Blog: Feature Stories

I come from the cereal generation. A time when Trix really was for kids, Smacks were still sugared, and the Honeycomb Hideout was a dream house that would make Barbie want to put her estate on the market. Interest rates be damned. Yeah, when cereal was good, if not necessarily good for you.  

It’s not that my folks didn’t cook; far from it. Just about everyone in my family did – and can – cook well. But even with a complete and generally balanced breakfast readily accessible and available, it was hard for a kid to resist the siren’s cry of sugar-sweetened, Technicolor bliss that was cereal. Still is. Especially when every spoonful of this pre-adolescent awesomeness is awash in a sea of (gasp!) whole milk. 

Good old days, indeed. 

But things change, tastes change, and what you learn about fueling your body changes, too. Even logging 40 or 50 miles a week probably isn’t enough to offset the refined sugars and other ultra-processed ingredients you’ll find in any given box of the good stuff. So you look for a healthier, more grownup substitute. Enter, oatmeal. Which may be the most flavorless descriptor of a provision that shares its heritage with porridges, gruels, hasty puddings, and other dubiously-named dishes. 

Let’s cut it really real. Without a cartoon-covered box, prizes inside, or flavor of any sort, oatmeal doesn’t do much to sell itself. Is oatmeal that self-assured that it doesn’t need to participate in some superficial beauty contest, and believes consumers like me will appreciate it for what’s on the inside instead? Apparently, it is and we do. Oatmeal is a near $6 billion dollar global market – most of it being sold in the US – and is forecast to continue with strong sales.  

And on the subject of what’s inside: I feel the contents of just one of those cardboard cylinders is enough oatmeal to last somewhere between an era and epoch. Although the cardboard cylinder may have a touch more flavor, the oatmeal is healthier, of course. You can tell, because it tastes the way it does. Or doesn’t. 

Lest we need reminding; oats are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, and even a decent amount of protein, considering it is a plant-based food, offered Chef Rhonda Stewart, a senior instructor at Johnson & Wales University here in Charlotte. Oats are fairly low in calories yet high in volume so they keep you feeling fuller longer. “Just don’t load them with extra sugar!” 

Well, where’s the fun in that? 

Matt Dengler is a dietician and owner of RxRD Nutrition. He piled on the guilt and these tips to make oatmeal taste better than the container it comes in: You can make your bowl of oatmeal even more nutritious by adding things like peanut butter, fruit, nuts, seeds, nut butter, and spices. For an extra protein boost, try mixing in protein powder. 

“Overnight oats have become increasingly popular,” added Dengler. “To make a quick and nutritious breakfast, you can prepare them the night before with ingredients like milk, Greek yogurt, protein powder, peanut butter, and fresh fruit.”

I’ve tried to find my brand or style or place in the oatmeal world; experimenting with oats in their many and not-so-splendored forms: old fashioned, rolled, steel cut, instant – even Irish. Differing textures, extrapolated cooking times, and all the TikTok meal prep recipes in production can’t change the fact that oatmeal is utterly bereft of flavor without some type of planning, and an array of accessories.

Since I’m now a little too tall to stand upright in the old Hideout; overnight oats with hemp hearts, nuts, and berries are a begrudging breakfast staple of mine these days. But I’ll still lean in hard to big bowl of Honeycomb every now and again. I figure an occasional bowl of nostalgia never hurt anyone. Or maybe that’s just the sugar talking… 

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For the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, in partnership with the Novant Health Foundation, you will see Meaningful Miles along the race route. Miles 2, 11, 12, 13, and 26 are all “Meaningful Miles” – a way for sponsors and supporters to cheer for the kids of Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital. 

Hemby Children’s Hospital has a team of experts dedicated to providing the highest level of care that addresses each family’s needs. Our Meaningful Mile sponsors & supporters are helping us advance clinical care and research, while helping every kid have the chance to become the strongest in their class! 

Meet our Meaningful Miles Patients 

For this year’s marathon, we are honoring five patients of Hemby Children’s Hospital. Each of these patients represent all of the kids that the Hemby Children’s Hospital team supports each and every day. When you run the Novant Heath Charlotte Marathon events and for Team Hemby, you are running for Crosby, Jimmy, Luke, KamiSoko, and Sophie. 

