Thu, Nov 26, 2026

Joplin Turkey Trot

Joplin, MO

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

1 Mile5K

Entry is $20 now and rises to $25 after Aug 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Joplin Turkey Trot

The course starts and finishes outside the Schroeder Family Exploreum in downtown Joplin, with the surrounding streets closed to traffic. It is a certified course on city streets, flat through the heart of downtown, and runs on Thanksgiving morning when the city is quiet and the air tends to be cold. Chip timing keeps things honest.

Donuts and coffee are at the finish, which makes the post-race gathering worth sticking around for. The start and finish area has an announcer and music, so there is some energy at the line even early on a holiday morning.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

1,299finishers

15:14winner

34:52median

1:22:58cutoff

Top 3: Ryan Riddle (15:14) · Issac Willoughby (16:31) · WILL TWISS (17:08)

The Joplin 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 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

1 Mile11/26/2026 07:30$20

5K11/26/2026 08:00$35

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 Joplin Turkey Trot

Will I finish last at the Joplin Turkey Trot?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:52, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:22:58, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Joplin Turkey Trot a good first 5K?

With 1,299 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 Joplin Turkey Trot?

The 5K winner ran 15:14 while the median finisher took 34:52. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.