Saturday Group Runs

A few folks are gathering Saturday, May 12 for a group run. We’ll meet at 5:45 am for a 6 am start at St. Andrew’s Church in the Old Village of Mt Pleasant. The planned route is 9 miles and will take us to Sullivan’s Island and back. Everybody is welcome - we usually have a range of paces and many end up doing less mileage. We’ll do a few more group runs before our marathon training kicks off on July 7. Sign up for our newsletter to keep track of when we’re meeting over the next few weeks.

Find more runs in Mt Pleasant, SC

For those that have run with us before, please note that this not a supported run. You will need to carry your own water or obtain it while out running. There is a convenience store around the midway point of the run on the island.

May Race of the Month

The Contenders

Plenty of races to choose from this month, including some new ones. Here’s my favorites:

Bulldog Breakaway (begins May 17)

The Bulldog Breakaway Series is a series of 5K races contested at The Citadel on Thursday evenings and put on by the track team as a fundraiser. Simple race against the clock. One lap of the track, one lap of the campus, one lap of Hampton Park (shaded!), and one lap of the campus to finish the race. Coaches Jody Huddleston and Kris Kut do a great job of encouraging and welcoming everybody. If you want to test yourself against the clock, this is the place to be.

Race the Landing Series (begins May 3)

We haven’t checked them out because it’s brand new this year but any race that ends with food and beer can’t be all be bad. You’ll be off the road and on the path Charles Towne Landing State Park. Races are on Thursday evenings. They’re promising a good time but do register before the race so they can order enough food.

Hell Hole Swamp 10K Gator Run and Walk

I look forward to the Hell Hole Swamp 10K every year, even when I’m not running. It’s run out in the booger woods in Jamestown, South Carolina this Saturday, May 5. Run 1.5 miles on a paved road. Turn right. Run 1.5 miles on a dirt road. Turn right. Run 1.5 miles on a dirt road. Be aware of the elevation change near the end of the dirt road - a railroad crossing. Run 1.5 miles on a paved road.

Highlights of the Hell Hole Swamp Run

• Mr. Roy Pipkin and his shotgun
• Ice water on the course - with ice!
• The Hell Hole Swamp Festival Parade
• Race Director and Poet Laureate of Jamestown, Mr. Michael Lake
• Gator Head Trophies

Now, I could explain everything in the list above but you must experience these things to really appreciate them. In the interest of full disclosure, I need to tell you that I am privileged to drive the race champions in my truck in the Hell Hole Swamp Festival parade but I am sure I would pick this race as my race of the month, even if that were not so. (I’m thinking I might put some old school lawn chairs in the pack of the truck for them to ride in this year rather than having them sit on the wheel wells.)

What’s you favorite race in May? You can find a complete list of races on our website.

(The Charleston Running Club feeds our blog into their Facebook page and the opinions expressed here are only the opinions of two guys who love to run and inspire others to run. An endorsement here does not imply an endorsement by the Charleston Running Club, but it should.)

Our Fall Marathon and Half-Marathon training kicks off soon and this year our marathon training includes registration for the Francis Marion Dirt Dash, a $59 value! Take a look at our training information.

April Race of the Month

It’s my turn to pick the Race of the Month again!

April Contenders

Wow! There are a lot of cool (well probably warm) races this month. You can check out the full list on our Race Calendar, but these are the ones that stick out to me.

Charleston Donut Run (4-14-12) – 5k plus Krispy Kreme Donuts! How can you go wrong with that? (We have a special discount code for you when you register: “CharlestonRuns”. This gets you a 10% discount!)

iFiveK (4-19-12) – Downtown Charleston and it’s an evening run. Hurry though; I hear it is almost sold out!

Rice Run (4-15-12) – Walterboro – This is an old race in a really nice town.

Palmetto 200 (4-13/14-12) – Most likely, it’s too late to get a team together for this year, but this should be on everyone’s list for next year. I love this race! There is nothing like hanging out with a bunch of sweaty runners in a van for over 24 hours! Click here for pictures from last year.