Crosby. Age 5. NICU Graduate. 

Crosby was born prematurely at 29 weeks and 3 days. He spent three months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital. His family was able to take him home three days before his due date. Crosby is now thriving, and he dreams of becoming a police officer. 

Jimmy. Age 10. Diabetes Thriver. 

In the fall of 2023, Jimmy was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. For the next week, Hemby Children’s Hospital was not only home, but also an educational institution for Jimmy’s family. As an active athlete on football, basketball, and golf teams, he dreams of being an example to other kids with Type 1 Diabetes that they can achieve anything.

Luke. Age 6. Lymphoma Survivor. 

Luke was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma one month after he turned 3 years old. Luke is now 5 years old and he is in remission. He loves Legos, basketball, golf, trains, and music. Luke’s family recalls that the Hemby Children’s Hospital team became their lifeline. Through their toughest days of chemotherapy and the long nights of uncertainty, Hemby was their sanctuary.

KamiSoko. Age 2. Leukemia Hero. 

KamiSoko was diagnosed with leukemia in October of 2022 at the age of 6 months. KamiSoko is now 2 years old and he loves dance, music, and his brothers. KamiSoko’s mother said that she couldn’t have made it through without the love and support of the Hemby Children’s Hospital team. 

Sophie. Age 11. Kidney Cancer Overcomer. 

Right after turning 5 years old, Sophie and her family found out that she had a Wilms tumor – a rare form of kidney cancer. She went through surgery, chemotherapy, and related treatment over the course of 19 weeks. Sophie is now cancer-free, and she loves to dance, sing, play soccer, and play the guitar. Sophie wore her Wonder Woman outfit when she rang the bell, signifying the end of her cancer treatment in 2019. 

Make your miles even more meaningful at this year’s Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. Run with Team Hemby and support kids like these, and all those being cared for at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital. 

If you’re following along with the running chatter at all, you’ve seen the conversation and the controversy about the Boston Marathon’s more stringent qualifying standards. For those on the precipice of making the cut, or anyone who’s tried and missed, it can feel like that carrot continues to dangle from an ever-extending stick. 

In a statement on the Boston Marathon website, Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association, positioned the change as a simple matter of supply and demand.

“The record number of applicants indicates the growing trend of our sport and shows that athletes are continuously getting faster and faster… Every time the B.A.A. has adjusted qualifying standards – most recently in 2019 – we’ve seen athletes continue to raise the bar and elevate to new levels.” 

As expected, the news ginned up plenty of comments, reels, and memes; many (or most) lamenting the moving target that has come to be these qualifying standards. There’s finger-pointing, blame-gaming, and any number of suggestions to manufacture some hope for folks in that purgatory that is waiting to see of their BQ was indeed enough to qualify. 

Rejection is brutal. Particularly when you’ve put in the work to meet the standards, only to find your results are now substandard. And what of those who’ll never measure-up, or even want to? Does that make any of them any less a “real runner?” In a sport where weekend warriors can actually toe the line with the elites, gold medalists, and world champs, where exactly is that line?

If you ask Eric Smith, it’s pretty simple. “If you run, you’re a runner!” he told us. “Running provides tremendous benefits both physically and mentally while also providing the opportunity to support others.” 

Eric is the former president of the Charlotte Running Club, pace team organizer for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon and other events, coordinator of the Little Sugar Creek and Mallard Creek Greenway runs, etc., etc. He’s not just found community and support, he’s helping create it. 

“If running ever becomes a chore or not fun because you’re continually trying to seek a BQ,” he added, “it’s time to change things up and focus on ways to make it more enjoyable and satisfying.”

Lisa Landrum is a parent, coach, small business owner, and founder of Forward Motion run training here in Charlotte. She’s also done her fair share of mega miles, epic races, and bucket list events. She also knows that’s not what “running” looks like for everybody.

