Thanksgiving Day 5K Kansas City
Overland Park, KS
- 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Join other families as they participate in the Thanksgiving Day 5K Run & Family Stroll presented by T-Mobile. This race benefits the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation and WIN for KC and 100% of the proceeds generated will fund our mission of making a better Kansas City through sports … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Nov 27):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 43 | 45 | 41 | 45 | 67 |
| L (°F) | 27 | 34 | 21 | 33 | 41 |
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Big fanfare, with no swag
Okay, maybe not any swag, if you count the soft, long-sleeved t-shirt. Yet, with three other turkey trots within driving distance, you would think that this KC Classic sponsored by … MORE
Okay, maybe not any swag, if you count the soft, long-sleeved t-shirt. Yet, with three other turkey trots within driving distance, you would think that this KC Classic sponsored by the KC Sports Commission would reward participants with a medal on a day that we tend to reward our bellies. I digress.
Thanksgiving 5k at Aspiria Campus hosted more than 3,000 runners and walkers on this cool, chilly morning. This was the final race in the KC Classics Challenge, so I was excited to attend. The fact that it was held at a on a modified course of one that I like was an added bonus. The race started similar to other races held at Aspiria, but then trailed into the closes street, allowing for only one lap rather than the traditional two laps held at this location. Without realizing it, I almost PR’d for my 5k.
With 3,000 participants there were fast runners, walk-runners, walkers, dinosaurs and turkeys. It’s a fun run and quite honestly, I always enjoy seeing family unite together for an activity, which why the lack of medal was disheartening. The race is on a closed course, with little police escorts needed. I get medals all year long, but that 5-year-old kid getting dragged out of bed for a cold race? He deserves the medal. I know grown men who like their medal bling.
Other than the medal, I liked the race. The dj was lively, doughnuts instead of bananas at the finish and easy parking. Yet, next year, I’ll probably skip this race in exchange for one close to me and with a medal.
Yes, I like my bling. (Photo of the KC Classics Challenge medal and the other 4 races involved. )
Hits and misses
So, this was a mandatory race because my race partner needed this to complete a challenge. This brought us back out to Aspiria campus, but for a modified route that … MORE
So, this was a mandatory race because my race partner needed this to complete a challenge. This brought us back out to Aspiria campus, but for a modified route that I hadn’t seen before, and I do pretty much all the Aspiria races. This included a quick little square out on the road then a U-shaped route though the “normal” Aspiria route. There’s an aid station half-way through, I think it had gatorade and water, but to be honest I just ran through it and didn’t pay much attention. The Tshirt was a decent cotton one, but here’s the thing, there was no medal, and I feel like for a race of over 3k people, there really should have been a medal. Maybe the little heart made of drumsticks from the tshirt…something…anything…especially when the other Thanksgiving Day races around here have nice medals with them. The course is fast, as is evidenced by my running partner just completely forgetting that we did a 50k and a half marathon the prior weekend, and almost set a PR (go ccruiz03!). I love the course, but will I be back? Probably not. My spirit animal is a raccoon and I do like collecting shiny things. Should they decide to add medals in the future though, absolutely expect to see me on the course.