Hickory Foundation YMCA Turkey Trot 5K 10K & Youth Fun Run

Hickory Foundation YMCA Turkey Trot 5K 10K & Youth Fun Run is held in Hickory, North Carolina, on November 21, 2026. Organized each year by the Hickory Foundation YMCA, the event includes a 10K Run (6.2 miles) starting at 9:00 AM, a 5K Run/Walk (3.1 miles) at 9:03 AM, a Youth Fun Run, and a Phantom Run option that lets you take part remotely from wherever you are. Proceeds support community programs that promote healthy living. Awards go to the top finishers and to age-group winners, and early registrants receive exclusive perks.

The 10K is the choice for runners who want a longer pre-holiday test: six to eight weeks with a weekly long run of 6 to 7 miles and a tempo session will prepare you well. The 5K, with its run/walk format, fits first-timers and walkers, and the youth fun run keeps the whole family involved. If you cannot be in Hickory on the day, the Phantom Run is the way to stay part of it. With the two main starts only three minutes apart, warm up early, seed yourself by expected pace, and hold back over the first mile.