32nd Annual Turkey Trot 5K

Experience the Fort Wayne Zoo like never before!

Imagine running through a dazzling display of giant lanterns on a 1-mile course, lighting up your path in vibrant colors and shapes. This unique race promises a blend of competition and enchantment, perfect for all ages.

Race Details:

• Course: 1-mile course around the zoo featuring beautiful, large lantern displays. It will not be dark at this time.

• Timing: Not a timed race, but a race nonetheless!

• Medals: Placement-based medal per wave: Cheetah Medals for the first 10 racers, Gazelle Medals for the next 10 racers, etc.

• Wave Information: All waves follow the same route; only the start times differ. If you are walker or a slower runner, register for the Yellow, Rainbow or White Wave. After all race waves conclude (around 8:40 PM), participants can revisit the course at their leisure and enjoy the stunning displays until 11:00 PM, free of charge.

Important Notes:

Racers will receive a coupon on their race bib to use at any of the food or drink (non-alcoholic) vendors inside the Zoo. The Peacock Café, Ray’s Grill, Bamboo Snack Station, Slice and Carousel Canteen will have Asian cuisine offerings available.

All participants need to have cleared the course by 8:40 PM for reopening.

No On-Site Registration!

For the safety of our animals, dogs and other pets are not permitted. Service animals must check in at Zoo guest services at least 1 hour prior to the race.

While participants can reenter the course for free after the race, friends and family can join them by purchasing separate admission at the front gate.

Proceeds benefit the Fort Wayne Zoo.

We are excited to announce The Getting Miles Athletic Club's first annual Fort Wayne Park Race Series. Participants aged 12 and under are eligible to compete in this race series.

The Derby Mile is a one mile loop of challenging dirt trails in Franke Park. Participants will start and finish at the HUB.

The HUB is an outdoor recreation facility at the bottom of historic Derby Hill.

Make sure you arrive early to find a good parking spot, warm up, use the restrooms and pick up your race bib.

Series participants need to return their race bibs to the packet pickup station in order to receive points for the race. You will use the same race bib for all the events.

Runners will receive the final race decal to put on their bibs at the finish line.

We are collecting non-perishable food items to help fill the local food lockers to help local families in need.

The Getting Miles Athletic Club is a local organization whose goal is to provide a community for recreational athletes of all levels.

Raceday Schedule of Events

7:30AM-8:45AM-Packet Pickup at The HUB

8:50AM-Race info and instructions

9:00AM-Race time!

10:30AM-Race series awards

Series participants need to return their race bibs to the packet pickup station in order to receive points for the race. You will use the same race bib for all the events.

Complete all four races and win fun prizes at the end of the season.

Race Series Page

Shoaff Park Long Mile

Buckner Park Dash

Franke Park Derby Mile

Double Dragon Two Mile

Runners will be placed into one of four age groups:

5-6

7-8

9-10

11-12

Runners will receive points based on age group and gender place.

Runners who finish after 20th will receive points for finishing.

Awards for participation and point series for the race season will be presented at the conclusion of the Double Dragon in October.

Chase the Shadow is a free, untimed fun run/walk/roll that is open to participants of all fitness levels.

How does is work?

The rules are pretty simple. Just finish the 5k route before The Shadow.

Participants will follow a bicycle lead on a route that follows the Fort Wayne Trails network.

The route will be clearly and marked, but we won’t have police presence so be sure to follow traffic laws at road crossings!

Fun trophies go to the first place male and female finishers and first place place boy and girl (under 13) finishers.

The Shadow launches at 1:00pm.

We launch at 1:05PM

Awards begin at 2pm.

So put on you best ninja suit, cool tuxedo T-shirt, or simply a black T-shirt.

Chase the Shadow is the only time that we encourage walkers and runners to dress in black.

Chase the Shadow is an untimed fun run.

We will have a race clock on site if you want to see your time.

Be sure to record you activity with your smart phone or your fitness wearable and then share your adventure on social media.

All ages and athletic abilities are welcome!

Follow Getting Miles on Runsignup as we add cool events to the calendar.

You can also find the Getting Miles Athletic Club on Facebook and Strava.

Please join the Woodside Middle School community for our annual Warrior 5k and Family Mile Fun Run on Saturday, May 16th. This is a fantastic community event to help raise money for Woodside PTC to continue to help fund underfunded departments at the middle school.

Please register by May 4th to guarantee your shirt and size. Registrations after May 4th are not guaranteed a shirt.

Online registration ends on May 15 at 9PM.

Same day registration will be open at 7:45 AM on Saturday, May 16th, but there will not be a guarantee we can get a t-shirt.

Packet Pick Up will be May 15th 4PM to 7PM at Woodside Middle School Door 8, the main gym entrance.

NEW THIS YEAR* A friendly competition between the elementary run clubs. If you are a district family with a student in one of our elementary schools, after you register, please fill out this quick google form. The school with the most students participating in either the 1 mile Fun Run or Warrior 5K will win!

You can also get the google form from your run club coach.

See you all on the course!

Join us on Saturday, May 16, 2026 for the 12th Annual Race for the Warrior at 10:00 am. R4TW supports the Northeast Indiana Base Community Council and their Military Support Fund. The race will take flight on the adaptive and stroller friendly runways at the Fort Wayne International Airport and will occur rain or shine (no refunds will be issued).

Race t-shirt/swag not guaranteed for registrations made after 5/1/2026.

• Gates open 5/16/26 at 8:30 am for packet pickup/check-in and same day registration.

• Training Trot start time - Approximately 11:30 am

• Bicycles are NOT allowed on the course