Our Story: 16 Years of Thanksgiving Tradition

The Pumpkin Dash 5k was born out of a simple idea — that Thanksgiving morning in Marysville, Ohio could be about more than just the dinner table. In 2011, Speedy Sneakers Racing brought that idea to life, hosting the first Pumpkin Dash 5k in the Historic Uptown District of Marysville. A small but enthusiastic group of 400 runners and walkers laced up their shoes and hit the city streets that November morning, and a community tradition was born.

Of course, no great origin story is complete without a little chaos. For that first race, the initial t-shirt order was a modest 75 shirts. As race day approached and registrations kept rolling in, a second order was placed, then a third, until the total reached 200. With no time left to print more, registrations kept climbing anyway — all the way to 400. At pre-race packet pickup, every last shirt went out the door. On race morning, the very first person in line stepped up, gave her name, and was told there were no shirts left. Her response was immediate: *”I’m first in line!”* She was right, of course — and we were very sorry. After the race, an additional 200 shirts were ordered and shipped to every participant who went home empty-handed. Lesson learned, and a story we’ve laughed about ever since.

What started as a modest local event grew steadily with each passing year. Families began making it part of their Thanksgiving ritual — arriving early in the crisp fall air, running the course through Marysville’s charming neighborhoods, and heading home knowing they’d earned their turkey dinner. Word spread, registration numbers climbed, and it became clear that this race had struck something real in the community.

A milestone came when Honda Federal Credit Union stepped in as the title sponsor, a partnership that would carry the event to new heights. With HFCU’s support, the Pumpkin Dash grew into a premium race experience — long sleeve quarter-zip shirts, large custom commemorative medals, and race photographs became hallmarks of the event. By the 8th Annual race in 2018, the event drew 1,300 runners and walkers to the Historic Uptown District, a remarkable achievement for a community 5k in Union County.

The Little Pumpkin Dashers kids race became another beloved fixture, giving the youngest members of the community — ages 4 and under running roughly 100 yards, and ages 5 and up covering about 200 yards — their own moment in the spotlight before the main event. Seeing children cross a finish line on Thanksgiving morning became one of the most joyful sights of race day.

The Marysville High School Track & Field and Cross Country teams became the event’s long-standing charity partner, with student athletes serving as race-day volunteers, coaches giving their time, and a portion of proceeds going back to support their programs. The partnership wove the race into the very fabric of Marysville athletics.

Then came 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person gatherings across the country, the Pumpkin Dash could have gone dark like so many events that year. Instead, the race adapted — offering a modified virtual format that kept participants connected to the tradition even from their own neighborhoods. It was a testament to how much the race had come to mean: people still wanted to run their Thanksgiving 5k, even from a distance.

The return to an in-person format was celebrated with renewed energy and enthusiasm. The event routinely sells out, a reflection of how deeply rooted this race has become in the life of Marysville and the surrounding central Ohio community.

Now in 2026, the Pumpkin Dash 5k celebrates its **16th year** — 16 Thanksgiving mornings of running, community, and gratitude. Thousands of participants have crossed the finish line in the Historic Uptown District over the years. First-timers stand alongside families who have run every single year. The race has become a reunion of sorts, a moving celebration of Marysville’s community spirit held on the most fitting day of the year.

We are grateful to every runner, walker, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who has made this tradition what it is. The Pumpkin Dash is yours — we just set up the cones.

See you on Thanksgiving morning.