Register your family for one of these races on or around Thanksgiving and run for a community cause together.
Crisp November air and the promise of turkey and pumpkin pie are great reasons to sign up for a family 5K. In our area, there are several great options that benefit wonderful organizations. Have some fun by dressing in matching shirts and teaching your kids about family exercise and giving back. You can compete as a family, or just savor the fall scenery during a leisurely walk/jog. There’s nothing like the spirit of gratitude and togetherness that fills the air this time of year to remind everyone that these events are as much about community and connection as they are about fitness. So, lace up, cross a finish line, and celebrate together as you also give back to others. Then enjoy a Thanksgiving feast while counting your own blessings.
Amanda Pair Foundation Legacy Run
This race, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 23), is planned on behalf of the Amanda Pair Foundation, a nonprofit that honors the life and legacy of wife and mom Amanda Pair, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 40 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. The mission of the foundation is to overcome cancer by caring for families affected by cancer, funding cancer research, and investing in the next generation through a scholarship. The 3rd Annual Amanda Pair Foundation Legacy Run in the Park will be a 5k race and fun run in a loop around the Liberty Park community. For more information and to register, visit amandapair.org.
Gobble Wobble 5K
Join Cornerstone Ranch in Mt. Olive to work up an appetite and make a difference in the community through the annual Gobble Wobble 5K. There are multiple race options for everyone, from serious runners to families. Proceeds benefit area youth through Cornerstone’s camps and programs. For more information and to register, visit cornerstoneranchcamp.com/gobble.
Lake Wilborn Turkey Trot 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run
This Hoover neighborhood will host its first Turkey Day race on November 28. Runners are encouraged to wear festive Thanksgiving attire as they run or walk through the Lake Wilborn community. Race proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For more information and to register, visit runsignup.com.
Sam Lapidus Montclair Run (SLMR)
Join the Levite Jewish Community Center on Thanksgiving Day (November 28) for this 5K that celebrates the life of Sam Lapidus—who battled Ewing sarcoma and passed away at age 14 in 2008—and also raises funds for the LJCC and the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, who co-sponsors the race. The run, which began in 1976 and now includes 1,500 participants, is the LJCC’s longest-running annual fundraiser. For more information and to register, visit bhamjcc.org/sam-lapidus-montclair-run.
Turkey Trot at the Junction
Benefitting the YMCA Northeast Branch and Youth Center, this Thanksgiving Day 5K includes an automatic entry for two $250 Visa gift cards for all participants—perfect for Black Friday shopping. For more information and to register, visit facebook.com/5katthejunction.
Turkey Trot for Hunger
On Thanksgiving Day, you can participate in the sixth annual Turkey Trot for Hunger and help raise funds for St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church’s Beans and Rice Food Pantry, which serves families in the Chelsea community. (A $25 donation pays for 26 cans of vegetables, soup, and fruit, plus two 18-ounce jars of peanut butter.) The rain or shine event—a chip-timed race on a certified 5K course—begins at the Chelsea Recreational Park and ends at St. Catherine’s. For more information and to register, visit stcatherinesal.org.
UAB Veterans Day 5K
Though not technically a Thanksgiving Day race, you can honor those who have served by joining in the UAB Veterans Day 5K at Railroad Park on November 9, open to runners, walkers, ruckers, strollers, and wheelchair racers. This annual event is hosted by UAB Veteran Services, and proceeds benefit the UAB Veteran Relief Fund, which aids veteran and dependent students. For more information and to register, visit runsignup.com. To stay up to date on race information, follow @UABVeterans on Instagram.