Gobbler Gauntlet 5K

Gobbler Gauntlet 5K takes place in New Lenox, Illinois, on November 21, 2026. The single format is the Gobbler Gauntlet 5K (3.1 miles), with an 8:00 AM start. The event is listed on the New Lenox park district's site, which makes it a community turkey trot organized at the local level the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Park district races are typically welcoming to every level, so decide in advance whether you are there to finish, to socialize, or to race. A beginner can be ready for 3.1 miles in about six weeks with three short sessions a week. A runner with a base who wants a fast time should keep one interval workout in the week, for instance 5 x 800 meters at goal pace, and ease off in the final three days. Dress for an early late-November morning in the Chicago area with layers you can drop after the first mile, jog ten minutes before the start, and run the opening stretch under control so you have something left for the finish.