Running is just great! It makes us feel good, gives us joy, and provides us an escape – if only for a few miles – from all of the other stuff that’s going on around us. Yep. Running really is great. Until it’s not.
Sometimes we just don’t want to get out there. Heck, sometimes we don’t even want to get out of the bed when it’s this hot and gross out there, much less go to the trouble of getting dressed and sunscreened, filling water bottles, picking a route, etc., etc. Then there’s the laundry and shoes… first world problems, for sure, but still. It’s enough to fuel this starter list of stuff we just hate about running in Charlotte.
Run Clubs and Brewery Runs
How can we possibly be in two, three, or more places at one time? And there seems to be a run from a Charlotte area brewery nearly every day of the week—even Sundays! Clearly, “I don’t have anyone to run with,” is no longer an excuse. Thanks for ruining that for us, run clubs.
Running Specialty Shops
Amazon Prime next day shipping at least buys us an extra day of not running, but dang it—of course, there’s a local specialty running shop probably on the way to or from wherever we’re going today that’ll be just more than happy to help us find the right shoe for the kind of running we prefer. Why do they have to be so damned helpful and convenient?
Races, Fun Runs, and Events
Look, our dance card is pretty full these days. We’ve got people to see and places to go. And chores. We’ve got those, too. Almost forgot about those. At least these weekend races might get us out of some of this yardwork. It’ll be leaf season around here soon enough. If we plan it right, we could skip out on every Saturday morning chore list. Most of these runs benefit some nonprofit, right? OK, cool. We don’t feel as guilty leaving the rest of the family with rakes in hands.
Roads, Trails, and Greenways
Really, how are we supposed to choose “where” to go run around here? Checking these Strava heat maps leaves us with some serious analysis paralysis here, people. Might be shopping for the old “Magic 8 Ball” as a new addition to the training tool box. Looking at you, specialty running shops.
All These Runners
Whatever happened to the “loneliness of the long distance runner,” anyway? No matter how early or late a start we get, no matter the location, there’s always someone else out here. And nearly every one of them wants to wave or say, “hi” or “looking good.” Honestly, do we look that bad out there? We can handle it…
Honestly, who asked for all of these friendly, positive runners hanging around? Can’t we get any solitude?