Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k
When is Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k?
Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k takes place on Saturday, November 21, 2026 in Somerset, NJ.
What distances does Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k offer?
Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k offers 2 events: 1 Mile Fun Run, Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k.
| Event | Distance | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mile Fun Run | 1.0 mi | $20.00 | Register |
| Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k | 5.0 km | $25.00 | Register |
How much does Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k cost?
Registration for Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k starts at $20.00. Prices vary by event distance.
Where is Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k held?
Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k is held in Somerset, NJ at Colonial Park.
About Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k
Gobble Gobble again!
Join us the last Saturday before Thanksgiving for our seventh annual "Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k," once again in November! Come run with us to celebrate Thanksgiving as we honor the memory of our race's namesake, Tom 'Dragon' O'Reilly.
RACE DATE:
Saturday, November 21st at 10am (rain, snow, or shine)
LOCATION:
Somerset County Park Commission's Colonial Park
156 Mettlers Road
Franklin Township
Donations to the 'RVRR Scholarship Fund' in Tom's memory:
Please visit our donations tab to donate if you're not signed up for the race. If you are signing up, you'll have a chance to donate at checkout.
RACE RESULTS
Click HERE for our crazy fast 2025 race results. Timing provided by Compuscore.
RACE DAY SCHEDULE
Race Day Registration/Packet Pick-up: 8:00 am - 9:45 am in Knob Hill Pavilion (Lot C)
Pre-Race Day Packet Pickup: 3-7PM on November 20th at Road Runner Sports in North Brunswick (501 Shoppes Blvd, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902)
Start Time: 10:00am November 21st
Parking: ONLY available in Lot B. Please enter from the Mettlers Rd. entrance to the park, especially if you are arriving after 8:30am. The main road in the park will be closed at 8:30 am as we prepare for the trot
Registration Pricing:
$25 Early Bird registration until August 31st, 11:59 pm
$30 Registration from 9/1 until October 21st, 11:59pm
$35 Registration from 10/22 until November 19, 11:59pm
($3 discount for RVRR/USATF members during pre-registration)
$40 Race-day registration, no discounts
Race Shirts: Register by 11:59pm on Saturday, November 1st to guarantee a race shirt. Shirts are NOT guaranteed to race day registrants or those who register after November 1st.
Awards: Beginning at 10:45 am under the Knob Hill Pavilion.
Awards will be given to the first, second and third overall male and female.
Age group awards will be given to first, second and third place male/female finishers in the following categories: 15 and under, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90 and over.
Course: Flat & fast (and did we mention fun??). Race starts and ends in Colonial Park.
Water Stops: There will be one water stop on the course.
Post-race Refreshments: Bottled water/beverages and snacks will be provided post-race at Knob Hill Pavilion.
New This Year - 1 Mile Fun Run!
Fun Run Start Time: 9:00am November 21st
Fun Run Registration Pricing:
Kids 10 and under run free!
Register for the Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k to get $15 off your Fun Run Registration
$20 Early Bird registration until August 31st, 11:59 pm
$25 Registration from 9/1 until October 21st, 11:59pm
$30 Registration from 10/22 until November 19, 11:59pm
$35 Race-day registration
Fun Run Awards and Giveaways:
Fun Run registrants will not receive a race shirt, but will receive a participation medal.
About Tom
“You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you deal with it."
For those of you who don’t know, Tom O'Reilly was our race director for several years after Somerset County handed over their turkey trot race to RVRR. On June 13, 2020, Tom lost his battle with glioblastoma. That November, the Somerset County Turkey Trot 5k was renamed the "Tom O'Reilly Turkey Trot 5k" in his memory.
Tom was well-known for his love of running and his enduring care for others. His love for running was best shown through his involvement with RVRR as a member for over 10 years, former President of the club, and race director of the Chimney Rock 5 Miler and the Somerset Turkey Trot. He always made it a point to get to know everyone and address their questions or concerns. He led many group “adventure runs”. Tom was a pacer at countless races and volunteered with Team Achilles as guide runner for individuals with vision impairment. He could often be found at the back of the pack of group runs, encouraging newer and slower runners.
