A fleet flock will hit the streets of Southport and Westport on Thursday morning.

Not turkeys, but runners. Thousands of them, participating in what has been a holiday tradition since 1978 — the annual Thanksgiving Day Race/Walk sponsored by the Pequot Runners.

Over more than four decades, the event has evolved into the second largest race in the state, according to the running club, attracting more than 5,500 participants in past years.

It consists of two courses: a 5-mile “race” route and a 2.6-mile “walk” route. Click here and here, respectively, to see the map of each route.

A significant portion of the 5-mile race runs through Westport, including Greens Farms Road, Clapboard Hill Road, Maple Avenue South, New Creek Road and Beachside Avenue, before heading back into Southport.

The race and walk start at 8:15 a.m. Thursday on Pequot Avenue, near the Wakeman Club, 385 Center St. in the Southport section of Fairfield.

Because of pandemic health and safety protocols, the number of in-person participants this year is limited to 4,000. Registration information and online signup details for the race and walk can be found here.

All walkers and runners must have been vaccinated (two doses of either the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, one dose of Johnson and Johnson) by Nov. 14. Masks are required on the Wakeman Club property.

Strollers, baby joggers and dogs are not permitted this year.

There also is a five-mile “virtual” race Thursday. Sign up here for that event.

For more information, contact the race director at pequotrunners@gmail.com.