Episodes

We have become especially aware this summer of the differences in opportunities across our city. We know going to museums or camps are good for kids, but not all kids get that kind of exposure to what’s called cultural capital. It affects education and upward mobility, something Charlotte struggles with, according to a now-well-known report putting us last among Top 50 metros when it comes to moving up in socio-economic status. The non-profit Raise a Child of the Carolinas sets its goal of expo...

If you’ve been in Charlotte for even a few months, listening to the radio or watching local TV, you’ve likely heard an ad for one of the Keffer Auto Group’s 8 car dealerships like Hyundai, Volkswagen, or Kia. What you may not know is their namesake owner, Jim Keffer, is pretty good at getting around on foot, too — we mean, of course, running. Jim likes training and competing in endurance sports, and in fact, is the name sponsor of our Keffer Cares Rocktoberfest Half Marathon and 5-miler, part o...

We can all use a little encouragement in our running lives, and our next guest on Running Around Charlotte has some for you. Aaron Beaver is an ultra runner who created the Suffer Club on three points: encouragement, accountability, and consistency. He’s here to encourage us now with his story.

We love talking about running here, but the best part of running is knowing that you’re doing something to keep your body healthy and fit. Our next guest on Running Around Charlotte wants you to feel amazing in your body .. and, in fact, is inviting you to be a part of “Be Amazing Weekend” in October. Celia Thompson, or “Cel” to her friends, spent 10 years in competitive fitness and now focuses on keeping others fit. She joins us now to tell us how we can, also, “be amazing.”

Running is a hot, sweaty business. And what’s the first thing you do after you cool down? Taking a shower and washing your hair is probably high on the list. Our next guest on Running Around Charlotte, though, got sick of running with her hair one day during a 20-mile run, and… took it off. No, she didn’t shave it — she was wearing a wig, like she had almost her whole life — and she was tired of it. Lindsay Walter is an athlete with alopecia, which means she doesn’t grow hair. And she’s here to ...

One really cool thing about our Novant Health Charlotte Marathon is our love for local companies with what we choose to represent us, and the local sponsors who support our race. And we’re excited that once again, our race t-shirts are made by local company, Recover Brands. What’s even cooler is that Recover Brands supports the earth. They are made of 100% recycled material, designed, sourced, and sewn right here in North Carolina. Bill Johnston is the co-founder of Recover Brands, and he’s here...

It’s always great to talk to an Ironman finisher — anyone who can go the distance in the mother of all triathlon races is usually a very positive, upbeat, energetic person. Jamey Yon has not only finished an Ironman, he’s done it 22 times! He was also the World Champion in his age group in 2017 Ironman 70.3, and an Olympic Distance Age Group National Champion. On top of that, he’s a father of 5, founder of TRiYon Performance, and maker of Yon-Bons energy snacks.

During the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, there are a lot of runners who will grab your attention. One group, though, has its own division. This group honors the armed forces by walking the entire 13.1 miles of the half-marathon wearing weighted backpacks, or “rucksacks.” It’s the basis of military training. Rucking is a great workout for building strength and endurance, but mentally, it’s even more than that. It’s been called, “movement with a purpose,” and Michael Sweeting is heading up the...

We know runners love running, and our ambassadors are the epitome of that. We have with us today one of those ambassadors, Bekah Eljoundi. Her running story is pretty amazing, considering she spent most of her childhood held back by asthma and never even THOUGHT she could be a runner — even though she always admired them. She’s here to tell us how she went on to run 19 marathons now… even one, 6 months after having a baby.

You’ve heard about it, and maybe even felt it – those extra pounds some of us are putting on because we now work a few steps from the fridge, and aren’t following our normal workout routine. They’ve been called the “Quarantine 15” or even the “COVID-15” – Yikes – and we need to keep them off. Taryn Cullen has some ideas to help you. She’s a Registered Dietician with Novant Health and she joins us today on Running Around Charlotte with a few simple ideas to set you back on the right path.

We can’t think about running in groups right now, and we definitely can’t consider running a race with hundreds of other people…. Or can we? Blair Kitrick thinks we can… if we do it by ourselves. Wait, what? — Yes.. Blair and her Dad are organizing a VIRTUAL 5k and 10k race to raise money for hospital masks. It’s the kind of enthusiasm about running we would expect from Blair.. since she is one of our Ambassadors for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. She’s also the founder of JayTalking, a ...

