Western & Southern Thanksgiving Day Race

Western & Southern Thanksgiving Day Race returns to Cincinnati on November 26, 2026, with a 10K run / walk (6.2 miles) as its featured distance. Founded in 1907, it is one of the oldest running traditions in the United States and a fixture of the city's holiday calendar. Thousands of participants gather at TQL Stadium for the morning, families are welcome, strollers are allowed, and a Kids Fun Run opens the day.

Expect wide, open city streets and a festive crowd rather than a quiet time trial, which makes the 10K a good choice for a first race at the distance. Six miles is far enough that pacing matters: hold back through the opening mile while the field spreads out, then settle into an effort you could hold for the full hour. If you are targeting a personal best, six to eight weeks of steady mileage with one weekly tempo run of twenty to thirty minutes is the standard build.