Thu, Nov 26, 2026

Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot

Wilmington, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

5K1 Mile

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Sep 8, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot

The course runs along the Cape Fear River through historic downtown Wilmington, starting and finishing at a riverside pavilion. The route is flat and follows the riverfront, so the scenery does the work while you move. Costumes are common, and there is a judged costume contest for both runners and their dogs, who are welcome in the start and finish area.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at a location to be announced, with race-morning pickup available as a backup at the pavilion. Street parking downtown is free on Thanksgiving, first-come, first-served in lots and on the street.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a big field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

2,641finishers

9:02winner

33:55median

1:08:56cutoff

Top 3: Griffin Polinsky (15:34) · Lukas Malek (15:41) · Grayson Brazik (15:44)

The Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot has been held every year since at least 2021. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles11/26/2026 08:30$40

1 Mile11/26/2026 08:00$40

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot

Will I finish last at the Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 33:55, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:08:56, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot a good first 3.1 Miles?

With 2,641 finishers there are runners at every pace, so you are never out on your own. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 9:02 while the median finisher took 33:55. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.