“Not everyone has tons of time to devote to running a sub 3 hour marathon, or even to train for a race of any distance, and that’s OK!,” she told us. “We can still find fulfillment in our movement and miles through personal bests, running with friends, running for mental and physical health, and just moving forward. You don’t have to win a local 5K, run 6 world majors and quality for Boston to get the positives out of this sport we love so much.” 

No matter your age, ability, or time constraints, a “personal best,” is something within your reach. HAMRunning coaches Kim Kreuzman and Nicole Hamilton shared this advice:

• Train and race with friends. Accountability buddies make the training journey more fun.
• If you’ll race, consider the time of year, terrain, logistics, crowd support, at the event you’re considering.
• Work with a coach to create a plan that fits your needs.
• Understand that just like life, there are no guarantees. 

While it is inspiring to watch friends and family achieve their dream of running Boston, Smith cautioned, it can leave some people feeling as though they can’t be considered a “runner” if they haven’t run the final stretch down Boylston Street to cross the finish line. 

“Nonsense,” he said.

“We have often heard it said that comparison is the thief of joy, and running should bring us joy,” Landrum reminded us. “When we start to tip to a not-so-joyful place with running, it may be time to take a look at our why, and re-evaluate. If you’re moving forward, you’re winning.”

More Runners, More Problems? 

Charlotte’s Running Scene Adjusts to Population Boom

Charlotte’s growing – fast; and all these new folks making the area home aren’t just transforming the city’s skyline and economy. They’re also creating a significant impact on the local running scene. The latest numbers show 117 new residents arriving here every day. Sure, not all of them are runners. But the Queen City’s running events and retailers are on the receiving end of the opportunities and challenges that come with this kind of change.

 

Making Charlotte Home

Charlotte’s got a lot, as the marketing campaign goes. If you’re a runner, It’s hard to argue otherwise. Between the growing greenway system, the seeming ubiquity of area running clubs, a calendar full of events, and a vibrant social scene; it’s a pretty ideal setup for runners. 

Lindsey McGee is a relative newcomer herself, moving to Charlotte in 2022. To meet folks and find her way in her new hometown, she made the rounds at local run clubs. Since then, she’s started or leads several run clubs, and is Lead Ambassador for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. It’s fair to say she’s found her tribe. 

“Two aspects that are big in Charlotte are the running community and the dog community,” McGee told us. “We are a dog-friendly city and very runner-friendly. Also very much a beer city.” 

No, we didn’t forget about the humidity. But the run clubs, the beers, the dogs, and the Southern hospitality can make it a pretty easy for newcomers to integrate into the local running scene quickly and comfortably. Especially if they identify as a runner.

Keeping Pace with New Runners

Like the city itself, signature events such as the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon have experienced significant growth over the last several years. Arguably, the post-pandemic running boom gets some of credit. So too can the thousands of new folks who’ve moved here, like McGee, looking for friends and those shared experiences. 

Tim Rhodes is Managing Partner and Race Director for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. He sees the influx of new residents as a chance to not just grow event participation, but to expand the running community as a whole. “With 117 people moving here every day,” he said, “that’s 117 new opportunities for us to welcome someone new to the running community. The challenge, of course, is that we’re always in the business of making a first impression.”

Rob Horton, chief marketing and communications officer at The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, highlighted the role running events play in integrating newcomers: “The Charlotte Region attracts people from every corner of this country who are drawn to our low cost of living and high quality of life. Events like the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon provide these transplants with opportunities to build meaningful connections and create lasting impact.”

For local running retailers, the population boom is a golden opportunity to establish all-new, long-term customer relationships. Donny Forsyth, co-owner of Charlotte Running Company, said his stores see potential new customers on the regular. “We get new people coming in all the time who just moved here,” he told us. “It’s almost like an interview, you know? They’re seeing if they like us, or seeing if it feels as good as their old loyal hometown running store.”

Forsyth said he emphasizes to his employees the importance of creating a welcoming environment for these potential long-term customers. “You never know, that person may end up being somebody that shops in our store for the next 20 years, so it’s a huge opportunity.”

