Two of Statesboro’s favorite fall races are coming up in November 2026: the True Blue 5K and Abbie’s Adventure Race on Saturday, November 7, at Georgia Southern’s M.C. Anderson Park, and the 19th Annual Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 21, on the Bulloch County Courthouse Square downtown. If you take daily medicines, a good race morning comes down to a few things: know how your medicines affect exercise, carry what you might need (like a rescue inhaler or glucose tablets), be careful with over-the-counter pain relievers, and know the warning signs that mean stop and call 911.

I love this time of year in Bulloch County. The heat finally breaks, the mornings get cool, and you start seeing folks out walking and jogging on the Willie McTell Trail and around campus again. A 5K is a great goal whether you plan to run the whole thing, walk it with friends, or push a stroller. Here’s what’s on the calendar and what I’d want you to know from the pharmacy side before you pin on a race number.

Statesboro 5K races in November 2026

These are the details I could confirm from the organizers as of October 30, 2026. Times and prices can change, so check the official race pages before race day.

True Blue 5K and Abbie’s Adventure Race — Saturday, November 7

Georgia Southern Campus Recreation & Intramurals and the Abbie DeLoach Foundation host this one every year during Homecoming weekend, in memory of Abbie DeLoach. This is the 15th running, according to WTOC’s October 14, 2026 report. Per Georgia Southern’s True Blue 5K page and the official registration page:

• Where: M.C. Anderson Park and the Recreation Activity Center (RAC) on the Statesboro campus.
• Start times: Abbie’s Adventure Race at 8 a.m., the True Blue 5K at 8:30 a.m., and a free quarter-mile Kiddie Run at 9:15 a.m. before awards. The university asks runners to check in at least 30 minutes before their race.
• Packet pickup: At the RAC on Friday, November 6, from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday, November 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.
• Cost: Regular pricing ($25 students, $30 faculty/staff/alumni, $35 community) runs through October 30. Starting October 31, it’s $30, $35, and $40. A virtual 5K is also available.
• Good to know: Walking is welcome, and so are strollers and dogs.

If you’re making a whole weekend of Homecoming, our Georgia Southern Homecoming 2026 tailgating health tips cover food safety and mixing alcohol with medicines.

19th Annual Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot — Saturday, November 21

The Turkey Trot raises money for the Bulloch County Foundation for Public School Education, which funds teacher innovation grants, scholarships, and student and teacher recognition programs. Per Bulloch County Schools and the official RunSignup page:

• Where: Bulloch County Courthouse Square on East Main Street. The 5K starts in front of the historic Jaeckel Hotel, now Statesboro City Hall, and winds through the historic downtown and residential districts, with a stretch along the Willie McTell Trail.
• Schedule: Race-day registration and packet pickup at 8 a.m., a free Mascot Run at 8:30 a.m., the 12 & Under Fun Run at 8:45 a.m., and the 5K at 9 a.m. Awards follow on the Courthouse Square.
• Cost: $30 per person, $25 per person for teams of five or more, and $15 for the kids’ Fun Run. Adult prices go up $5 after October 31, which is also the deadline to guarantee your T-shirt size.
• Early packet pickup: Friday, November 20, 3 to 6 p.m., at the Bulloch County Schools Central Office, 150 Williams Road, for those who register by November 16.

Why a fall 5K is worth it

According to the CDC’s adult physical activity overview, adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity like jogging or running, plus muscle-strengthening activity at least two days a week. A race on the calendar gives you a reason to get out the door on the days you’d rather not. The CDC also says to check with your doctor before starting any new or more difficult activity, and that goes double if you live with a chronic condition.

Race-day tips for runners and walkers who take medicines

This is the part I get asked about at the counter. None of it means you can’t race. It just means a little planning.

Heart and blood pressure medicines

The American Heart Association notes that some medicines affect heart rate and can lower your maximum heart rate and target zone. Beta blockers like metoprolol are a common example, since they slow the heart. That means a watch or chart may not tell you the whole story about how hard you’re working. The AHA’s advice is to ask your health care professional what your heart rate should be if you have a heart condition or take medication. Until then, pace yourself by how you feel, and don’t try to keep up with the fast crowd at the start line.

Asthma and rescue inhalers

Long runs and cool, dry air are both common triggers for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), the narrowing of the airways during exercise that many people with asthma experience. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says a short-acting rescue inhaler may be taken 15 to 30 minutes before vigorous exercise and generally prevents symptoms for two to four hours. ACAAI also suggests a gentle warm-up of about 15 minutes, breathing through your nose, and covering your nose and mouth on cold mornings. Ask your doctor whether a pre-exercise dose belongs in your asthma plan, and carry your inhaler on the course, not in the car.

Diabetes and low blood sugar

If you take insulin or certain diabetes pills, especially sulfonylureas like glipizide or meglitinides, a race can drop your blood sugar. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explains that more activity than usual can lower blood glucose during exercise and for up to 24 hours afterward. NIDDK’s guidance includes:

• Check your blood glucose before, during, and after activity, and work with your care team on any medicine or snack adjustments.
• Carry fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets or a juice box.
• If you’re low, take 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate, recheck in 15 minutes, and repeat if you’re still low.
• Wear a medical alert ID, and let a running buddy know what to do if you can’t treat yourself.

We covered more of this in our National Diabetes Month 2026 guide for Statesboro.

