More than 700 runners took part in last year’s West Kentucky FCA & Edward Jones Turkey Trot. Organizers hope to surpass that turnout this year.
Organizers of the West Kentucky Fellowship of Christian Athletes & Edward Jones Turkey Trot reported a record number of participants in last year’s race, and they’re hoping to top that figure this year.
The annual event, now in its 11th year, includes a 5K and 10K race. West Kentucky FCA Multi-Area Director Eric Grogan said the organization is honored to host the Turkey Trot each year.
“It’s been such a blessing to be able to continue to host this event. And year after year, families come out. They see it as a family tradition. They either walk [or] they run…Some folks even walk their dog, but it’s just become a great community event,” he said.
Last year, West Kentucky FCA said 700 people signed up ahead of race day, and more than 700 ultimately took part, beating the previous year’s participation of just over 600.
“We were kind of sitting there last Thanksgiving morning and thinking, ‘Well, are we going to reach 700 or not?'” Grogan said. “And by the end of the day, we were able to top that 700 mark, and [we’re] just really…super thankful that people come out and support the ministry, and it’s really just supporting the student athletes that we get to connect with each and every day in our local schools.”
As of Tuesday, 419 runners had registered for the 2025 Turkey Trot, and West Kentucky FCA noted that the first 500 registered will receive a pair of FCA knit gloves.
All proceeds from the Turkey Trot go toward scholarships for students to attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Camp at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
“Camp is expensive, but with this event, we’re able to cut the cost of camp in half for all the athletes that we continue to take year after year, and actually…last year, in 2024, we took our most ever student athletes to camp. We had 104 of our local athletes [who] were able to go to experience leadership camp at WKU in Bowling Green.”
The race is held Thanksgiving morning, starting at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27, at 215 Jefferson St.
Participants are recommended to pick up their race packets at a registration pickup event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Pipers Tea and Coffee on Broadway Street. For those who can’t make it to the event, another packet pickup event will begin at 6:30 a.m. on race day.
Race packets include an information packet, a race bib and a shirt. West Kentucky FCA encourages racers to sign up by Nov. 15, because shirt quantities will be limited after that. For those who sign up after the 15th, extra shirts will be available at the packet pickup on a first come, first served basis.
After the race, awards will be presented at 9 a.m. Awards include Overall Male and Female for the 5K and 10K races.
For more information on the West Kentucky Fellowship of Christian Athletes & Edward Jones Turkey Trot, including age groups, course maps and how to sign up, click here and select “click here to register for race.”
