Litehouse Family YMCA Turkey Trot 5k

Litehouse Family YMCA Turkey Trot 5k takes place in Lowell, Michigan, on November 14, 2026. The single format is a 5K (3.1 miles) starting at 9:00 a.m., organized around the Litehouse Family YMCA. A Turkey Trot held ahead of Thanksgiving, it is an easy way to get a holiday-season race on the calendar.

You do not need to be an experienced racer for this one. Beginners can build to it in six weeks by alternating walking and running until they can cover 30 minutes without stopping. Regular runners often use a Turkey Trot as a low-pressure time trial: warm up for ten minutes, run the 5K at a strong, steady effort, then jog a few minutes to cool down. Dress for the second mile rather than the start line, since you will warm up quickly once you are moving. With a 9:00 a.m. start, a light breakfast around 7:00 and an early arrival to collect your bib will keep the morning stress-free.