Ahead of the big feast, get your heart pumping at these runs, happening prior to and on Thanksgiving.
[RELATED: NJ Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Menus, To-Go Meals and Takeout]
Hoboken Turkey Trot 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run
📅: Saturday, November 18 (1-mile run at 9 am; 5K at 10 am)
📍: Pier A Park • Hoboken
ℹ️: Registration ends November 18 or until spots sell out.
💸: $20 for 1-mile run; $50 for 5K
Chatham Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (1-mile family fun run starts around 8:30 am; 5K starts around 9:15 am)
📍: 110 Van Houton Ave • Chatham
ℹ️: Online registration is closed, but race-day registration will be available.
💸: $20 for the 1-mile family fun run; $25 for the 5K
Read Feed Run Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (8:30 am 5K; 8:45 am 1-mile fun walk/run; 9:15 am kids’ trot)
📍: Ginty Field (50 Woodland Avenue) • Morristown
ℹ️: Support the Literacy Volunteers of Morris County and the Interfaith Food Pantry in one fell swoop.
💸: $10-$40
Run Your Giblets Off Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (first wave starts at 9 am; second wave starts at 9:30 am; walkers start at 10 am)
📍: Bell Works (101 Crawfords Corner Road) • Holmdel
ℹ️: All proceeds will benefit Fulfill (formerly the FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties).
💸: $37–$45+
Hopewell Valley Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (9 am)
📍: Pennington
ℹ️: Proceeds support Hopewell Valley Wrestling. Monetary donations to Hopewell Valley Mobile Food pantry will also be accepted.
💸: $30–$35
Two Town Turkey Trot!
📅: Thursday, November 23 (8:30 am)
📍: Lambertville Station • Lambertville
ℹ️: Save $10 by registering online by Saturday, November 18.
💸: $40–$50
Somerville 5K Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (9 am)
📍: Engine Company No. 1 (170 East Main Street) • Somerville
ℹ️: Registration ends Friday, November 17, at 11:59 pm.
💸: $40
Ashenfelter 8K Classic & Tom Fleming 2K
📅: Thursday, November 23 (8:15 am 2K; 9 am 8K)
📍: Glen Ridge High School (200 Ridgewood Avenue) • Glen Ridge
ℹ️: The 8K run honors the late local Olympic champion Horace Ashenfelter; the 2K run honors the late local Tom Fleming, who won the New York City Marathon in 1973 and 1975.
💸: $30-$40 if you register before Sunday, November 19, at 11:59 pm
Jersey City Turkey Day 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run
📅: Thursday, November 23 (9 am 1-mile fun run; 10 am 5K)
📍: Colgate Clock (foot of Essex and Hudson streets) • Jersey City
ℹ️: Run along the Jersey City waterfront, then celebrate with hot chocolate, food, music and more after you finish.
💸: $15-$40; prices increase by $10 after Sunday, November 19, at 11:59 pm
Mercer County Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (8:30 am 5K; 8:45 am walk)
📍: Mercer County Park • West Windsor
ℹ️: Proceeds support local food banks and pantries.
💸: $40-$45; registration closes on Wednesday, November 22
Fast and the Furriest 5K Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (8:30 am)
📍: Music Pier (825 Boardwalk) • Ocean City
ℹ️: There’s something for every age and level: a 1-mile kids’ fun run, a 5K walk and a 5K run. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City.
💸: $20-$35
CEA & Johanna Foods Turkey Trot
📅: Thursday, November 23 (9:30 & 11:30 am)
📍: Flemington (71 Main Street)
ℹ️: Run or walk through the historic streets of Flemington. Live too far from Flemington or prefer to trot elsewhere? Register to participate virtually.
💸: $40
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