Runners line up for the start of the 50th annual Alexandria Turkey Trot Nov. 27 in Del Ray.
Thousands of runners, walkers, families, and furry friends gathered in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood to celebrate a milestone — the 50th Annual Alexandria Turkey Trot. What began in 1975 with just 244 runners has grown into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier Thanksgiving Day races, attracting over 6,000 participants in recent years.
“We have run this for the last five years and wanted to be here for the 50th,” said race participant Adrien McCulloch. “We are also here to make room for some turkey.”
The Turkey Trot’s roots trace back to a simple idea: start Thanksgiving Day with fitness and community spirit. The inaugural race was led by then-Mayor Jim Moran and Judge James Clark, who famously ran every single Turkey Trot since its inception — even braving a snowstorm the year the race was officially canceled. This year, Clark served as Grand Marshal, marking his 50th consecutive run. He finished with a time of 1:22:24.
The five-mile, USATF-certified course winds through the heart of Del Ray, starting and finishing at George
Retired Judge James Clark runs his 50th consecutive Turkey Trot Nov. 27 in Del Ray. Clark also served as Grand Marshal of the race.
Beyond fitness, the Turkey Trot champions philanthropy with participants encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations for ALIVE!, Alexandria’s oldest private safety net organization fighting poverty and hunger. Over five decades, the event has contributed thousands of pounds of food and significant funds to local families in need.
This year’s race was won by Cameron Miller, who claimed first place with a time of 23:37. He was followed by Jonathan Carmin (24:13) and Mulgeta Feyisaa (24:20). The top five rounded out with Ryan Witters and Aregawi Charles, all finishing under 25 minutes. Competitive runners vied for $2,000 in prize money, with bonuses if course records were broken. The standing records (22:50 for men, 25:32 for women) remain unbeaten.
Nicole James and her best friends were joined by 9-year-old Isaac James and sister Sabrina James. The siblings run track for the Alexandria-based Spartan Chosen track and field team.
“We are here to support the community but also because it’s important to keep moving and stay healthy.”
For full race results, visit www.alexandriaturkeytrot.com