Rolling with the Changes

The influx of new residents is not just increasing numbers; it’s also shifting the demographic makeup of Charlotte’s running scene. Brian Mister, race director of the Around the Crown 10k, observed, “It feels like the majority of these 117 per day are younger than the typical runner or racer. I think the challenge is updating each respective company’s marketing around that generation.”

This demographic shift presents both challenges and opportunities for event organizers and retailers, Mister added. “We have the opportunity to tap into a whole new market if we can evolve quick enough!”

Miller Yoho is Director of Communications and Marketing at Charlotte Sports Foundation; a local nonprofit that promotes the city through, “unforgettable, high-profile sporting events,” like the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Jumpman Invitational, and the Meck Mile.  As the city grows, he told us, so does the expectation that folks can find things to do.

“The growth in Charlotte’s population has fueled the city’s rise as an incredible sports event location,” Miller said. “Residents and visitors alike have an appetite for experiences that are unique, engaging and leave an impact. As organizers we must think outside the box and look to create events that are distinctive to the Queen City and this incredible region.” 

Land of Opportunity 

As Charlotte continues to grow, the running scene is poised to be more energized and more diverse than ever before. From expanding race participation to evolving retail experiences; all this new blood is pumping fresh perspectives and expectations into every aspect of local running. For long-time Charlotte runners, the area’s 117 daily newcomers, and the events and industries that cater to them, it really is a land of opportunity.  

In Defense of Junk Miles

I can’t stand the term, “junk miles.” The construct that every run must have some higher purpose or nobler goal is just ridiculous. In fact, it almost feels a little privileged to say it. Ask any one runner who’s been sick or hurt. They’d happily take junk miles if it meant any miles at all. 

But I wasn’t always that way. 

“Whatcha training for?” I’d regularly ask any runner I’d see along the road, or stuck at the same stop light with me. We’d talk back and forth about plans and schedules and such, and it never seemed to occur to me that someone would just be out “running.” 

I’d been running since before freshman year of high school and really never stopped. And I’d always seemed be training for something; the upcoming season, an upcoming race, or the next season or the next race. Ever run the rubber off the wheels of a baby jogger? Granted, I had some help, but we managed to do it. On three of them, as I recall. Junk miles? Hardly. More like resistance training. Or running the resistance out of sleepy toddler that just wouldn’t lay down for a nap. 

And one day it was different. 

I stopped to introduce myself to a runner I cross paths with regularly. Out of either habit or obligation, I popped the question. “So, what are you training for?” 

“Nothing. Just running,” he said. 

Just running.

We went our separate ways, and I rolled that one over a few times. Just running. And what’s wrong with that? Not much, really. Truth is, “just running” actually has a benefits all its own. I was just slow on the uptake.

Over time, “just” running can help you build a positive and healthy habit. The sheer repetition of getting up and getting out consistently is literally the secret sauce to becoming a runner. 

Jeff Hudnall says he’s run many a “junk mile,” and loved every one of them. 

“I admit this habit is an addiction, but an amazing one that takes me to places and people that inspire me daily,” added Hudnall, who’s currently in his own training cycle. “I will return to junk miles for mental stability and enjoyment after my training block for my marathon goal race of the year.“

But even if a goal race or PR isn’t the point, running just to run gives you time away from work, from school, family, or other commitments and distractions that is hard to come by these days. It’s a simple pleasure in a complex world.

“I’m a ‘run for enjoyment’ kind of person,” said Jenice Jamison, a Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador. “It’s a blessing at the end of the day to be able to do this. So while being competitive is good, I try to keep things in perspective.”

Kayla Corbin is a certified health and wellness coach who admits she’s new to the term “junk miles,” but says she’s always thought of running as enjoyment and a way of moving her body. She just recently started to participate in local races. 

“I view them as an added bonus of ‘fun’ competitiveness,” adds Corbin. “Now, I go in waves of training for a race and just going on a run for the mental and physical benefits.”

The key, friends, is balance. 

Even if your training and racing schedule is packed as tightly as a tin of sardines, or you’re just trying to make it through another busy day; there’s probably room for running with no agenda, no goal, no finish line. Just running.