Blog: Feature Stories

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. 

RIP Your Favorite Running Shoes: Or, what do to when your old favorites are no longer available. 

Finding that perfect pair of running shoes is essential for both performance and comfort. And when you’ve finally met your dream shoe, you don’t ever want to think about the “what if’s” What if next seasons colorways are icky? What if they “update” it, and it just doesn’t feel the same? Or worse: what if they discontinue your favorite running shoe? 

Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to find a solution or a suitable replacement. Better still, we’ve got plenty of local running shoe experts here in Charlotte!  Fleet Feet’s Brett Albers and Run For Your Life’s Chris Elkins helped us get to some answers:

First: Don’t Panic—Explore Your Options

Brett Albers, operating partner at Fleet Feet Charlotte, says there’s no reason on worry. You’ve probably got alternatives. “Don’t be afraid of change! You can honor your favorite shoe and remember all the miles you racked up. But like running, you’re always moving forward. Trying and wearing a variety of shoes is a good thing,” he advises.

“In most cases, your running shoe style did not completely go away, but got an update.” Chris Elkins, owner of Run For Your Life in Charlotte, notes. “Just as popular consumer products evolve, so do running shoes.” Trying the updated version is crucial, as it will likely maintain many of the key features you loved. 

Stock Up on Remaining Inventory

If you discover that your favorite shoe model is being discontinued, consider purchasing multiple pairs while they’re still available. This can provide buy you a little time while you’re searching for a suitable replacement. Just remember that shoes may degrade over time, even when stored, so be cautious not to overbuy. See our expert advice on how to rotate your running shoes like a pro! 

Hit the Demo Runs

Albers suggests attending local demo runs hosted by running clubs and stores. “This is a great chance to talk to someone from the brand to find out what a great new option is now that your favorite shoe is discontinued.” Engaging with brand representatives can provide insights into the latest models and help you make informed choices. 

Be Open Minded

When trying on updated models, be prepared for potential fit changes. Elkins advises, “The fit change might require you to go up or down in size, or even change widths.” It’s essential to find the right fit for your foot to ensure comfort and performance. 

If the updated version doesn’t work for you, consider exploring similar options from other brands. Albers encourages runners to talk to fellow runners who have used the same shoe to discover what alternatives they are trying.

Consult Local Experts

“Visit your local running store. They’re your local experts!” Albers emphasizes. Engaging in a 3D shoe fitting process can help you determine which available shoes will fit and feel similar to your favorite. Local experts have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process of finding a replacement.

“Your local specialty running shop has done the research,” adds Elkins. “They’ll be able to guide you through this process to show you a few comparable shoes and get the right one for you.”

Roll with the Changes 

Ultimately, the wholesale change or even discontinuation of your favorite running shoes can be an opportunity for growth and exploration. By experimenting a little, and following the expert advice from your local run shops, you can successfully navigate this transition. We get it. When something ain’t broke, why try and fix it?  But by embracing new options you can possibly enhance your running experience. You just might find out you’ve been missing something all along!