Turkey Trot Runners Encouraged to Pick Up Race Packets Early

The 37th annual Alexandria Turkey Trot is set for a 9 a.m. start Thursday at George Washington Middle School, an hour earlier than previous years.

The 5-mile Thanksgiving Day race is sponsored and coordinated by the Del Ray Business Association and the DC Road Runners Club.

Online registration remains open until Tuesday. Preregistered runners are encouraged to pick up their race packets between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday at the George Washington gym. In-person registration will also be available on Wednesday night. Runners may also register in the middle school gym beginning at 7:30 a.m. the day of the race if spots remain available.

The race will once again have special fields for runners with strollers and runners with leashed dogs.

A portion of the proceeds from the race will benefit ALIVE!, a nonprofit organization consisting of volunteers from more than 40 religious congregations and community groups working to help Alexandrians in need.

Runners are asked to bring two non-perishable food items to the race for donation.

Realtor Jen Walker is the title sponsor of Thursday’s race.

"Jen Walker has been incredibly supportive of the race and of our neighborhood.  We could not imagine this Del Ray tradition without her sponsorship,” DRBA Turkey Trot Chairman John Reynolds said in a statement. 

Other sponsors include Carney, Inc., Jack Taylor’s Alexandria Toyota, Taqueria Poblano, Eye 2 Eye Optometry Corner, Radiance Medspa of Old Town, BB&T and R&B Heating and Air Conditioning. Del Ray Pizzeria will provide pizza for volunteers working on the race.