Some Atlanta families start Thanksgiving with the parade on TV. Others start it in running shoes, breath fogging in the cold, with a crowd of neighbors around them and the smell of somebody’s coffee drifting from the curb.
If you have ever thought about joining that second group, this is your year to do it. The Atlanta Track Club’s Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile and Dash runs on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and there is a distance for almost everybody in the house.
The Basics
- Where: Start and finish at Center Parc Stadium, 755 Hank Aaron Drive SE, with the course running through neighborhoods including Summerhill and Grant Park.
- Half Marathon: 13.1 miles, ages 14 and up, starts at 7:45 a.m.
- 5K: ages 8 and up, starts at 8:15 a.m.
- Mile: ages 6 and up, starts at 8:25 a.m.
- Dash: for kids 6 and under, with the youngest group starting at 9:00 a.m. and the 4 to 6 year olds at 9:15 a.m.
Half and 5K finishers get a long-sleeve shirt and a medal. Mile and Dash kids get a medal and a beanie, which on a cold morning might be the best prize of the day.
What It Costs (and Why Sooner Is Better)
Prices step up as race day gets closer. Per the club’s posted schedule:
- Half Marathon: $135 through October 30, $140 through November 16, then $150 at number pickup.
- 5K: $50 through November 20, then $55 at number pickup.
Two things to know. There is no race-day registration, so you cannot just show up Thursday morning and sign up. And the club says the event sells out, so if you are on the fence, decide this week.
Pick Up Your Number Before Thursday
Half and 5K runners have to grab their numbers ahead of time at Atlantic Station, 260 18th Street NW, in the former West Elm storefront:
- Saturday, November 21, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, November 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Busy that week? A friend can pick up your number if they bring your check-in pass. Mile and Dash families can grab theirs during those hours or on race morning.
Bringing the Stroller or the Dog
Good news for parents and dog people. The 5K has its own wave for strollers and dogs. That is the only race where they are allowed, so leave Rover home if you are running the half. Bikes and skates are not allowed on the course.
Race Morning Game Plan
- Get there early. Free parking near the stadium is limited. The club recommends carpooling and arriving at least an hour before your start.
- Dress in layers. Late November mornings can start cold and warm up fast once you are moving. Wear something you do not mind shedding.
- Pin your bib flat. Your timing chip lives on it, so keep it unfolded and pinned at all four corners.
- Plan the after. Pick a meeting spot for your crew before the start, because cell service gets crowded near a finish line.
Not Running? Come Cheer
You do not need a bib to be part of it. The course winds through Summerhill and Grant Park, and a few people on the sidewalk with handmade signs can carry a tired runner through a tough mile. Bring a thermos, bring the kids and make some noise.
Then Go Eat
After all that work, the table is waiting. If your family likes some seafood next to the turkey, Shrimp & Lobster Unlimited takes orders by phone or WhatsApp at (404) 314-2100. Just order ahead, because Thanksgiving week fills up for everybody.
Times, prices and policies can change, so confirm every detail with the Atlanta Track Club at atlantatrackclub.org before you register or head out.
See you at the start line, Atlanta. Or at the finish, cheering.
