Thu, Nov 26, 2026

Turkey Strut 5K

Winston Salem, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

5K1 Mile

Entry is $17 now and rises to $22 after Nov 24, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Turkey Strut 5K

The course runs through the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds area, passing near a large coliseum and a baseball stadium. The terrain suits strollers and leashed dogs, and the route is certified for those chasing a personal best that counts toward state and national records. It runs on Thanksgiving morning, so the field tends to include serious runners alongside people looking for a reason to get outside before the meal.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at a local running store on Stratford Road, with race-morning pickup at the fairgrounds coliseum as a backup. Parking at the fairgrounds is plentiful. The race supports a local food bank, and participants are encouraged to bring canned goods, especially breakfast staples, to donate at the start.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

Get races near Winston Salem in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Turkey Strut 5K 2025 Results

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 Results · 2025

2,621finishers

15:02winner

34:08median

1:11:42cutoff

Top 3: Antonio Lopez Segura (15:02) · John Tatter (15:07) · Luke Armentrout (15:14)

The Turkey Strut 5K has been held every year since at least 2020. 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 3.1 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 Oct 25, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$33

1 Mile11/26/2026 08:30$17

3.1 Miles11/26/2026 09:00$30

1 Mile11/26/2026 12:00$30

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.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Winston Salem — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Turkey Strut 5K

Will I finish last at the Turkey Strut 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 34:08, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:11:42, 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 Strut 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

With 2,621 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Turkey Strut 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 15:02 while the median finisher took 34:08. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.