2026 Willow High School Turkey Trot

STORM THE SPRING BEFORE YOU GOBBLE!!

Established in 2022, Willow Spring High School is BACK with its Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5k Run!  

The USATF-certified 5K course will start and end on the track and include a loop that will take you around campus, down the Park-Depot Greenway Trail, and into the South Lakes neighborhood before your return. The Kids Fun Run (9 and under), and Diaper Dash (4 and under) will all occur on the school track.

We will again offer the competitive 5K for those faster runners who can finish within 30 minutes and want to run with less congestion on the course. In the competitive 5K there will be overall awards for the top 3 and age group awards for the top two. Awards will be given following the competitive 5K. For an added bonus, the course record holder always gets a free entry! 

The Family Fun Run is FULL and no more participants will be able to register. The Fun Family 5K includes walkers, runners, and strollers (no pets). In the Fun Family 5K, we will have a costume contest that will be judged during the race on Social Media. So come out in your most fun Thanksgiving costume, get your picture taken and have a chance to win the Trophy!

All participants will receive a medal at the end of their race.  Participants who run the Competitive 5k or the Fun Family 5K who sign up before October 24th will also receive a t-shirt. If you register after October 24th, t-shirts are not guaranteed.

This event is open to ANY and EVERYONE!!

Proceeds will benefit the schools' Cross Country Teams, Track Teams and Sports Boosters. This is going to be a FUN event that you don't want to miss.

Follow us on instagram @WS_STORM_XCTF

LOCATION AND PARKING:
The race will be held at Willow Spring High School, starting on the Track,  located at 1704 Old Honeycutt Road, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526. Because the 5K course utilizes the entrance off of Old Honeycutt, all race day traffic will be directed to the parking lot off of Kennebec Road. Please follow the signs and plan to park in the Kennebec Road parking lot. 

PACKET PICK UP: 
Participants will have the choice to pick up race packets on two occasions: the afternoon of November 26 as well as Thanksgiving morning. 

Early Bird Check-In: Wednesday, November 26, 1-4 PM @ Willow Spring High School Stadium

Race Day Check-In: Thursday, November 27 starting at 7:00 AM @ Willow Spring High School Stadium

At Check-In, you will confirm your information and pick up your race bib and a shirt if applicable. 

If opting for race day check in, please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your event start time. The Competitive 5K, time limit of 30 minutes, is our first race and will start promptly at 7:45 AM. No strollers are allowed in the competitive 5K. 

Please note:  The Starting Line for all races is on the Track.

TIMING AND AWARDS:
Race timing will be done using electronic Bib Tags. Please be sure not to bend, fold, or remove the chip on your race number. For all events, bibs must be worn and be visible to officials at the finish line. Do not cover the bib. 

Competitive 5K Awards - Top 3 male and female in the 5K and Top 2 finishers in each age category for both male and female: 10 & under, 11-16, 17-25, 26-39, 40-55 and 55 and over

5K COURSE:
Link to 5K Course Map
All course turns will be marked with directional signs, and if needed, coned and chalked. A portion of the course will have two-way traffic. Please share the course and stick to the right side if necessary. 

Volunteers will be placed on the course to assist in direction and a police officer will be stationed where the greenway crosses Jones Lake Road to stop vehicular traffic. Roads will not be closed during the race; pay attention to car traffic and stay on the sidewalks while in the residential areas of the course. 

Water will be available at a Water Stop stationed near the halfway mark. The same station is accessible again soon after the second mile. 

RULES:
- Runners must pick up and wear their assigned race bib on their FRONT.
- Runners may not participate with someone else’s bib number or exchange bib numbers. 
- Runners should obey all course monitors and safety personnel. 
- Unregistered participants, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates or other motorized devices are not allowed. 
- No pets or animals allowed on the course. 
- Strollers are permitted for the Family Fun 5K only. If running with a stroller, please start at the back of the group. 
- Please be courteous and move over to the side when faster runners are passing. 
- Failure to adhere to course signage and run direction or impeding other runners can result in disqualification. 