Runners… we know you’re hurting. We know you still want to go out and do your usual runs (and we’d also understand if you don’t) — but a lot has changed. We’re all worried about our health, and we’re worried about other people’s health too – and yet we still want to run, safely. Our guest today on Running Around Charlotte can help you do that. Dr. Karan Shukla is a Physician at Novant Health Randolph Family and Sports Medicine, and he’s also served as a physician in the medical tent at the Charl...

We all know the transformation that running can make us feel inside. Even now – or ESPECIALLY now – with Stay at Home restrictions, running gives us exercise and freedom we need for our minds and bodies, while allowing us some social distance. Our next guest on Running Around Charlotte is showing the transformation running can make on the outside. We know running is a great way to stay in shape, but Charles Willett was nearly 400 pounds before he decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle, including...

She’s new a new mom, new to Charlotte, but she’s NOT new to running. Lindsay McClelland is a Marathon Ambassador and is here to share her running story.

You may have heard… there have been some changes around the shop. Tim is selling his interest in Run for Your Life to concentrate on running races full-time. I mean, not actually “running” them.. but working as the full time Race Director for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon and a few other races, known as the 6-pack Race Series. But don’t worry… the shop is in good hands! Chris Elkins, already owns the University City location of Run for Your Life, and he’s buying the other two. Chris, than...

Just like the name sounds, a Marathon Ambassador is someone who encourages others to get excited about running — everyone from beginners trying their first 5k to experienced veterans who have run dozens of races. And of course, Ambassadors are go-getters who love people and love bringing them together to -you guessed it- run! We have one with us today on the Running Around Charlotte podcast – welcome Arun Kallikadavil!

Since our podcast is named “Running Around Charlotte,” we love to hear from runners themselves about what motivates them, their goals, their running secrets, and their favorite places to train. We have one of those avid runners and cyclists here with us, also a board member with Charlotte Running Club, who likes to talk a bit about safe routes as well — a big welcome to Franklin Keathley!

Good distance running requires a lot of training, as we know…. but training for running, swimming, AND cycling all at once? It takes an “Iron Man”… or “Woman”… to do it all and win. And today on Running Around Charlotte we have not just one, but TWO Ironman champions and professional triathletes, who also just happen to share the same last name.. and at one point, even the same womb. Say Welcome to twin sisters Kelly and Meghan Fillnow, pro triathletes and owner & manager of Fillnow Coaching.

Are you feeling lucky? Do you like to run? We have the race for you! The Famous Toastery Shamrock 4 Miler presented by Novant Health is coming up March 14th.. and we can almost guarantee you’ll be seeing green. Welcome to Dennis Jackson from Famous Toastery to tell us more.

If you’ve trained as an athlete, you know there is more than one element for success. Natural ability is only part — you also need strength, skill, endurance, and one more thing that helps your body reach its potential — flexibility. It is the element most often forgotten as we carve out time in the weight room and our running routes, but it’s important to keep our bodies healthy and keep injuries at bay. We’ve got just the person on today’s Running Around Charlotte podcast to help you stay fit...

When you run, is Dog your co-pilot? Many, many of us wouldn’t consider stepping out for a jog without our best four-legged friend — even if it’s just for a couple of miles while warming up. But is that good for your canine companion? How much is too much? Our guest today on Running Around Charlotte can answer those questions. Dr. Tom Watson is a former Army combat officer during Desert Storm and now serves Charlotte as veterinary orthopedic and soft tissue specialist, and owner and founder of C...

Before you can move thousands of runners through 26.2 miles of Charlotte’s streets, you have to move thousands of pounds of food, equipment, supplies, and even water to strategic spots along the route between the start and finish line. It’s a big job, and one we’re glad to have good partners for. Gentle Giant Moving Company does the “heavy lifting” – so to speak – for race set-up and tear-down. It’s a LOT of work, as you can imagine, which is why we’re excited to have Bob Farnum and Michael Val...

We can boast about a lot of firsts in Charlotte, but this one makes us proud in the running community — a program most runners, and so many others, have heard of by now called Girls on the Run. It’s a popular afterschool program that allows girls to learn about inner strength, confidence, and their own health and fitness, by using running to teach skills of character, care, and self-reliance. Girls on the Run started more than 20 years ago in Charlotte, and now counts nearly 4,000 girls locally...

We know that training never stops, not even in winter — but sometimes we itch for someplace new and different to stretch our legs. If you haven’t been to the trails at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, then that is the place you’re looking for. In addition to its whitewater course and rock climbing walls, the Whitewater Center has a multitude of trails down by the Catawba River that are a great place to run and explore. Today on Running Around Charlotte, we have the Whitewater Center’s direc...