Turkey Day 8K, 5K Trot & 3K Fun Run 2026
- Date
- Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Start time
- 9:30 AM start (Denver)
- Location
- Missoula, Montana
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $35 on Oct 22, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a hat
- 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
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K Trot - Timed | 5K | Nov 26, 20269:30 AM | $30$35 after Oct 22, 2026 | – |
| 8K - Timed | 8K | Nov 26, 20269:32 AM | $35$40 after Oct 22, 2026 | – |
| Untimed 3K - No Bib | Other | Nov 26, 20269:32 AM | Free | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $35 on Oct 22, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 5K Trot - Timed: $30 until Oct 22, then $35 until Nov 18, then $40 until Nov 26.
- 8K - Timed: $35 until Oct 22, then $40 until Nov 18, then $45 until Nov 26.
- Untimed 3K - No Bib: Free until Nov 26.
Online registration closes Nov 26, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:53 AM, and the 5K Trot - Timed starts at 9:30 AM. The start sits about 3,240 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812
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 (Competitive Timing) for Turkey Day 8K, 5K Trot & 3K Fun Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Turkey Day 8K, 5K Trot & 3K Fun Run?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 36:52 or better, the top quarter in 43:10, and half the field in 49:40; the last tenth came in after 1:11:13.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 34:05 | 29:31 |
| 20-29 | 34:18 | 26:55 |
| 30-39 | 31:16 | 29:18 |
| 40-49 | 35:07 | 29:46 |
| 50-59 | 37:53 | 37:20 |
| 60-69 | 45:09 | 41:34 |
| 70+ | 1:03:17 | 53:16 |
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 71 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Turkey Day 8K, 5K Trot & 3K Fun Run 8K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 660 to 1,127 finishers, and the median time rose from 47:49 to 49:40.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,127 (+19%) | 49:40 | under 36:52 | 24:39 |
| 2024 | 948 (+8%) | 49:22 | under 36:49 | 24:51 |
| 2023 | 878 (+13%) | 48:55 | under 36:36 | 25:38 |
| 2022 | 776 (+18%) | 50:12 | under 35:42 | 25:07 |
| 2021 | 660 | 47:49 | under 34:30 | 25:12 |
From each year's official results for the 8K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for US 8Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 8K field finished under 43:10, against 42:05 in a typical US 8K, 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 24°F at dawn to 36°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 19% of days. Cold snaps dip to 12°F and hot years reach 46°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
- University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 3,240 feet
- Included with entry
- Custom Winter Boco Beanie
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 8K, Other
- 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 Turkey Day 8K, 5K Trot & 3K Fun Run?
- Thursday, November 26, 2026, starting at 9:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $35 on Oct 22, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 26, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a hat, 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, 8K, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 1,127 runners finished the 8K - Timed; the median finish was 49:40 and the winner ran 24:39.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 8K field finished under 43:10, against 42:05 in a typical US 8K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812.
From the organizers
Join us Thursday, November 26 for a gobblin’ good time!
The Turkey Day 8K, 5K Trot and 3K Family Fun Run courses travel the University District and along the Clark Fork River! Donations and a portion of event proceeds go to the Missoula Food Bank.
This is a family friendly and walker friendly Turkey Trot event! Strollers are allowed in the 8K & 3K, but NOT in the 5K. We ask that you start near the back of the pack and be mindful when maneuvering around other participants.