Lancaster Turkey Day 5k/10k

Lancaster Turkey Day 5k/10k is held on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2026, at Forest Rose School in Lancaster, Ohio. The Kids Fun Run (about 100 meters) goes first at 8:15 a.m., and the 10K (6.2 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) start together at 8:30 a.m. Participants of all ages are welcome, and kids 13 and under run free unless they want a shirt and bib. The event supports Foundation Dinners, an organization that serves thousands of meals each month to people in need. Medals and Thanksgiving desserts go to the top finishers in each age group, refreshments are served after the race, and parking is available at the school and at Ohio University Lancaster.

Choosing between the two distances comes down to your fall training. If you have a weekly run of 6 miles or more in your legs, the 10K is a rewarding way to close the season; add a few tempo runs in the preceding month to hold pace in the second half. The 5K is the better fit for a first race or a short, fast effort, and the run/walk spirit of the morning makes it comfortable for families. Dress warmly for a late-November Ohio start.