Freedom Ride Rescue Turkey Day 5K

For race info (parking, packet pick up, awards, the day's agenda), click on "RACE INFO" on the menu!!

What is the Freedom Ride Rescue Turkey Day 5K? 

The Freedom Ride Rescue Turkey Day 5K is the annual Thanksgiving Day race held in Garner’s White Deer and Lake Benson Parks.  Family and friends, both human and canine, gather to enjoy a brisk holiday morning run or walk through the parks to help raise money in support of Freedom Ride Rescue's mission to help abandoned, neglected and abused animals in North Carolina. 

Race options include 5K and a 1M Fun Run. Both the 5K and 1M courses are relatively flat paved trails and the seasonal beauty of these two parks is spectacular. Thanksgiving themed costumes, decorated wagons, strollers and baby joggers are encouraged. Well socialized dogs are welcome on a 6’ or shorter leash - retractable leashes are not permitted. Virtual 'racers' are welcome to support us from a far and will receive a race shirt whlle supplies last! 

Since its inception, The Freedom Ride Rescue Turkey Day 5K has been a very popular and well attended event.  The first year was capped at 500 participants and we sold out.  This year's race will be limited to 1,000 participants. Registration fees increase as race day approaches, so register early!

5K Age Group and Awards Breakdown 

The following fastest/second fastest timed runners will receive a Freedom Ride Rescue award AND a gift card (Fleet Feet is donating gift cards to the overall winners and ages 16 and up. We have Goodberry's Frozen Custard gift cards for the 15 and under winners)! 

Overall: 

• • Top 2 males and top 2 females (overall winners are not eligible for age group awards)

Age groups, top 2 males and top 2 females:

• • 5 and under

  • 6 - 9

  • 10 - 12

  • 13 - 15

  • 16 - 19

  • 20 - 29

  • 30 - 39

  • 40 - 49

  • 50 - 59

  • 60 - 69

  • 70+

Overall awards will be determined by gun time. Age group awards will be determined by chip time. 

We will do the 5K Awards ceremony once all 5K participants have finished the race.

2025 UPDATE!! The park is renovating the pedestrian bridge (the 'out and back') so we have updated the route!

5K and 1 mile fun run 

• Everyone starts and finishes at the same place at White Deer Park (Turkey Day Agenda)!!
• We will send the 5K runners off in heats with the award ceremony after they have all completed the course ... (Awards Categories)
• Once all heats of the 5K runners have started, we will send the fun run/walkers on their way!

Maps - THREE versions of the new route! Please scroll for all:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53359109 See map on this app AND another version below

Beat the Thanksgiving morning lines!

Come by one of these three pre-race pick up spots!!

• Saturday, Nov. 22 from 2 - 5 pm: Zin Yoga (104 Rand Mill Rd, Garner) ... join us for PUPPY YOGA that day at 3 pm, beer tasting at 4 - and adoptable dogs the whole time!!

• Sunday, Nov. 23 from 3 - 6 pm: Deep River Brewing (700 W Main St, Clayton) .... adoption event!!

• Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 5 - 7 pm: Mordecai Beverage Company (2425 Crabtree Blvd, Raleigh)

If you don't make the pre-race pick up events, don't worry!! We will open check in at White Deer Park at 7 am November 27 at the race and you can get your shirts, bag and bib (5K only) at the race .... 

Parking

The parking for the event is in Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Rd, Garner. It is a short walk from Lake Benson Park to the race staging area in White Deer Park. For your safety, please cross Buffaloe Road at the crosswalk where a Garner Police Officer will be stationed.  Signs will direct you to the starting line!

We are excited to offer a few raffle prizes which will be drawn at the end of the race!

We have many sponsorship opportunities available for all budget starting at $300. If you are interested in more information regarding becoming a race sponsor email turkeyday@freedom-ride.org.

You can also purchase/pay for sponsorships or directional signs directly from our web.

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Along for the ride - $300

• Two Race Entries (includes race shirt for each runner while supplies last)
• Listed as sponsor on SIGN UP race page (where you are now!)
• On FRR web site - name, logo and link to your website
• FB event page - name, logo and link to your website
• Directional sign with logo on the course

Riding shot gun - $500

• Same as ALONG FOR THE RIDE except FIVE Race Entries (includes race shirt for each runner while supplies last)

Plus: 

• Items in swag bags (needed by Nov. 1)
• Company name on runners' shirts (goes to print Nov. 1)

Head out the car window - $1000

• Same as ALONG FOR THE RIDE except EIGHT Race Entries (includes race shirt for each runner while supplies last)

PLUS:

• Banner at do not enter/exit points on track (name and logo)
• Logo on shirt (goes to print Nov. 1)
  
  

Long Road Trip - $2000

• Same as HEAD OUT THE WINDOW except TEN Race Entries (includes raceshirt for each runner while supplies last)

Plus:

• Mention in opening remarks of race
• Press Release inclusion
• One hour of puppy/dog visiting at office site

Shelter Freedom Ride - $5,000

• Same as HEAD OUT THE WINDOW except FIFTEEN Race Entries (includes raceshirt for each runner while supplies last ) 

PLUS: 

• Logo on Runner's BIBS!!!!!!!!!!
• Runners' packets brought to your office

Pack Leader - $10,000

• Same as HEAD OUT THE WINDOW except TWENTY Race Entries (includes raceshirt for each runner)

PLUS:

• Name/logo incorporated into EVENT title
• VIP Parking at White Deer park
• And all reasonable requests will be considered for your company! 

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Personal/Business Directional Signs - $100

(all sponsors, including station sponsors, get their logo on a sign)

To keep all runners and walkers on course, the 5K and 1M routes will be marked with directional signage. Honor your pet while keeping everyone on track! Cat and other pets signs welcome, too. This is an very sweet way to memorialize a pet, too. 

Please remember to send a high quality photo or your logo to turkeyday@freedom-ride.org. Signs will be available for local pickup after the race (we are unable to mail them). 

OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT:

Freedom Ride Rescue is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. EIN 82-3915727

Start Thanksgiving Day dancing & shopping!!

7 - 8:10 am 
Register/Packet pick up

7 until 10:30 am
Shop several vendors  .... buy raffle tickets .... massages by the Healing Arts and Massage School ... coffee by the Darling Donut Boutique ... free hot chocolate ... Brutus Bone Broth for your dog!

8:10 am - Opening ceremonies
* Freedom Ride Welcome; list of major sponsors, yoga warmup by Kara O'Briant (Owner of Zin Yoga Studio & Wine Lounge), race housekeeping

8:30 am

• Heats of Competitive 5K begin (athletic dogs welcome)
• Recreational 5K
• 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk

About 9:30 am

Awards Once all 5K runners finish! 

About 10:30 am

 Finish line closes & raffle winners selected
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* All races will begin and end at the Garner White Deer park's parking lot
* Park at Lake Benson park starting at 6:45 am and walk over to White Deer park
* Participants with dogs, strollers and/or wagons are asked to start at the rear of the race (unless your dog is competing in the 5K with you ... the fastest dog WILL get an prize)
* NO retractable leashes please

Look for amazing photos from the event by Canine Threads (look at the 2022 photos!!!) We are thrilled they'll be back again this year!