Capers ECO Run

Our Race of the Month is the Capers ECO Run 5k and 10k.  Last year, I ran this race with my wife and son.  We had an incredible time!  There really is nothing like taking a boat ride to an island and then running a race.  The race is organized by Bret Carlson and he does an amazing job getting everyone to the start and ensuring everyone has a great time.  After my family ran the race last year we jumped in the ocean and went swimming until it was time to get back on the boat (full recap at MooreOnRunning).

Bret puts this race on several times per year, there is even a father’s day run.  Even if you are planning on doing the Palmetto 200 you should think about adding this to your weekend (it’s on Sunday).

Happy Running!

Check out all the races for the year on our Race Calendar.

(The Charleston Running Club feeds our blog into their Facebook page and the opinions expressed here are only the opinions of two guys who love to run and inspire others to run. An endorsement here does not imply an endorsement by the Charleston Running Club, but it should.)

Marine Corps Marathon Sells Out

The 37th Marine Corps Marathon sold out in a record two hours and forty-one minutes. That’s not a record for the MCM - that’s a record for any marathon. It was amazing to see the chatter on Facebook and Twitter about the race. If you didn’t make it in, you can still register via the charity partner program.

Both Noah and I have been inspired by U.S. Marines to make fitness a part of our lives and both of us have run this race to honor those Marines. We’ve encouraged others who have been similarly inspired to do the same when they decide to take the step of training for a marathon. We’re very excited for our friends who have decided to run the race.

If you’re looking for a training program, Charleston Runs comes highly recommended by our first time marathoners and our age group aces. We kick off our training for fall marathons on July 7.

March Race of the Month

There are multiple races nearly every weekend this month. From a race at Edisto to long time races like the Daniel Island 5K to the Flowertown Races, March is full.

Our March Favorites

The Bulldog Challenge is next Saturday, March 3. Marines at the Citadel who are completing their degrees have had an enormous influence on Noah and me and our attitudes towards fitness and working out. This is their race and it raises money for scholarships. Noah and his running partners will tackle the 10K course that winds through the Citadel campus, through the stadium, and into the marsh while carrying sandbags. I will be there as volunteer. Look for me at the ammo resupply station - and don’t drop my ammo cans until you cross my line.

Two other races of note:

• Mullet Haul Trail Run - We like running on trails and we like the word play. Also, there’s not many 5 or 10 mile races around, so it’s a chance at a new personal record.
• Catch the Leprechaun - By runners, for runners. These are usually the best races and we are always up for a mid-week run against the clock.

Race of the Month
Cooper River Bridge Run

Join 40,000 of your best friends for a run across Charleston Harbor’s iconic bridge. Don’t worry about a PR at the 10K distance, just get out there and enjoy the day. Recent improvements in the runner experience will make sure that the race sells out once again. One month away from the race and there are only 4,000 regularly priced spots available. After that, the only bibs available are charity bibs at $150 each. Register at BridgeRun.com.

(The Charleston Running Club feeds our blog into their Facebook page and the opinions expressed here are only the opinions of two guys who love to run and inspire others to run. An endorsement here does not imply an endorsement by the Charleston Running Club but it should.)

Kids’ Bridge Run

We welcome our very first guest blogger, Kevin Adcock. Kevin is the Director of Run Buddies, a chapter of Louie’s Kids. Run Buddies is an athletic mentorship program that matches adult running and walking mentors with aspiring youth at risk for childhood obesity. Kevin is also the director of the Cooper River Bridge Run Kid’s Expo.

I started volunteering for the Bridge Run Kids’ Expo eight years ago, working to create a safe, inviting, and community-enriching event that would keep kids and parents talking and coming back year after year. The Kids’ Run makes the Lowcountry a better place. Giving the younger, and in some cases impoverished, kids of Charleston a place to come and participate in an athletic event that caters specifically to them is satisfying beyond measure.

This year the Kids’ Expo and Run is on Friday, March 30 at Hampton Park. For those that avoid downtown because of  the traffic at packet pick-up, keep in mind that the Kids’ Run is completely removed from packet pick-up. This event is free for the participants unless you choose to purchase a t-shirt for your child. Registration information is on the Bridge Run website. (The Kids Run information is at the bottom of the page.)

