The 21st annual Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot was held on a chilly Thanksgiving morning in downtown San Jose on Thursday, with about 23,000 participants staying warm by taking part in the 5K and 10K races.
Silicon Valley Turkey Trot runners prepare to race on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Silicon Valley Turkey Trot runners race on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
The event, sponsored by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation, is believed to be the largest timed Thanksgiving Day race in the country, and raised money for four beneficiaries: HomeFirst, the Healthier Kids Foundation, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County.
Carl Guardino, founder of the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, watches runners before the race Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Silicon Valley Turkey Trot runners race on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Silicon Valley Turkey Trot runners pass a mural depicting the FIFA World Cup trophy Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. Six FIFA World Cup matches will be played at Levi’s Stadium next year. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Gabriel Gonzalez, dressed as a cowboy on a donkey, won the non-holiday-themed category of the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot costume contest Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
Among the VIPs attending the race were U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Santa Clara County Supervisors Otto Lee and Betty Duong, Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Ahmad Thomas and Tarana Wireless Vice President Carl Guardino, who founded the race with his wife, Leslee, in 2005.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan speaks before the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Debbie Clima, left, and her daughter, Olivia Clima, dressed as a cheeseburger and French fries for the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot costume contest Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Scarlet Rose, dressed as a turkey gobbler race car, talks with another Silicon Valley Turkey Trot costume contestant Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-Calif., speaks before the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Silicon Valley Turkey Trot runners race on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
