Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon
The Early Bird Turkey Trot in Kennesaw offers a Thanksgiving-adjacent race with a free entry for past participants.
Race Date
Nov 21, 2026
Location
Kennesaw, GA
Quick facts
- Date
- Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Location
- Kennesaw, Georgia
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 5K, 10K, 15K, 13.1 Miles, No Bib
- Course
- Loop Course
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Not listed
- Finishers on record
- 1,280
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Early Bird Turkey Trot in Kennesaw, Georgia, has been a tradition since 2011, offering a chance to race near Thanksgiving. This event, now in its 11th edition, provides a half marathon alongside shorter distances, with a median field size of around 243 finishers and growing.
The course is described as flat with minimal elevation change, making it a potentially fast option for runners. The atmosphere is community-focused, with a tradition of offering free entry to participants who have raced with the organizers throughout the year, as a way to say thanks. This year's event takes place on Saturday, November 21st, offering an alternative to Thanksgiving Day racing.
Runners can expect a T-shirt as part of their registration, with options to purchase hoodies and finisher medals. The race draws participants from approximately nine states, reflecting its appeal as a local and regional event.
Race-provided description
This is the EARLY BIRD Turkey Trot...Saturday 11/21/2026 in Kennesaw. We are excited to bring back our Turkey Trot events for 2026!~ Guidelines will be the same as prior, please note the specific dates in order to qualify for a complimentary race entry! If you haven't crossed under our finish line this year...that's OK too...You can still come out and join us...it's just $22 ($25 Race Day), in-person or virtual.
Swag available for purchase: Awesome Shirts $22 ($25 on raceday), Hoodies $27 ($30 on raceday) & Finisher Medals available for just $7.50 ($10 on raceday)! Two weeks before Thanksgiving in 2011, we decided that we wanted to give back to all the participants who came out to race with us over the course of the year. Thanksgiving morning seemed to be the perfect time, and giving them a FREE race would be the perfect way to say thanks. We're continuing that tradition...If you've crossed under our finish line in any race from Dec. 1, 2025 - Nov. 14, 2026, you've earned yourself a FREE 5K spot in ONE of the in-person Turkey Trot races. (Please note the dates. Running one of our Turkey Trots last year does NOT qualify for a free entry.) BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR...THE Early Bird Race. Everything will be the same as Thanksgiving Day, but we're letting you race on Saturday November 21st in Marietta/Kennesaw, if you want to. THAT'S THIS RACE YOU ARE ABOUT TO REGISTER FOR!
Logistics
Race Day
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Start Time
8:00 AM
Giveaway
T-Shirt
Start Location
200 Chastain Meadows Ct, Kennesaw, GA, 30144
Course Info
Course Type
Loop Course
Terrain
road
Scenery
Urban
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
0 m (Flat)
Separation
0.0%
Also Offers
Quality Score
Standout6711 years running
~243 finishers a year
growing or steady
9% returning runners
5 timing sources
runners from 9 states
winner 1:19:57
typical high 61°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
43°
Afternoon (High)
61°
Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish
0.1"
Precipitation
11 mph
Wind
69%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 1,280 finishers actually crossed the line across 11 years.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
1,280
Median time
2:06:27
Latest turnout
145
States
24
Turnout by year
2017–2025
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon?
The Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon is held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
Where does the Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon take place?
It takes place in Kennesaw, Georgia.
What distances does the Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 5K, 10K, 15K, 13.1 Miles, No Bib.
Is the Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon course flat and good for a PR?
The Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon is a ultra-flat, loop course course.
How many people run the Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon?
HalfRuns has finish records for 1,280 runners who have completed the Early Bird Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, 15K, & Half Marathon.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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