Welcome to the 20th Annual IDNutrition Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot 10K & 5K. That's 20 Thanksgivings in Cornelius. A few dozen runners lined up for the first one back in 2007. Now it's three generations of the same families, cousins in from out of town, and a whole lot of turkey hats, all on the roads around Life Fellowship Church before the oven even gets warm.
Here's what you get in one morning and one parking lot: a 5K, a 10K, and the only Thanksgiving Day half marathon within 150 miles of Charlotte. Everybody in the family picks their distance, and everybody finishes under the same arch.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day) |
| Start times | Half marathon 7:30 AM · 10K 7:35 AM · 5K 7:40 AM |
| Where | Life Fellowship Church, 20010 Chartown Dr, Cornelius, NC 28031 (map) |
| Distances | Half marathon (13.1 mi) · 10K (6.2 mi) · 5K (3.1 mi) · Virtual run (any distance) |
| Price through Oct 31 | 5K $40 · 10K $50 · Half $70 · Virtual $59 (plus RunSignUp signup fee) |
| Nov 1 – Nov 22 | 5K $45 · 10K $55 · Half $75 |
| Nov 23 – race morning | 5K $60 · 10K $70 · Half $90 |
| Packet pickup | Wed Nov 25, 11 AM–3 PM, and race morning from 6:30 AM, both at Life Fellowship Church |
| Parking | Free, on site at the church, with plenty of room |
| Bring | One non-perishable food item for the Human Health Project food drive |
Heads up: prices go up after Saturday, Oct 31 at 11:59 PM. If you want a shirt in your size for sure (and a hoodie, for half marathoners), register by Friday, Oct 23.
If you're searching "Thanksgiving 5K near me," this is the easy yes. It's 3.1 miles on paved Cornelius roads, it starts at 7:40 AM, and it's open to every age and every pace. Walkers are welcome, and so are strollers (just start toward the back). Kids under 4 can walk it with you for free.
A lot of families split up: one person runs the half or the 10K, and everybody else walks the 5K and meets at the finish. Wear the costume. We hand out prizes for the best turkey getups, and we've seen full bird suits.
The 10K gives you 6.2 miles to actually race, or a nice long run to earn the second plate. It starts at 7:35 AM, it's all asphalt, and it uses the same roads as the half with fewer hills. You get official results, awards for the top 3 men and women in each age group, and you're done before most people are out of their pajamas.
This is the reason people drive in from Charlotte, Statesville and beyond: it's the only Thanksgiving Day half marathon within 150 miles of Charlotte. If you want 13.1 before dinner, this is it.
Run any distance, anywhere, on your own schedule. You still get the participation medal, race shirt and swag, shipped the Monday after the race. It's $59 and registration stays open until noon on Thanksgiving.
Monday, Nov 23: a pre-race webinar recording goes out by email.
Wednesday, Nov 25: packet pickup and registration, 11 AM–3 PM at Life Fellowship Church.
Thursday, Nov 26 (Thanksgiving): - 6:30 AM: packet pickup and registration open - 7:30 AM: half marathon start - 7:35 AM: 10K start - 7:40 AM: 5K start - 11:15 AM: half marathon course closes
Bring a jacket for before and after. Late November around Lake Norman is usually in the 30s or 40s at the start. Not sure which distance fits? Our pick-your-distance guide walks through it, with a short training plan for each.
Everything happens in one spot: packet pickup, start, finish and awards are all at Life Fellowship Church, 20010 Chartown Dr, Cornelius, NC 28031. Parking is free and on site, with plenty of room.
From I-77, take Exit 28 (Catawba Ave / Cornelius), then turn onto Liverpool Pkwy, then Chartwell Center Dr, then Chartown Dr. Open in Google Maps.
Most nearby towns are under 30 minutes away, with no traffic on Thanksgiving morning. Tap your town for the drive and a race-morning plan:
This race has been a food drive since the early years. Please bring one non-perishable food item and drop it at registration. The donations, plus a share of race proceeds, go to the Human Health Project, which gives grants and donates food to local shelters.
You can see all three routes on RideWithGPS: 5K · 10K · Half marathon
Look up your time from last year, or any year back to 2021: Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot results on RunSignUp.
Can't decide whether to run or help? You can do both. Volunteers can race for free. Sign up to volunteer. And if you get friends to sign up, our referral program can earn back your entry fee.
Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving Day). The half marathon starts at 7:30 AM, the 10K at 7:35 AM and the 5K at 7:40 AM, all at Life Fellowship Church, 20010 Chartown Dr, Cornelius, NC 28031.
Through Oct 31, 2026: 5K $40, 10K $50, half marathon $70, virtual $59, plus the RunSignUp signup fee. From Nov 1 to Nov 22: $45, $55 and $75. From Nov 23 through race morning: $60, $70 and $90.
Yes. The Lake Norman Half Marathon Turkey Trot in Cornelius has the only Thanksgiving Day half marathon within 150 miles of Charlotte. It's about 20 miles north of uptown off I-77, Exit 28, and it also has a 10K, a 5K and a virtual run.
Yes. Parking is free and on site at Life Fellowship Church, with plenty of room. Packet pickup, the start, the finish and awards are all in the same place.
Absolutely. Walkers are welcome at every distance, strollers should start at the back of the 5K, and kids under 4 can walk with a parent for free.
No. Pets aren't allowed on the course, and neither are firearms or alcohol.
At Life Fellowship Church: Wednesday, Nov 25 from 11 AM to 3 PM, or race morning starting at 6:30 AM.
There are no refunds, but you can transfer your entry to someone else or defer it. Transfer here: https://buy.epicsportsmarketing.com/race-transfer and defer here: https://buy.epicsportsmarketing.com/race-deferral
All results from 2021 on are on RunSignUp: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/118039