Ibuprofen, naproxen, and post-race soreness

It’s tempting to take something before the race “just in case” or grab ibuprofen at the finish line. The FDA-approved Drug Facts label for ibuprofen (example label, 2023) warns that NSAIDs can cause severe stomach bleeding, and that NSAIDs other than aspirin increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. The label says to ask a doctor before use if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or asthma, or if you take a diuretic (water pill). Bleeding risk is higher if you take a blood thinner or a steroid.

The FDA’s pain reliever guidance also reminds us that too much acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage. Read the label, follow the dose, and if you take a blood thinner like apixaban (see our Apixaban 101 guide), ask your pharmacist before reaching for any pain reliever.

Know when to stop

Pushing through a tough mile is part of the fun. Chest pain is not. The American Heart Association lists these heart attack warning signs: discomfort, pressure, or pain in the center of the chest; discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach; shortness of breath; and a cold sweat, nausea, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, unusual tiredness, or lightheadedness. If you or someone near you has those symptoms, stop and call 911.

A quick race-week checklist

• Register before the price goes up, and confirm your start time on the official race page.
• Look over your medicines and ask your pharmacist how they fit with exercise.
• Pack your rescue inhaler, glucose tablets, or other must-have medicines in a pocket or running belt.
• Carry ID and a short list of your medicines and allergies.
• Dress in layers you can shed, since fall mornings can start cool and warm up fast.
• Refill anything that’s running low before race weekend.

On that last one, our online prescription refills take a minute, and we offer free prescription delivery. If you take several monthly medicines, ask about med sync so they’re all ready on the same day. If you’re out Brooklet way, the team at Brooklet Drug is glad to help, too.

Frequently asked questions

When is the True Blue 5K in Statesboro in 2026?

The True Blue 5K is Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Georgia Southern’s M.C. Anderson Park in Statesboro. Abbie’s Adventure Race starts at 8 a.m., the 5K starts at 8:30 a.m., and the free Kiddie Run starts at 9:15 a.m., according to Georgia Southern.

When and where is the 2026 Statesboro Turkey Trot?

The 19th Annual Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot is Saturday, November 21, 2026, on the Bulloch County Courthouse Square in downtown Statesboro. The 5K starts at 9 a.m., with a kids’ Fun Run at 8:45 a.m. and race-day registration opening at 8 a.m.

Can I walk a 5K instead of running it?

Yes. Georgia Southern says walkers are welcome at the True Blue 5K, along with strollers and dogs, and the Bulloch County Foundation for Public School Education invites people of every fitness level to run, trot, or walk the Turkey Trot.

Should I use my asthma inhaler before a race?

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says a short-acting rescue inhaler may be taken 15 to 30 minutes before vigorous exercise to help prevent symptoms. Whether that’s right for you is a question for your doctor, so ask before race day and carry your inhaler with you.

Can exercise cause low blood sugar if I have diabetes?

Yes, especially if you take insulin or certain diabetes pills. The NIDDK says more activity than usual can lower blood glucose during exercise and for up to 24 hours afterward, so check your levels, carry fast-acting carbohydrate, and talk with your care team about a plan.

Is it safe to take ibuprofen after a race?

It depends on your health and your other medicines. The FDA Drug Facts label for ibuprofen warns about stomach bleeding and heart attack and stroke risk, and says to ask a doctor first if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or asthma, or take a diuretic. Your pharmacist can help you choose.

Ready for a pharmacy that feels like home?

We’ve been taking care of families around here since 1984, and we still answer the phone, know our patients by name, and deliver prescriptions for free. If that sounds like the pharmacy you’ve been looking for, transfer your prescriptions to Walker Pharmacy and we’ll take care of the rest. You can read more about our family and our team, find more local health tips on our Health News page, or stop by one of our locations:

• Walker Pharmacy & Boutique — 1198 Merchants Way, Statesboro · (912) 681-3784
• Walker Pharmacy & Gifts — 2425 Northside Dr West, Statesboro · (912) 764-6175
• Brooklet Drug — 102 Parker Ave S, Brooklet · (912) 842-9886

Sources

• Georgia Southern University, Campus Recreation & Intramurals, “True Blue 5K & Abbie’s Adventure Race,” updated June 26, 2026; accessed Oct. 30, 2026.
• AdventureSignup, “Georgia Southern True Blue 5K & Abbie’s Adventure Race” (official registration), accessed Oct. 30, 2026.
• WTOC, “Georgia Southern, Abbie DeLoach Foundation set 15th annual True Blue 5K for Nov. 7,” Oct. 14, 2026.
• Bulloch County Schools, “19th Annual Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot is Nov. 21,” accessed Oct. 30, 2026.
• RunSignup, “Statesboro 5K Turkey Trot” (official registration), accessed Oct. 30, 2026.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Adult Activity: An Overview,” Dec. 20, 2023.
• American Heart Association, “Target Heart Rates Chart,” last reviewed Aug. 12, 2024.
• American Heart Association, “Warning Signs of a Heart Attack,” last reviewed Dec. 12, 2024.
• American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, “Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB),” accessed Oct. 30, 2026.
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH), “Low Blood Glucose (Hypoglycemia),” accessed Oct. 30, 2026.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ibuprofen 200 mg Drug Facts label (PDF), 2023.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “The best way to take your over-the-counter pain reliever? Seriously.,” accessed Oct. 30, 2026.

Educational information only, not personal medical advice. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting a new exercise routine or changing how you take any medicine. Event details reflect organizer sources as reviewed on October 30, 2026, and may change. In an emergency, call 911. For a possible poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Jordan Walker | Owner, Walker Pharmacy