Thu, Nov 26, 2026

Chester County Turkey Trot

Downingtown, PA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2015

5K2K

Entry is $35 now and rises to $38 after Oct 30, 2026, so registering before then saves $3.

About the Chester County Turkey Trot

The race starts and finishes at a high school, with the course going out into the surrounding neighborhood streets. The field is large enough that runners are split into waves based on projected pace, which keeps the faster runners from getting caught behind the crowd. Proceeds support childhood cancer research, specifically a fund honoring a former cross country teammate from the school.

Parking is off campus entirely. A nearby church across the street and a park about half a mile from the start are the main lots. The school campus itself, including the middle school and the STEM academy next door, is closed to parking and used for race staging instead.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a big field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

1,574finishers

17:38winner

31:50median

1:01:25cutoff

Top 3: Charles Irwin (17:38) · Aaron Hoffman (17:38) · Anonymous Anonymous (17:55)

The Chester County Turkey Trot has been held every year since at least 2015. 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 5K 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

5K11/26/2026 07:40$35

5K11/26/2026 08:15$35

2K11/26/2026 08:15$35

Kids’ Fun Run11/26/2026 09:00Free

Sponsors Tshirts ONLY11/26/2026 09:00Free

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.

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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Chester County Turkey Trot

Will I finish last at the Chester County Turkey Trot?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 31:50, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:01:25, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Chester County Turkey Trot a good first 5K?

With 1,574 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 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Chester County Turkey Trot?

The 5K winner ran 17:38 while the median finisher took 31:50. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.