We could give a lengthy list of how Tom affected people’s lives, but a true testament was that after he was diagnosed and all throughout his battle, he had a steady stream of visitors from near and afar. Even as COVID-19 shut down society, there were many virtual visits and socially distanced “porch parties” on the deck of his home. His nickname was 'Dragon'. Since his diagnosis, #TeamDragon and #TommyStrong were the tags used by friends and family to show support on social media posts. They continue to be used today.
Tom was an amazing runner and person. He leaves behind an enduring legacy that will live on forever.
RVRR has set up a scholarship fund and donations made to the club in Tom's name will be directed into this fund. A minimum of 10% of the profits from the Turkey Trot will go to this scholarship in Tom's memory. When signing up for this race, registrants will have the opportunity to make an additional donation toward the scholarship fund if they so desire. Please click here to donate, or mail your donations to:
Raritan Valley Road Runners (RVRR)
Scholarship Fund
PO Box 4784
Highland Park, NJ 08904-4784
Under the Roadrunner Clubs of America, RVRR is a recognized 501(c)3 charitable organization. All donations to RVRR are tax-deductible.
Thank you so much for your support!
Course
We have a fast and flat certified course that runs through Colonial Park.
Click HERE to view a map of the course.
Join RVRR
RVRR Membership Information
Whether you enjoy the solitude of running by yourself, or the camaraderie of running with friends; whether you’re a seasoned marathoner, or a beginner; the RARITAN VALLEY ROAD RUNNERS are for you
How to Join Us
- Come to any of our weekly runs (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday) and see what we are all about!
- Attend one of our Summer Series XC Races and join us afterwards for some food and refreshments
- Direct any questions you might have to our Facebook group, or our board: board@rvrr.org or general email rvrr@rvrr.org
- Become a member online (or renew) our website under “Membership”--no processing fees!
Membership Notes
- Membership runs from January 1st through December 31st.
- Though you may show up to 2 runs without paying membership dues, we ask that after that you register and become an official member – it’s only $30
- Members can recoup this amount through club and team incentives.
- Once you’re a club member you can sign up to be a USATF member and race for our teams in the USATF NJ Team Grand Prix!
- Members must agree to the RVRR Code of Conduct
Member Benefits
- Discounts on certain club races
- Running incentive programs, Member Appreciation gifts/raffles
- Ability to participate in general membership meetings and vote on referendums
- Weekly E-Blast with upcoming events, race recaps, and other important club info.
- Newsletter with stories and recaps from fellow members, club news, and upcoming club activities/races.
- Meetings that feature speakers and “hands-on” events.
- Forum for finding running partners, training advice, and local running routes.
- Regular group runs on measured courses through parks and city streets.
- Car pools to local races, and group support at the finish line.
- An opportunity to compete as a member of the RVRR team (all paces welcome!).
- Special events, club relays, special group runs, social activities, track workouts etc.
- Discounts on running shoes and gear at area merchants.
- The opportunity to enhance your running experience by volunteering at club sponsored events.
- Open to everyone – slow, fast, beginners, veterans, and walkers.
- AARC membership and benefits.
- Informal coaching.
- Quality Certified competitive events with full age group.
- Club logo merchandise available.
Check us out on Facebook or visit our website to learn more about membership!
Packet Pickup Special Offer
See below for a Special Road Runner Sports offer for race participants during packet pickup at Road Runner Sports.
Photos
USATF MAAPP
The USATF's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) are required to be made available to all participants at a USATF sanctioned event, such as our Turkey Trot. These policies can be found within the USATF Safe Sport Handbook, located at this link. Thank you for helping to keep our race a safe event for all participants!