Thu, Nov 26, 2026

Turkey Chase Charity Race

Bethesda, MD

Opens Jul 31, 2026Annual since at least 2013

10K2 Miles50m5K10 Miles400 Yards1 Mile

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Aug 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Turkey Chase Charity Race

The Turkey Chase is a Thanksgiving-week road race based out of the YMCA on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, organized jointly by the Y and the local Rotary club as a fundraiser for youth programs. It draws a wide field and has been running long enough to feel like a neighborhood tradition, with in-person and virtual options alongside a short kids' dash for the youngest participants.

Packet pickup happens at a large white tent on the YMCA field earlier in the week, with a second window on race morning before the first wave goes off. Everything is online registration only, so come with your confirmation in hand. The start area is right at the Y, which makes it easy to find and gives you somewhere warm to wait if you need it.

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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.

· 2025 results

2,597finishers

33:00winner

59:11median

1:44:03cutoff

Top 3: Henry Johnson (33:00) · Andrew Brodeur (33:14) · Justin Blaszczyk (33:40)

The Turkey Chase Charity Race has been held every year since at least 2013. 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 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

10K11/26/2026 08:30$40

2 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$35

50m11/26/2026 09:30$10

10K11/26/2026 12:00$40

5K11/26/2026 12:00$45

2 Miles11/26/2026 12:00$45

10 Miles11/26/2026 12:00$45

400 Yards11/26/2026 12:00$45

1 Mile11/26/2026 12:00$45

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 Turkey Chase Charity Race

Will I finish last at the Turkey Chase Charity Race?

Almost certainly not. Half the race field finished slower than 59:11, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:44:03, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Turkey Chase Charity Race a good first race?

With 2,597 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 race, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Turkey Chase Charity Race?

The race winner ran 33:00 while the median finisher took 59:11. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

Where can I train for the Turkey Chase Charity Race?

Join a local run club. Bethesda/Rockville Run Club, Bethesda Running Club, My Muddy Shoes and others in Bethesda welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.