Ames Turkey Trot
Ames Turkey Trot is a running race on November 26, 2026 in Ames, IA, with entry fees from $15 to $35.
- Date
- November 26, 2026 (126 days to go)
- Location
- 410 5th St, Ames, IA
- Price
- $15–$35
- Sport
- Running
From the Organizer
What is better on Thanksgiving Day than starting out with a fun 5K? Get ready for your turkey and potatoes through the streets of Ames with your favorite running & walking buddies! The course will weave you from beautiful downtown Ames through some of the best parts of our Cyclone city and finish right back where we started. Enjoy a family-friendly 5K open to all ages, speeds, and abilities! There will be fun vibes and refreshments for everyone at the finish line to enjoy before heading home for your Thanksgiving fun! Every participant registered by 11/14 gets a race t-shirt to commemorate the excitement, and a finisher's medal to celebrate the accomplishment!
Our NEW Turkey Tot Trot will take kiddos through the beautiful downtown of Main & 5th to get their Trot on too! Participants will receive a unique Ames Turkey Trot coloring book and race medal to celebrate their festive feat!
Packet Pickup will be at Fitness Sports - Ames on Wednesday 11/26 from 11:00am - 5:00pm, and Thursday morning from 7:30am-8:45am. We highly encourage as many participants to pickup their own packets on Wednesday to reduce wait times and to enjoy the special offers, deals, and coupons given by our amazing race sponsors!
5K participants are only guaranteed a shirt if they sign up before 11/14/25! After that point, we cannot guarantee you will receive one, so don't wait to get registered and secure your items!
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
42°
Typical Low
23°
Chance of Rain
21%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Ames Muni Ap, 2 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Ames, IA
Population
66,112
as of 2023
City Elevation
932 ft
Nearest Airport
DSM
Des Moines International Airport · 35 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Ames Turkey Trot, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More Running races near Ames, IA
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From $30 · 304 S. Madison St
15 miles away
Pufferbilly 5k and 10k Run
5K · 10K · From $40 · 7th and Story St
14 miles away
Remy’s Run/Walk
5K · From $20 · Snow Bunting Lodge
16 miles away
Iowa State Homecoming 5k Benefiting LSI
5K · From $25 · Curtiss Hall
8 miles away
Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Ames than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to AmesFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Ames Turkey Trot
Nov 26, 2026