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."
Jun 30, 2020•18 min
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...
Jun 23, 2020•22 min
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...
Jun 16, 2020•21 min
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.
Jun 09, 2020•32 min
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...
Jun 02, 2020•25 min
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.
May 26, 2020•22 min
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.
May 19, 2020•24 min
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 ...
May 12, 2020•20 min
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 Char...
May 05, 2020•27 min
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...
Apr 28, 2020•33 min
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.
Apr 21, 2020•19 min
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, ...
Apr 14, 2020•22 min
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!
Mar 17, 2020•20 min
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!
Mar 10, 2020•22 min
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 Co...
Mar 03, 2020•33 min
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.
Feb 25, 2020•23 min
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 fi...
Feb 18, 2020•20 min
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...
Feb 11, 2020•25 min
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 Vall...
Feb 04, 2020•30 min
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...
Jan 28, 2020•17 min
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...
Jan 21, 2020•29 min
If you live in Charlotte, and especially if you have a daughter in our elementary schools, you've probably heard of Girls on the Run - a program that started here, and encourages girls of all athletic abilities to run for fun and fitness. But did you know there is a similar program for boys? There is -- and it is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! Congratulations to "Let Me Run," a non-profit program to encourage boys in 4th through 8th grade to be healthy, build relationships, and live...
Jan 14, 2020•16 min
Once the new year hits, many of us think about ways we can improve. Can we be better friends, better runners, better people… you name it. No matter how “good” we do things, there’s one area that most of us can probably find room for improvement— and that’s how we feed and fuel our bodies. Exercise, sleep, and diet are arguably the three legs of the table that help us stay in balance. And you can pretty much feel it when they get out of whack. Our next guest knows a little bit about that, too. Ma...
Jan 07, 2020•34 min
Well this next one sounds fun... a race called, "Strip It to Give It." Okay, I'll let you visualize that for a moment....... then tell you, it's probably not what you're imagining right now (unless you've already heard of this race). This race, like most, involves runners stripping off articles of clothing as they go about the course... but then the clothes are collected, washed, and donated to our homeless neighbors in the Queen City. Now THERE'S an idea! And the creator of this good idea is Ka...
Dec 17, 2019•22 min
If you search about any road race in Charlotte, one of the first listings that pops up is the one for Run Sign Up. That's because is one of the most popular online platforms for signing up for races and race-day tracking and scoring. The company has managed more than 20-thousand races and supported more than 8-thousand non-profits in doing so -- and is growing every year. Justin Ratike is here to tell us all about that they do!
Dec 10, 2019•19 min
Run a marathon, drink a beer? Sure! Why not! Okay, maybe you ought to hydrate first with water, some fruit, or even your favorite sports drink. Then maybe go home and take a shower -- and THEN join your friends for a beer. NoDa Brewing is one of Charlotte's first breweries and still one of the biggest - and also happens to be a sponsor of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. We've invited Suzie Ford, NoDa's co-founder and co-owner, to join us today on Running Around Charlotte -- to inspire and ...
Dec 03, 2019•22 min
You may have heard that Charlotte’s Got a Lot. And it does! But where did those billboards come from, and what exactly IS Charlotte’s Got a Lot? Andy Goh is here to fill us in and tell us about their connection to the Novant Heath Charlotte Marathon. And did we mention he’s a runner too?
Nov 19, 2019•17 min
Morning shows are the fastest-growing segment of the TV News day, and how you draw viewers in for news, traffic, and weather as they wake up, has a big effect on if they come back at other times of the day.A few years back, Fox 46 jumped into the crowded Charlotte TV market and made a big name for themselves not only with content of their morning newscasts.. but the personalities as well. And we have two of them with us here right now on the Running Around Charlotte podcast... Page Fehling and J...
Nov 12, 2019•22 min
Runners have a special camaraderie – the kind you develop by sweating out the details and doing the hard training to reach your goals. Our U.S. military men and women are the same – building bonds with each other through missions that serve our country and keep our allies safe around the world. Albemarle Foundation supports our military men and women, and are showing it in a unique way during the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. The foundation is sponsoring the Half-marathon Rucking Division. I...
Nov 05, 2019•24 min
Casey Cline is a runner, artist, designer and coach. As a Novant Charlotte Marathon Ambassador, she motivates runners every day. Let’s get to know Casey a little better – and how all the parts of her life “Fit” together.
Oct 29, 2019•16 min