POST-RACE REFRESHMENTS:
Complimentary water and bananas/snacks will be available at the 5K Finish Line. 

BATHROOMS:
Real, warm, and stocked bathrooms are in the stadium at Willow Spring High School and will be open! The high school building will be closed. 

 

Event Sponsors:

Old Castle Infrastructure Company - Competitive 5K

Johnson Pond Learning Center - Kids Run

Supporting Sponsors:

Fuquay Family Dentistry 

Fat Cat

Playmakers Productions

Carolina Ortho and Children’s  Dentistry

Massengill Design-Build

Travis Manion

Marine Corps

Neighborhood Barre

Sponsors:

Club Worx

Pittman Orthodontics

Sudz on Maynard

Home Court Pickleball, LLC

Howard Family

Assaggios

Eggs up Grill

Run the Quay

Replay the Quay

Daddy D's

Michelle Farrar - Child, Adult, Family Counseling

Fritz and Wilson Orthodontics

HMS Hoffman Mechanical Solutions

Gift in Kind:

Pace Yourself

Fleet Feet

Dude Wipes

Stopain

Seattle Gummies

Drip Drop

Hydrapatch

 

 

 

 

Sponsorship Information

Thank you for your interest in sponsoring the 3rd Annual Willow Spring Turkey Trot. The event will be held Thanksgiving morning, November 28, 2024. Events include a 5K (competitive and family fun categories), Kids Fun Run (400 M for ages 9 and under) and a Diaper Dash (50 M for ages 4 and under). All proceeds go to Willow Spring High School Storm Boosters in support of the school’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams. 

The event will start and finish at the Willow Spring High School Stadium.  The USATF certified 5K course is a loop that takes participants around the school track, down the Park-Depot Greenway Trail, and into the South Lakes Neighborhood. The Kids Fun Run and Diaper Dash will occur on the school track. We expect to have over 1000 participants, spectators, and family members attend the event.

Sponsorship Packages:
Event Sponsorship: $1,000 (4 available)
Official sponsor of 1 event: Competitive 5K, Family 5K, Kids Fun Run or Diaper Dash (your choice)
“Event Sponsored By” title in all event marketing materials, event webpages, press releases and social media promotions for specific event.
Prominent logo placement on t-shirt
Prominent logo placement on race day signage at registration
5 free race registrations
Verbal recognition before the start of the individual event as the Official Sponsor
Verbal recognition at the awards ceremony as the Official Sponsor for the event
Display Booth/Vendor Table available at the race

Mile Marker/Water Stop Sponsor: $750 (4 available)
Logo featured prominently on race course at Mile Marker 1, 2, 3 or water stop (your choice)
Logo on T-shirt
Logo displayed on race day signage at registration
3 free race registrations
Verbal recognition at the start of the 5K races
Verbal recognition at the Awards Ceremony
Display Booth/Vendor Table available at race

Supporting Sponsor $500 (unlimited)
Logo on T-shirt
Logo displayed on race day signage at registration 
Verbal Recognition at the Awards Ceremony 
Display Booth/Vendor Table available at race

Sponsor $250 (unlimited)
Name on T-shirt
name displayed on race day signage at registration
Verbal Recognition at the Awards Ceremony
Display Booth/Vendor Table available at race

Please note that sponsorships are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Deadlines for inclusion on t-shirt is October 25th and the deadline for inclusion on race day signage is November 8th.

Contact:  Coach Ana Bolchalk - abolchalk@wcpss.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Competitive Run - 5k (30 min time limit): Commemorative T-Shirt

Family Fun Run - 5k: Commemorative T-Shirt

Diaper Dash - 50m Run: Add a Commemorative T-Shirt

Kids Fun Run - 400 m: Add a Commemorative T-Shirt