Now that Halloween’s over and it’s officially November, we can start our countdown to a runner’s favorite holiday – Thanksgiving! Not only do calories not count this day, but it’s also the biggest holiday for running races; in 2016, nearly one million people finished a Thanksgiving Day race.
The first of Illinois Turkey Trots was the Mount Prospect Jacyees Turkey Trot, which began in 1963. The area’s largest Turkey Trot is the Naperville Noon Lions 5K, with 7,105 finishers in 2016.
We found 70 races that will take place on or around Thanksgiving in Illinois for 2017, so all you have to do is pick one and work up an appetite. Happy trotting!
November 4
Prince of Peace Turkey Trot – Libertyville, IL
November 5
Tinley Turkey Trot 5K – Tinley Park, IL
Turkey Trot 5K – Effingham, IL
November 11
Turkey Trot – Cisne, IL
Cortland Lions Club Turkey Trot – Cortland, IL
Turkey Trot 5K – Normal, IL
Sandwich Turkey Trot for Technology – Sandwich, IL
Turkey Trot 8K/5K – Winnebago, IL
November 12
Gobbler Hobbler 10K and Mashed Potato Mile – Oswego, IL
November 18
Addison Park District Turkey Trot 5K – Addison Park, IL
Turkey Trot at Rainey – Chicago, IL
Turkey Trot 10K/5K – Decatur, IL
Kevin and Art Reveal Memorial Turkey Run – Herrin, IL
Gobbler Gauntlet 5K – New Lenox, IL
St. Linus Turkey Trot 5K – Oak Lawn, IL
Orland Hills Turkey Trot Run – Orland Hills, IL
Interact 5K Turkey Trot – Urbana, IL
November 19
Grayslake Central Turkey Trot – Grayslake, IL
Lincolnwood Turkey Trot – Lincolnwood, IL
Turkey Trot Tune Up 5K – Lisle, IL
Peoria Park District Turkey Trot – Peoria, IL
Turkey Trot – South Elgin, IL
Vienna Turkey Trot – Vienna, IL
November 23
The Fox & The Turkey Races – Batavia, IL
Thanksgiving 5K Run and Turkey Chase – Belleville, IL
Turkey Trot – Belvidere, IL
Turkey Trot 3 Mile Run – Bloomington, IL
Byron Park District Turkey Trot – Byron, IL
Canton Family YMCA Turkey Trot – Canton, IL
Hertz Trout Valley Turkey Trot – Cary, IL
Art Van Turkey Trot – Chicago, IL
Edison Park Turkey Trot – Chicago, IL
Riis Park Striders Thanksgiving Races – Chicago, IL
The Thanksgiving Day 5K – Crystal Lake, IL
NH GivingThanks 5K – Dekalb, IL
Bonfield Express 5K – Downers Grove, IL
Edwardsville Turkey Trot – Edwardsville, IL
Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot – Elmhurst, IL
Evanston Subaru Flying Turkey 5K – Evanston, IL
Turkey Trot Predicto – Glen Ellyn, IL
Good Hope Turkey Trot – Good Hope, IL
Jon Callaghan Memorial Turkey Trot – Gurnee, IL
North Shore Turkey Trot – Highland Park, IL
Poultry & Pie Predictor – Joliet, IL
Pilgrim Pie Run – LaGrange, IL
Henry’s Thanksgiving Day Hustle 5K – Lake in the Hills, IL
Long Grove Turkey Trot 8K/5K – Long Grove, IL
Bare Bones 5 Mile Turkey Trot – Mattoon, IL
McHenry Turkey Trot for Hospice – McHenry, IL
Mount Prospect Jaycees 54th Annual Turkey Trot – Mount Prospect, IL
Naperville Noon Lions Turkey Trot 5K – Naperville, IL
Beat the Bird 5K – Oak Brook, IL
Ogelsby Turkey Trot 3 Mile – Ogelsby, IL
Omaha Turkey Trot 5K – Omaha, IL
Orland Park Turkey Trot – Orland Park, IL
Palatine Park District 2 and 5 Mile Turkey Trot – Palatine, IL
Chocolate Turkey 3 Mile – Peoria, IL
Quincy Family YMCA Turkey Run – Quincy, IL
Rockford Road Runners Turkey Trot – Rockford, IL
NorthPoint Wellness Turkey Trot – Roscoe, IL
Roselle Exploding Turkey Trot – Roselle, IL
50th Annual Turkey Trot – Urbana, IL
Wauconda 4 Mile Turkey Trot – Wauconda, IL
Wheaton Turkey Trot 5K – Wheaton, IL
Winnetka Turkey Trot – Winnetka, IL
November 24
Butterball Burner – Homewood, IL
November 25
Grant Park Turkey Trot – Chicago, IL
Beverly Hills Turkey Trot 5K – Chicago, IL
Schaumburg Half Marathon & 5K Turkey Trot – Schaumburg, IL
November 26
Moline Hungry Turkey 10K/5K – Moline, IL
Want more races? Visit our online calendar MyRacePal
