Blog: Feature Stories

1. You DON’T have to run the whole marathon.

Seriously. There’s a half marathon, a 5K, AND two relays. Most of us can walk/run a 5K, so there really is a race for every type of runner! Grab some friends and rock a relay, parlay your fitness from Wilmington, Chicago, Boston, or whatever and run the half or the 5k. It’s all good.

2. You get ALL the goodies!

That’s right. You get all the swag, the expo at NoDa Brewing Company, the finish line experience, etc., no matter which distance you run. Be a part of the pre-event packet pick-up party at the expo; no need to grab your gear and go. There will be official merch from Craft Sportswear, too. And this stuff looks GRRRREEAT, yall! At the finish, you’ll also get a medal that’ll hang heavy on your neck in the BEST way, a tasty NoDa beer, finish line goodies from Publix, Dole, and a bunch more.

3. Sleep in your own bed.

Can we really oversell the value of a good night’s sleep? (And that’s not just a gratuitous toss to BEDGEAR, our Official Pillow Partner.) So forget the nightmare logistics, folks. You get to sleep at your own house, eat your own banana and PB toast, and drive your own car to the race. Can’t beat that! Not to even mention the fact that AFTER the race, you can mosey on home — to your own home! Your dog will be so happy to see you. Your kids will wait on you hand and foot. Maybe you can even get them to make you dinner! (We can dream, right?)

4. It’s probably in your own backyard (or close to it)

You get the comfort and confidence of running the streets you’ve likely trained on. You know these streets, but you’ll see them in a whole new way during the event. New to town? There’s literally no better highlight reel of some of Charlotte’s favorite neighborhoods. (Sure wish we could include them all!). Let your neighbors and friends cheer you on!

5. You really can do this!

We wouldn’t say it if we didn’t mean it. And it’s still not too late to get in on one of the November 13 events. Check it out at thecharlottemarathon.com

A lot of people have “run a marathon” on their good ol’ bucket list. And if you’re about to check that box, then good for you!

By now, you’ve probably read all you can about race day strategies and tips, and you’re feeling ready. Nothing teaches like experience, so we tapped into friends and fans at runCLTrun for some tried and true advice. We’ve compiled a list of things you may not have thought or read about yet, from people who have been there and done this 26.2 thing before.

Get some rest

The taper is not for the faint of heart.  In the two weeks before your marathon, you will run less combined than your 20-mile long run. That’s how it’s supposed to work.  Don’t stress, and enjoy the downtime.

Carbo loading–  know when to say when

Carbo loading is definitely a thing, you just don’t have to do it the full two weeks before your race. Too much too long can add to some bloat and an uncomfortable feeling. The best time to really hit home with the simple carbs is 2-3 days before your race.

Your gear matters

Don’t go and get a fancy new one. Tried and true clothing is like an old friend: you know it’s not going to hurt, rub, chafe, or itch you. If you do get some new gear, good for you. Just make sure you’ve tested it on some long runs to make sure it measures up.

Embrace the layers

It may be colder at the start than it will be 2 – 3 hours in. Wear clothes that you can easily take off and toss. At the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon start, look for Ally’s collection bins to deposit your start line layers. Cast-off clothes will be donated to RunningWorks. Some people find gloves and arm warmers are all they need, and those are easily stashed in a waistband or shoved into a pocket.

Stick with the plan (and have a plan)

Everyone feels like they’re going to break the 2-hour world record at the beginning.  The biggest mistake beginners and experienced runners alike make is starting out too fast. Don’t do it! Stick with your plan, even in the earliest stages when you’re feeling energized. You’ll be glad when you don’t feel so spry that you stayed within your pace range from the start.

Have goals

It’s a good idea to have different levels of goals.  An “A” goal would be your very best race if all the stars align. A “B” goal would be the step down with which you would still be really happy. A “C” goal may be to just keep moving forward or not to walk. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal should be simply to get across that finish line with a smile.

Don’t drink the Kool-Aid

Literally. There may be people and parties along the route offering you more than Gatorade and bananas at their cheer stations. Unless you’ve ingested a shot of whiskey, sips of beer, or homemade cookies during your training runs, you may not want to do it at mile 22.

Do take the high fives

Hopefully, you’ll have some supporters out there on the course. Know where you’re planning on seeing them and look for them at those specific points. It’s much easier for you to spot them than it is for them to pick you out of hundreds of runners.

Know that it’s not always going to feel easy

If it was easy, everyone would do it.  Make sure you are prepared for the mental as well as physical lows you may feel. It helps to have a mantra or something you can tell yourself when you want to just stop.  Some dedicate miles to loved ones or causes.  Some repeat a motivational phrase that will help keep them focused on the goal, not the discomfort.

Enjoy your experience

All 26.2 miles of it! That’s what you trained for. That’s what you’re going to run. You CAN do this!

 

 

The best thing to do with a gift is to give it away. Okay, maybe not those prized new running shoes – but the running, at least. Share the running!

Jay Seago is a guy who shares the running. An outgoing regional director for Let Me Run, he didn’t even know he had a gift when he first picked up running in college — but it wasn’t long after that, that he started giving it away.

