Thu, Nov 26, 2026

North County Turkey Trot

San Diego, CA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

5K1K10K

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Sep 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the North County Turkey Trot

This is a Thanksgiving morning race in San Diego, with distances for adults and a shorter fun run for kids. The proceeds go to a local nonprofit that funds sports scholarships for families who need them, so the cause is woven into the event rather than tacked on.

The race starts early, before most Thanksgiving tables are set. That early-morning window on a holiday gives the start area a particular energy, families and neighbors turning up while the day is still quiet.

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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

1,279finishers

17:49winner

36:31median

1:23:30cutoff

Top 3: Kenrick Gunn (17:49) · Jayden Hernandez (17:50) · Griffin Rhoades (18:31)

The North County Turkey Trot has been held every year since at least 2025. 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 07:30$40

1K11/26/2026 08:45$25

5K11/26/2026 08:45$40

10K11/26/2026 07:25$50

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

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Common Questions About the North County Turkey Trot

Will I finish last at the North County Turkey Trot?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 36:31, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:23:30, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

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

With 1,279 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 North County Turkey Trot?

The 5K winner ran 17:49 while the median finisher took 36:31. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the North County Turkey Trot?

Join a local run club. San Diego Track Club, Pacific Beach Run Club, November Project San Diego and others in San Diego welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.