JACKSON TURKEY TROT (Michigan)

JACKSON TURKEY TROT (Michigan) is an annual Thanksgiving Day event held in Jackson, Michigan, on November 26, 2026. Three formats all start at 9:00 a.m.: a 10K Run (6.2 miles), a 5K Run (3.1 miles) and a 5K Walk, and there is also a kids' race. The event is chip timed, with live results provided by the Michigan Running Foundation, and awards go to overall and age-group winners. Military members and first responders receive a discount, and a virtual option lets you take part if you cannot be there in person.

Having a 10K and a 5K on the same morning lets you choose based on your fall training. If you have been running four or five days a week with a longer weekend run, the 10K is a satisfying way to close the season; a few weeks of tempo runs at slightly slower than goal pace will help you hold form over the second half. The 5K run is well suited to a first race or a fast end-of-year effort, while the 5K walk is a relaxed option for families. Late November in southern Michigan is cold, so plan on gloves, a hat and a short warm-up jog.