Cayucos Turkey Trot

Cayucos Turkey Trot takes place in Cayucos, California, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026. The event is a single 5K (3.1 miles), run as the Larry Gaeta Memorial Run, starting at 8:30 a.m. It follows the classic turkey trot formula: one short distance, open to runners and walkers, held on the morning of the holiday so you can be finished well before the meal.

A 5K is an approachable goal whatever your level. If you have never raced, six weeks of three sessions a week, starting with run-walk intervals and building to 30 minutes of steady running, will get you to the finish comfortably. If you train regularly, the 8:30 a.m. start leaves time for an easy warm-up mile and a few strides, and you can run it as a hard, even-paced effort to close out your fall season. Bring a warm layer for the wait at the start line and hand it off before the gun, and remember that a memorial run is as much about the company as the clock.