Thu, Nov 26, 2026

The Original Columbus Turkey Trot

Upper Arlington, OH

Registration openAnnual since at least 2014

4 Miles2.5 Miles100 Yards

Entry is $45 now and rises to $50 after Jul 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Original Columbus Turkey Trot

The race starts outside a shopping center on Lane Avenue and benefits Easterseals. There is a short kids' dash to open the morning, which draws families out early. The course options range from a shorter route to a longer one, so people tend to show up across a range of fitness levels and intentions. A virtual option lets people participate from anywhere on Thanksgiving.

The start area is anchored by the shops on Lane Avenue, which gives the morning a natural gathering point before and after the race. A kids' dash goes off before the main event, so families with young children have a reason to arrive early.

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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.

5 Miles · 2025 results

1,957finishers

25:25winner

49:51median

1:42:12cutoff

Top 3: Jonathan Allen (25:25) · Charles Rizek (26:28) · Ryan Moncrieff (26:34)

The Original Columbus Turkey Trot has been held every year since at least 2014. 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 5 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

4 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$45

2.5 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$45

100 Yards11/26/2026 08:30$25

4 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$45

100 Yards11/26/2026 08:30$25

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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Common Questions About the The Original Columbus Turkey Trot

Will I finish last at the Original Columbus Turkey Trot?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5 Miles field finished slower than 49:51, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:42:12, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Original Columbus Turkey Trot a good first 5 Miles?

With 1,957 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 5 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Original Columbus Turkey Trot?

The 5 Miles winner ran 25:25 while the median finisher took 49:51. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.