Runner/WalkerVirtual | – | Nov 22, 2026 | $50 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Register on RunSignup
The 10K fee goes up to $65 on Nov 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Race Volunteer: Free until Nov 21.
- 10K Run/Walk: $57 until Oct 31, then $65 until Nov 22.
- Half Marathon Run: $75 until Sep 30, then $85 until Oct 31, then $93 until Nov 22.
- 5K Run/Walk: $43 until Oct 31, then $49 until Nov 22.
Online registration closes Nov 22, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $75, entry is about 15 percent above a typical half marathon in Kentucky, which costs $65 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in Lexington runs 2:11:51, about 10:03 a mile, based on 3 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:18:22 and men in 1:59:56.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:25 AM, and the Race Volunteer starts at 6:30 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
Mereworth Farm, Lexington, KY 40511
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Half Marathon Run
290
finishers
2:06:36
median (9:39 /mi)
1:11:07
winning time
53% / 47%
women / men
10K Run/Walk
203
finishers
1:02:42
median (10:07 /mi)
40:25
winning time
64% / 36%
women / men
5K Run/Walk
176
finishers
37:49
median (12:12 /mi)
20:25
winning time
59% / 41%
women / men
Aggregated from official results for The Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at The Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K & 5K?
At the 2025 Half Marathon Run, the fastest tenth finished in 1:41:29 or better, the top quarter in 1:51:21, and half the field in 2:06:36; the last tenth came in after 2:38:35.
At the 2025 10K Run/Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 48:15 or better, the top quarter in 55:41, and half the field in 1:02:42; the last tenth came in after 1:20:16.
At the 2025 5K Run/Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 25:49 or better, the top quarter in 30:32, and half the field in 37:49; the last tenth came in after 54:27.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 2:15:12 | n/a |
| 20-29 | 1:44:32 | 1:33:21 |
| 30-39 | 1:38:39 | 1:36:35 |
| 40-49 | 1:43:08 | 1:32:11 |
| 50-59 | 1:57:01 | 1:39:34 |
| 60-69 | 2:27:40 | n/a |
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 50 percent since 2021.
447
2021
350
2022
489
2023
531
2024
669
2025
All events combined, from official results.
The Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Half Marathon year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 159 to 290 finishers, and the median time rose from 2:01:34 to 2:06:36.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 290 (+34%) | 2:06:36 | under 1:41:29 | 1:11:07 |
| 2024 | 217 (+15%) | 2:02:34 | under 1:38:43 | 1:17:41 |
| 2023 | 189 (+20%) | 2:04:42 | under 1:39:48 | 1:18:10 |
| 2022 | 158 (-1%) | 2:07:17 | under 1:41:50 | 1:14:16 |
| 2021 | 159 | 2:01:34 | under 1:37:02 | 1:11:28 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Kentucky half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:51:21, against 1:57:44 in a typical Kentucky half marathon, so times here run 5 percent faster.
- 10K: About average for Kentucky 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 10K field finished under 55:41, against 55:23 in a typical Kentucky 10K, so times here are about average.
- 5K: Slower than most Kentucky 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:32, against 29:01 in a typical Kentucky 5K, so times here run 5 percent slower.
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 22 the day usually runs from 36°F at dawn to 52°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 23% of days. Cold snaps dip to 24°F and hot years reach 62°F.
Based on 80 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
From the race's page
What the organizers of The Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K & 5K cover on their registration page, in brief.
Shirt and medal
Gobbler Mesh Tech Shirts (Long Sleeved)
Shirts are from Greenlayer Sports, are long sleeved (performance/tech) and come in sizes Women's XS-2XL and Men's S-3XL while supplies last. The mockup below is of our 2025 race shirt. We'll reveal our 2026 race shirt soon.
Race details
- Where
- Mereworth Farm, Lexington, KY 40511Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 970 feet
- Included with entry
- Dry Fit Men's/Women's Cut Performance T-Shirt; Dry Fit Performance Men's/Women's Cut T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 22, 2026), 2025 (Nov 23, 2025), 2024 (Nov 24, 2024), 2023 (Nov 19, 2023), 2022 (Nov 20, 2022), 2021 (Nov 21, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is The Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K & 5K?
- Sunday, November 22, 2026, starting at 6:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $65 on Nov 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 22, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Kentucky?
- At $75, entry is about 15 percent above a typical half marathon in Kentucky, which costs $65 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.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 290 runners finished the Half Marathon Run; the median finish was 2:06:36 and the winner ran 1:11:07.
- Does it sell out?
- It can. 176 runners finished the 5K in 2025, close to this year's cap of 183, so register early.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:51:21, against 1:57:44 in a typical Kentucky half marathon, so times here run 5 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Mereworth Farm, Lexington, KY 40511.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on Plotaroute; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
THANKSGIVING WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!
Join us for the 11th Annual Gobbler Half Marathon, 10K & 5K on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 8:30am at Mereworth Farm in West Lexington. Earn your Thanksgiving feast the following Thursday with a scenic Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K through beautiful bluegrass horse country.
RACE FEATURES:
Scenic country course through horse country
Start/Finish on Mereworth Farm (Home of New Vocations Racehorse Adoption)
Finisher's medals for all 3 races
Commemorative long sleeved performance race shirts
DJ James Hummel/Freestyle Entertainment
Free Race Photos (Ruby Cline-Eaton and JA Laub Photography)
A distance for everyone --- Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Virtual Option
Overall & Age Group Awards for all 3 races (5-year age divisions)