Alexandria Turkey Trot: Run Club Captain's Race Briefing

Key takeaways

• The Alexandria Turkey Trot is a 5-mile run/walk in Del Ray, Alexandria, VA, on Thursday, November 26, 2026. The race starts at 9:00 a.m. at George Washington Middle School.
• It's the 51st annual race, on a flat, fast, USATF-certified course, with more than 6,000 runners expected.
• Pricing is tiered. For adults 22 and over it's $25 online, $30 late (Nov 1–24) and $40 in person on race day. Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Packet pickup runs Nov 22–25, with a race-morning window at the start. Strollers and dogs are welcome, each with their own starting area.
• The race benefits ALIVE!, so bring two nonperishable food items.

The Alexandria Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving morning 5-miler through the heart of Del Ray, and it's a big one: thousands of runners, walkers, strollers and dogs. This guide pulls the details a run club captain needs into one briefing you can forward to your crew, from registration to the start line to where the post-run beer fits in.

Details below come from the official race site and local coverage as of November 11, 2026. Check alexandriaturkeytrot.com again before race day, because times, fees and pickup locations can change.

What is the Alexandria Turkey Trot and who organizes it?

It's a five-mile run/walk held on Thanksgiving morning in Del Ray, and the 2026 race is the 51st annual. The official site lists DC Road Runners as the organizer, and the Del Ray Business Association is a sponsor. The race benefits ALIVE!, a nonprofit serving Alexandria residents in need.

For a brewery run club or beer mile crew, this is your regular weekly run with a much bigger crowd and an earlier alarm. Same crew, same ritual: earn it, then drink to it.

What distance and course should you expect?

The race is 5 miles, not a 5K. The official site calls it a flat, fast, USATF-certified course through Del Ray, with the start and finish at George Washington Middle School (1005 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301). A course map is posted on the race site, so check it before race morning. The listings I found don't mention a separate kids' race. Children 12 and under can enter the 5 Miler for the lowest fee, and a parent or guardian must be there to register and take part.

Timing uses chip timers attached to the back of your bib, so wear the bib on the front of your body, on your outermost layer. Winners are decided by gun time, and there's prize money, age-group awards and a course-record bonus for the competitive crowd. If your crew is there for the ritual, nobody is checking your splits.

How much does it cost, and how do you register?

Register online through the race website. Fees are tiered by age and by how close you are to race day:

• Online registration closes at 6:00 a.m. on race day. In-person registration runs 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and cash or check is preferred.
• There are no mail-in entries, no refunds and no transfers.
• A T-shirt is optional for $15 (long-sleeve cotton or short-sleeve tech). Order online, because race-day sizes usually sell out by about 9:30.
• The race page lists a slightly different set of amounts in one spot, so confirm your price at checkout before you pay for the whole crew.

Since it's already mid-November, you're in the late window now. Sign your crew up in one sitting.

Packet pickup and the race-day schedule

Packet pickup

• Nov 22–24, 2–5 p.m.: Alexandria Toyota (Jack Taylor's). Pacers Running Old Town is also listed on one race page for the same hours, while the main site shows the early location as "to be announced." Confirm which one is correct before you go.
• Wednesday, Nov 25, 6–8 p.m.: George Washington Middle School.
• Race morning, from 7:30 a.m.: George Washington Middle School.

Put one person in charge of the crew's bibs. Pickup is faster when one captain handles everyone's packets with the confirmation emails in hand.

Race-day schedule (from the official site)

The site doesn't list waves, so expect one big start. Plan to meet your crew about 30 to 40 minutes before the gun.

How do you get there, and where do you park?

Metro is the easy play. Take the Blue or Yellow line to Braddock Road and walk west under the tracks to the school. Check the Thanksgiving schedule, because holiday service runs on a reduced timetable. If you're driving, the preferred drop-off is on Main Line Blvd near the railroad tracks. The pages I found don't cover parking, so carpool with your crew and arrive early. Expect street closures around a race this size, and check the City of Alexandria's road closure notices before you go.

Rideshare works too. Ask your driver to drop you a few blocks from the start corrals, not at the closure.

Is it good for strollers, dogs and first-timers?

Yes. Strollers and dogs are both welcome, each with their own starting area, and walkers and first-timers fit right in. Line up toward the back if you're walking, and treat it as a long easy run with a party attached. For crews, the etiquette is simple: run two abreast at most, call out before you cut, and wave the faster runners through. Dogs should be on a short leash and comfortable with crowds and loud speakers.

Plan the morning: from start line to post-run beer

1. Pick a meeting landmark a block or two from the start, not the start itself. Phone service gets patchy when thousands of runners gather.
2. Meet 30 to 40 minutes before 9:00, and assign one person to hold everyone's bibs.
3. Run at your slowest runner's pace. The beer tastes the same at 40 minutes as at 35.
4. Bring two nonperishable food items for ALIVE!.
5. Scout your post-run spot in advance. Thanksgiving hours are short and the area fills up. Pick a first choice and a backup within an easy ride of the finish, and send one person ahead for a table. I haven't confirmed any local taproom hours for Thanksgiving, so call before you plan the morning around one.

Take a rideshare or have a designated driver. The plan is to enjoy the drink, not to drive on it.

Should you track it in Run4It?

If your crew logs streaks and weekly challenges, a tracker keeps the habit going after the race. Run4It tracks your run and shows the drink those miles earned, so the 5-miler becomes five miles on your streak. The earned drink is a motivational count, not a purchase, and the app doesn't sell or redeem drinks.

Run4It also logs workouts you add by hand (weights, bike, swim, yoga and more), and the weekly Run4It Combo is 2 runs + 1 workout, so the Turkey Trot can be one of your two runs. If you want detailed pace analysis or segment leaderboards, Strava does that better. Run4It is built for the ritual.

FAQ

Is the Alexandria Turkey Trot timed?
Yes. Chronotrack chip timing is included in your registration, with the chip on the back of your bib. Winners are decided by gun time, so seed yourself near the front if you're chasing a clock.

How long is the race?
Five miles. That's longer than a 5K, so plan your pace and your post-run beer accordingly.

Can I walk it?
Yes. Walkers and first-timers are welcome, and the course closes at 10:30 a.m., so a steady walking pace works.

What if it rains or the weather turns bad?
The pages I checked don't post a weather or cancellation policy. Entries are non-refundable, so watch your email and the official race site the night before and again on race morning.

Can I bring a stroller or a dog?
Yes to both. Each has its own starting area. Keep dogs on a short leash and only bring one that handles crowds well.

What should I wear in late November?
Dress for cold air and a chance of drizzle. Layers you can shed at bag drop work well, plus gloves. You'll warm up fast once you're moving, and dry clothes for the post-run beer stop are worth packing.

Are there prizes?
Yes. The race pays prize money to top finishers and awards for age groups, with a bonus for a new course record. Check the race site for the full categories.

FINISHED! TURKEY STYLE. Run for it. You earned it.

Run4It is for adults 21 and over. Please drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Run4It is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Alexandria Turkey Trot, DC Road Runners or any brewery mentioned.

Sources: Alexandria Turkey Trot, 2026 Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler event page, The Zebra: Alexandria Turkey Trot 2026