Irvine/Orange County Turkey Trot 5K & 1 Mile

Irvine/Orange County Turkey Trot 5K & 1 Mile is held at Irvine Valley College in the Westpark area of Irvine, California, on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026. The morning opens with the 1 Mile Turkey Dash at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 5K (3.1 miles) at 8:00 a.m., and you can enter either one or combine both. The course is flat and scenic. Every participant receives a custom medal, an event shirt and a slice of pumpkin pie. Kids' fun runs with medals and shirts are also part of the program. The 5K is chip timed, with awards for the top finishers in multiple age groups and additional awards for creative costumes.

A flat, chip-timed 5K is a good place to attempt a personal best at the end of the year. Four to six weeks of consistent easy running, one weekly session of short repeats at goal pace and a few strides after easy runs will have you ready. If you are doing the 1 mile and the 5K back to back, treat the mile as an extended warm-up rather than an all-out effort.