“The first race I ever did was in 1999. It was a 5k in Athens, Georgia, when I was 22,” says Jay. “I came in 3rd place so I was like, ‘I’m okay at this.’”

As a young soccer player, he’d had plenty of experience running around soccer fields. Then, in his first year of playing soccer for Virginia Tech, he discovered he did less running and more sitting — on the bench, that is, instead of playing. He left the team and picked up running a year later to stay in shape.

Before he knew it, he was a 25-year-old MBA in the workforce with a couple of 5k’s under his belt, when a co-worker suggested a half-marathon. So he decided to go for it. Why not? He ran a 1:31 and placed in his age group. Deciding he was still “okay at this,” he kept running.

And running. And running. Not training, mind you — just running, like Forrest Gump. Just running. His next half-marathon, the next year, without really training, was a 1:22. Competitors approached and asked him what he did to train, to drop so much time. He didn’t have anything to tell them. He just … ran.

Those competitors took him on his first 20-mile run, and told him he should do a marathon. Fast-forward through Phoenix, Marine Corps, and two Boston Marathons. Yup, still running.

But let’s back up now, to when Jay was getting his MBA. He would substitute teach at the local schools in Roanoke to pay bills, and help coach the distance runners on the school’s track team. Then he was head coach. Then he worked for a couple of years in a “cubicle life” after his MBA and realized…. He liked teaching and coaching better. Coaching flipped a switch — he had a gift. He wanted to give it away. He kept running and kept coaching.

“I hated working in a cubicle,” he says. “So I got a job teaching computer and wood shop.” A move to Charlotte in 2015 would set him up for the big life change that came next: the school he taught at didn’t have a track or cross country team, but it had Let Me Run, a running and character-building program for boys. He was off and running in a whole new coaching direction; a job opening as Let Me Run’s Regional Director for Charlotte made non-profit coaching his full-time work.

“There’s a whole curriculum and 14 lessons, each with a character-building theme. The character building is the most important part of Let Me Run,” says Jay. The program fit his passion for running and giving the gift of running to others, too. “The lessons are good for the kids, but also the adults.”

Learning to give his gift away opened a whole new world for Jay. He was studying for a new career as a realtor while working as Let Me Run’s Regional Director when COVID shut the world down. No realty classes, no Let Me Run. It was a tough transition, but he used the time to take his realtor classes online and start a new career. Even though he’s off and running in a new direction professionally, the giving back hasn’t stopped.

“With every transaction as a realtor, I give $500 to a non-profit,” says Jay. His donations rotate through 5 different groups, 4 of which are running related: Let Me Run, Girls On the Run, Running Works, and West Boulevard Ministries. (The fifth, Be There Dad, encourages men to play a bigger role in their children’s lives through volunteering.)

Sure, money is nice. But the real giving is time — and Jay still gives it away through running. He volunteers as a Sole Mate for Girls On the Run. He coaches 2 teams for Let Me Run. He volunteers for RunningWorks, which helps empower Charlotte’s homeless population by teaching life skills through running. And he took a deep dive into new territory with West Boulevard Ministries, leading a physical fitness and running group for boys along the high-poverty West Charlotte corridor. His sons accompany the boys as they train and compete in local 5k’s and even Around the Crown 10k as a team.

“We ran 800 yards, then walked 200, as a team,” he recounts. “We started and finished as a team.”

He also serves adult runners as Vice President of Charlotte Running Club, connecting local runners to groups that match their speed and endurance. Casting a wide net in Charlotte’s running community allows him to connect as a realtor, as he knows the schools and personality of the Queen City’s communities. And he can connect clients to a new home AND a local running club at the same time! And yes, that means everyone.

“If you run 100 feet, you’re a runner,” he says. “Don’t say you’re not a runner. Getting out and moving is really important, and anybody can improve!”

All of the volunteering has been the gift that keeps on giving.

“Coaching track and cross country are huge to me,” says Jay. “Thousands of athletes — It’s neat to see them become adults and go on to play college sports or become coaches, too.”

Not everyone has Jay’s gift or Jay’s energy. But Jay believes everyone can find their gift and give something — with the most valuable thing they can offer is time.

“It’s not about running, it’s about being there,” he affirms. “Lots of kids and adults need someone to ‘be there’ for them.”

Loneliness of the long-distance runner? If that’s not your bag – and that’s cool if it is – we’re here to remind you that some things really are better with friends. And that includes running. So, get your running posse together. The Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Relay or Half-Marathon Relay are your entry into one of the biggest celebrations of running in the city. If you’re looking for that tipping point, trust us; you can do this!

No time to train? No problem!

We get it. You’re busy with work, kids, school, CrossFit, or that other thing you do that isn’t running. Finding time to train for a marathon or half marathon might not seem like it fits into your schedule. The good news is relays shorten the training time required or downright eliminate it. With even a very basic level of fitness, most anyone can get ready to cover a 3-to-5-mile relay leg in just a few weeks.

Push yourself. Or don’t.

