Entry through the organiser
Entry details on the organiser’s site →
The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.
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Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2026 race
- Start
- 07:307:30 AM
- Distance
- 10.0 km6.2 mi
- 10K · 5K
The course
Because of America's Thanksgiving Parade, every Turkey Trot runner has to be off the Woodward Avenue part of the course by 9:10, and the 10K leaves it at about the 4-mile mark.
- Off Woodward Avenue before the paradeClear of Woodward by 9:10; the 10K turns off at about 4 miles.
- Start on Griswold and Fort, finish behind Huntington Place10K starts Griswold and Fort; all finish on Atwater by the Riverwalk.
- Costumes encouraged, strollers in the slower wavesCostumes welcome, strollers in slower waves, no pets or bikes.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseTacticsOff Woodward Avenue before the paradeClear of Woodward by 9:10; the 10K turns off at about 4 miles.
The organiser says the 10K starts at 7:30 and runners turn off Woodward at about the 4-mile mark, while the 5K starts at 8:30 and turns off about half way through, at 1.5 miles. The finish line at Huntington Place closes at 10:00. Corrals are assigned by mile pace at registration, five each for the 10K and the 5K, and walkers start in the slowest one.
Sourced
Whole courseGeometryStart on Griswold and Fort, finish behind Huntington Place10K starts Griswold and Fort; all finish on Atwater by the Riverwalk.
The organiser places the 10K and 5K starts at Griswold and Fort Street and the Mashed Potato Mile start on Atwater behind Huntington Place. All races finish on Atwater, behind Huntington Place and next to the Riverwalk. The 2026 course is the same as in 2025, apart from any last-minute changes for road work.
Sourced
Whole courseCrowdCostumes encouraged, strollers in the slower wavesCostumes welcome, strollers in slower waves, no pets or bikes.
The organiser says costumes make the race “The Parade before the Parade” and encourages them, though there is no prize for the best one. Strollers are allowed in the slower waves, not the yellow or blue ones, and should start near the back. Pets and bikes are not allowed. There are two water stations on the courses and one at the finish, with portable toilets along the route. The organiser sets no age restriction and asks that young children are accompanied by an adult.
Sourced
Race weekend
Bib pickup at Huntington Place, Hall EBefore race week 2 key dates
-
14 Nov 2026
Advance packet pickup begins Runs to Saturday 21 November at several locations around the metro area; hours and days vary by location. -
23 Nov 2026
Online registration deadline
Wednesday 25 November Bib pickup
-
12:0012:00 PM–19:007:00 PM
Race Central open (packet pickup, in-person registration) Huntington Place, Hall E
Bib in hand?A number belt holds it without pins through your race top. Clip it on tonight.
Number belt on AmazonAmazon partner link
Thursday 26 November Race day
-
06:006:00 AM
Packet pickup on Thanksgiving morning Huntington Place -
09:109:10 AM
Off Woodward Avenue Because of America's Thanksgiving Parade, everyone must be off the Woodward Avenue part of the course by 9:10. The 10K turns off at about the 4-mile mark. -
10:0010:00 AM
Finish line closes All races finish on Atwater, behind Huntington Place, next to the Riverwalk.
Other races (2)
-
07:307:30 AM
10K and Mashed Potato Mile start 10K: Griswold and Fort St.; Mile: Atwater behind Huntington Place -
08:308:30 AM
5K Stuffing Strut start Griswold and Fort St.
Times as published by the organiser, in Detroit time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Thursday
Race morning, on the record
We hold no start time for this race, so the record is read at 09:009:00 AM, local time.
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Detroit time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
No gel needed at this pace
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Order by 5 November to test them on two long runs first.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot.
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