Have big plans for November 25th? It’s Thanksgiving day, so chances are you have something in the works—but probably not at 9 a.m. Make sure you reserve this bright-and-early time slot for the Alexandria Turkey Trot. It’s returning to its original in-person format this year after 2020’s hiatus, and the organizers expect thousands of runners to show up for the occasion.
After all, it’s not just about burning calories before the big feast—the Alexandria Turkey Trot has altruistic ulterior motives. Every runner is asked to bring at least one non-perishable food item as a condition of their registration, and these items go back out to stock local food pantries and keep the entire community of Alexandria fed. What better way to give back on Thanksgiving day? So lace up your running shoes, pull on your Turkey Trot shirt, and turn up at the finish line before the 9 a.m. start time on Turkey Day. You’ll have until 10:15 to complete the five-mile course, so while walkers are welcome, note that you’ll be expected to keep at least a 15-minute mile pace in order to complete the course on time.