Got fast friends? Good for you! Get them together and flat out crush the competition or just see how quickly you can cover the distance. Or don’t! Relays are an honest-to-goodness “no pressure” environment if you want them to be. Have fun, enjoy the experience, wear costumes, ruck it… totally your call. Relays are also a great opportunity if injury sets back your training, or you just don’t want to miss out on the fun. FOMO, anyone?

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Relays are an actual factual shared experience. And not in a “misery loves company” kind of way. You’ll get to skip the “sweaty van” thing, but there’s coordination, communication, and – depending on how you want to roll – a healthy dose of comedic relief involved. If relay running delivers on anything, it almost always nets a few good stories. Ah, memories…

Cash in on your hard-earned fitness.

Did you or will you run a marathon this fall? Did your “A” race not work out as planned? Or maybe you’re just one of those runners who’s always sitting on “ready.” Doesn’t matter. Running a relay is a great way to capitalize once more on all the work you put in leading up to another event. Might as well get the most from it.

And you can (kinda) check one off the old bucket list.

If a marathon or half marathon is one of those boxes you’ve wanted to check, here’s your chance. A relay also gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the entire experience. Heck, we’re pretty sure it’ll inspire you to want to tackle your distance of choice solo. And if not, that’s fine, too. You’ll have earned bragging rights and a finishers’ medal for your part in the team effort. Good for you!

One last thing. The Novant Health Charlotte Marathon relay and half marathon relay are also the most cost-effective ways to bring your friends together for the fun and the run. And yes, you’ll still all get medals, event shirts, post-race goodies, and beers. What’s not to like about that? Registration is open at thecharlottemarathon.com

 

Planning an event that has something for everyone is tough, just ask anyone who’s thrown a party of any kind. There’s a lot to think about from planning, food, and drinks, ordering supplies, and booking entertainment, and getting people to RSVP.

Putting on the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon weekend is a lot like throwing a party. Toss in the logistics to manage thousands of runners, volunteers, and spectators, a 13.1 or 26.2 mile route that has to be smoothly connected, street closures, police protection, weather, safety, and traffic… it becomes a massive undertaking.

Tim Rhodes, the director of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon (previously called Thunder Road Marathon) since its inception in 2005, can certainly attest to that. He is wholly invested in making Charlotte’s only full marathon and the events that go along with it — including a 5K, a half marathon and relay, and a marathon relay– better for everyone. That’s why he took out all of the hills in this year’s course and made it pancake flat.

That last part isn’t really going to happen.

“It’s called uptown for a reason; it’s the highest point in Charlotte.  If we want to finish up there, we’ve got to get there and that involves some hills,” he says. Though by going back to the drawing board this year, Rhodes and his team, “wanted to be more responsive to comments about the hills and try to reduce the impact of them along the course as best we could.”

What else has changed in the courses in 2021?  The half will have runners spend more time in neighborhoods than on busy streets. “That’s much better,” added Rhodes. “You can’t beat running under tree-lined streets with neighbors who come out of their homes to cheer on runners.”

The half marathon, which shares a route with the full marathon for the first 12.8-ish miles, also goes through Latta Park in Dilworth, one of the most active, historical and beautiful neighborhoods around. And this year, the half marathon also includes a relay.

“We want to keep it all interesting and fun for runners,” says Rhodes, who has been through a few variations of the course over the years. “We usually have about double the amount of runners doing the half than we do the full. When you’re running with a pack of three and two of them split off to finish the half and there’s one still going for the full… we want that runner to have a great experience in that back half of the course.”

Two of the biggest changes between miles 13.1 and 26.2 are the addition of Little Sugar Creek Greenway and portions of out-and-back. Usually, runners are pretty spread out at mile, say, 18.  It’s tougher to run if you’re all alone on a stretch of street when you’re tired.  Rhodes took that into consideration when tweaking the route at that point.  “Out-and-backs are just more fun. You get to see other runners and have some interaction, maybe give some encouragement.”

Out-and-backs also allow for a reduction of resources, something about which Rhodes is very cognizant. “We have a great partnership with CMPD and Park and Recreation and we want to be mindful of the effect we have on our police force.”

The full course keeps the lively neighborhoods of NoDa and Plaza Midwood, where people have been known to offer runners more than just Gatorade.

Both races still finish uptown, among the beautiful buildings that make up our skyline, That scene is worth the climb to get there.

Rhodes is most looking forward to seeing the people that make this event so great: he wants to say “good job” and congratulate you and celebrate your accomplishment. He wants to see your smile. He wants to hear your feedback on how he and his team can help make the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon events more inclusive, more fun for everyone.

This party is happening on November 13 and you are cordially invited. Registration and more info are available at runcharlotte.com Note: Want to see the course in person before then? Take part in one or both of these preview runs!

COURSE PREVIEWS:

10/23/21:  The Run Far Program will host a preview of the first half.  

10/30:  The Run Far Program will host a preview of the second half of the marathon course.  

For both (10/23 and 10/30) we will meet at BB&T baseball field on S Mint. at 6:15 am.  Both will have pace groups and 10-mile options. You do not need to be a member of Run Far to participate.