Photo Above: Runners at the start of the 2002 Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K in Centreville, Virginia.

For an area rich in running resources, the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area has an abundance of Thanksgiving Day and Thanksgiving-themed races. What better way to enjoy your afternoon feasting than to start the day with a run with thousands of like-minded people?

Thanksgiving Day races really bring out the crowds! Whole families participate, often with the family dog on a leash. While most events are of the shorter road race distances (5K and 10K), most also offer a shorter distance fun run/walk for the non-runners in the family or the younger set.

Look over the list below, choose your race, lace up your running shoes, and work off those holiday calories!

And if you're traveling this Thanksgiving, you are sure to find a Turkey Trot race somewhere near. Remember to check the Washington Running Report calendar before you leave. We're linked nationally with the Running Network, so use the searchable features to find a race near you.

Pre-Thanksgiving Race

Saturday, November 22

Herndon Turkey Trot 5K          Herndon, VA          4:00 pm

Turkey Freeze Yer Gizzard 5K        Leesburg, VA         9:00 am



Cranberry Crawl 5K & 10K Run/Walk   Washington, DC       8:30 am



Thanksgiving Prediction Run/Walk 5K St. Mary's City, MD  9:00 am

Thanksgiving Day Races

Race                            Location          Start Time


Virginia Run Turkey Trot        Centreville, VA      8:00 am
 5K & 2K Fun Run/Walk


Thanksgiving Day Trot for       Washington, DC       8:30 am
 Hunger 5K Run/3K Walk


Bethesda Turkey Chase 10K &     Bethesda, MD         8:30 am
 2 mile


Turkey 10K Run & 5K Fun         Edgewater, MD        8:45 am
 Run/Walk


Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk    Frederick, MD        9:00 am


Towson YMCA Turkey Trot 5K      Towson, MD           9:00 am


Turkey Trot 5K & 1K Kids' Run   Hagerstown, MD       9:00 am


Turkey Trot 5 Miler             Alexandria, VA       10:00 am


Ashburn Farm Thanksgiving Day 10K,5K & 2 Mile Walk   8:30 am
www.ashburnumc.org/10k/         Ashburn, VA


Turkey Trot 5K                  Fredericksburg, VA   9:00 am


Toys for Tots 5K & 10K          Newport News, VA     8:30 am


Turkey Trot 10K & 1 Mile        Virginia Beach, VA   9:00 am


Turkey Trot 10K                 Richmond, VA         9:00 am

And if you ate a little too much pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, don't forget the MCRRC Turkey Burn-Off 10 Mile/5 Mile Race and 2K Fun Run in Gaithersburg, Maryland, at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 29!

Information on these and more races can be found in the Washington Running Report calendar. Most races have e- mail contacts and/or Web site links.

Photo Above: Runners head for the finish at the 2002 Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K in Centreville, Virginia.