This Thanksgiving, join community members, friends and visitors of all ages for the annual Turkey Day Dash. Hosted by Five07 Coffee along with volunteers from area nonprofits, the 2025 event starts at 7 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, at Cal Lutheran University’s Memorial Field in Thousand Oaks, 60 W. Olsen Road.
Some 2,500 participants are expected to register for the event, which features a timed 5K road race and the Zack Zernik Mile (run/walk).
“It’s amazing!” says Race Organizer Kyle Jorrey, noting that Thanksgiving is the “biggest running day of the year.”
“The event has an incredible energy; people love it.”
The family friendly tradition attracts an array of participants who sign up year after year to start the day off with some exercise before heading home to their Thanksgiving feasts.
“Between the mile and 5K, it takes about an hour and a half, so you can be home by 10 a.m. and still have plenty of time to cook dinner and enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities,” notes Jorrey, adding that all ages and skill levels are welcome.
“We have serious runners who are there to compete as well as parents with strollers,” says Jorrey. “This is really a family event, so we don’t want anyone to feel intimidated. Walkers are welcome.”
Participants who register ($50/person or $40/person for a family of three or more) receive a T-shirt and gift bag. Medals and prizes are awarded to the three fastest males and females in each age group.
Those who sign up can participate in the Zack Zernik Mile (8 a.m.) or the Dash 5K (8:30 a.m.), or both. The mile event is named in honor of a Conejo Valley native and lifelong “Dasher” who lost his life in January 2023 at the age of 22. Zachary “Zack” Zernik, a graduate of Thousand Oaks High School, was climbing near Mount Boney outside Newbury Park when he lost his footing and fell.
Zack and his family―including mom Elizabeth, father Fred and sister Marina―took part in the Thanksgiving Day tradition for many years. Zack was an Eagle Scout who loved sports, fitness and the great outdoors.
The event also features a costume contest and fundraising teams competing for gift cards and prizes.
All proceeds from the Dash benefit three local nonprofits: Hospice of the Conejo, Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Foundation and Scouting America Ventura County. All three provide volunteers who make the event possible.
For more information and to register, visit Five07TurkeyDayDash.org.
“We have serious runners who are there to compete as well as parents with strollers.”