The Run Turkey Run 5K 2026
- Date
- Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Watertown, Wisconsin
- Entry fee
- From $25 · goes up to $45 on Oct 6, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a hoodie or sweatshirt
- 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 | 5K | Nov 26, 20269:00 AM | $40$45 after Oct 6, 2026 | – |
| 1K Kid's Run | Kids | Nov 26, 202610:00 AM | $25$30 after Oct 6, 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 $45 on Oct 6, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K Run/Walk: $40 until Oct 6, then $45 until Nov 10, then $50 until Nov 24, then $55 until Nov 26.
- 1K Kid's Run: $25 until Oct 6, then $30 until Nov 10, then $35 until Nov 24, then $40 until Nov 26.
Online registration closes Nov 26, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $40, entry is about 14 percent above a typical 5K in Wisconsin, which costs $35 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Wisconsin runs 34:09, about 11:00 a mile, based on 225 races with published results. Women typically finish in 36:23 and men in 30:35.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:01 AM, and the 5K Run/Walk starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 820 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
812 Labaree Street, Watertown, WI 53098
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 (2 years)Aggregated from official results (TrackSide Timing) for The Run Turkey Run 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at The Run Turkey Run 5K?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:33 or better, the top quarter in 28:00, and half the field in 40:30; the last tenth came in after 59:19.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 22:05 | 17:14 |
| 20-29 | 24:20 | 16:54 |
| 30-39 | 24:43 | 22:37 |
| 40-49 | 21:23 | 21:21 |
| 50-59 | 28:57 | 23:26 |
| 60-69 | 35:58 | 31:17 |
| 70+ | 55:26 | 50:56 |
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
About the same size since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
The Run Turkey Run 5K 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 718 to 694 finishers, and the median time rose from 35:06 to 40:30.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 694 (-3%) | 40:30 | under 23:33 | 15:31 |
| 2024 | 718 | 35:06 | under 20:33 | 0:05 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Wisconsin 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:00, against 28:16 in a typical Wisconsin 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 25°F at dawn to 41°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 15% of days. Cold snaps dip to 14°F and hot years reach 49°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
- 812 Labaree Street, Watertown, WI 53098Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 820 feet
- Included with entry
- Sweatshirt
- 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 The Run Turkey Run 5K?
- Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $25 before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Oct 6, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 26, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Wisconsin?
- At $40, entry is about 14 percent above a typical 5K in Wisconsin, which costs $35 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a hoodie or sweatshirt, 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, 694 runners finished the 5K Run/Walk; the median finish was 40:30 and the winner ran 15:31.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:00, against 28:16 in a typical Wisconsin 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 812 Labaree Street, Watertown, WI 53098.
From the organizers
Since 2012, the Run Turkey Run 5K has brought nearly 1,000 runners, walkers, families, volunteers, and spectators together on Thanksgiving morning. What began as a local race has grown into a cherished Watertown tradition and has raised more than $235,000 for community organizations along the way.
As we prepare for the 2026 Run Turkey Run, we are excited to begin a new chapter in the race's history.
This year, the majority of the funds raised through Run Turkey Run will support the development of new lighted community pickleball courts at a local city/community park.
We believe this project is a natural extension of what Run Turkey Run has always been about: health, activity, connection, and community.