2012 will take on an even more significant meaning for me as Run Buddies will be tasked with providing much of the volunteer staffing for the Kids’ Run. Run Buddies has been a big part of my life since I started working with the organization in early 2010 to help fight Childhood Obesity, “One step at a time”. The latest initiative has been to create running clubs for elementary and middle school kids in order to introduce them to the sport of running and to instill in them the pride of achieving goals and reaching heights (literally) that they never imagined they could reach. The Kids’ Run is a stepping stone for kids like these.

We will be taking the runners who complete our syllabus over the “Big Bridge” on Saturday following the Kids’ Run. We will be the ones with Miss South Carolina, Bree Boyce, and some of the stars from the reality show, The Biggest Loser. Come say “Hi” if you see us.

We’ll see you on March 30 at the Kids’ Bridge Run Expo and on March 31 on the Bridge!

Please tell your neighbors, your friends, your friends’ neighbors, and your neighbors’ friends.

In order to find out more about Run Buddies, please visit us at RunBuddies.org.

Check out Run Buddies and the Kids’ Expo on Facebook

Run Buddies on Facebook

Bridge Run Kids’ Expo on Facebook

To see a very special glimpse into last year’s event courtesy of our friends at the Post and Courier…

From the smiling faces, to the competitive races, to the prized medals, it is very special. The Kids’ Run is not a windfall profit maker for the folks that work it, but they come again and again because they believe in the mission and the value of such an event. For many kids, this is their first glimpse into the world of organized running. More than just exercise, it’s a social event. It’s fun. That is a fantastic connection to make.

In the coming weeks, Coach Noah Moore will share some of his insights about running with your kids and ways to encourage them to be physically active.

Over the Hill Run

Saturday, February 11 is my 50th birthday and to celebrate we’re going to run across the Cooper River Bridge at midnight. In other words, we’re running Over the Hill as I cross over the hill of life.

Here’s the particulars:

• Meet at the gas station at the foot of the bridge in Mt Pleasant.
• Date: Friday, February 10
• Start time: 11:45 pm (2345 for my Marine friends)
• Distance: 5.5 miles (but don’t feel obligated to go all the way across and back)

Please do join me and the rest of the Charleston Runs gang - even if you’re going to walk.

In 2006, I started doing the Boot Camp program at MUSC and part of the program was to meet on Wednesday mornings to run the bridge at 6 am. I was so beat up from Boot Camp and so overweight that I just walked the bridge while others ran.

Beginning in January 2007, Boot Camp no longer met at the bridge on Wednesdays but I still showed up. Every time I went, I started out running until I couldn’t run any farther and then I walked. There were some mornings it was so cold and windy that I didn’t see anybody on the bridge until 6:45 as I was heading back down into Mt Pleasant. Each week, I managed to go just a little further and one day I surprised myself by running all the way to the center of the span. I was so surprised that I practically skipped all the way to Charleston and back that day - it was the first time I had run to the center and the first time I had run across and back.

Laura, Steve, Coach Greg, Brooke, Kari

I did my first bridge run in over 10 years in 2007 and my friend, Steve (he’s also my boss and my pastor), along with some other friends were going to do the race together. He asked me if I had a time goal. I said, “No, I think I just want to run this as a celebration of regained health.” Running the race that year was pretty special. Steve, along with my friend, Laura, who was one of my big cheerleaders, ran it with me. Along the way, my doctor, Ed, who first convinced me to exercise, caught up with me and ran some of the race alongside me.

In the intervening years, I’ve run across the bridge many times. Every time I run or ride my bike across the bridge, I think of the people who have come alongside me to encourage me - whether it’s in Boot Camp, at the track on a Tuesday evening, or at the finish line of a race.

I am incredibly thankful for those who have been there and I give thanks to God for placing you in my path. Come celebrate my birthday with me and my regained health.

Bridge Run Training Begins - Again

We had to set aside our plans to start our Bridge Run Training Group last Thursday due to the traffic snarl at rush hour. Some of the group met us on Saturday morning for a quick introduction and a run on the bridge but our official start was postponed to this Thursday, February 9. So, it’s not too late to join the group - sign up now!

Three Age Group Trophies at Charlie Post Classic

Above is many of our Couch to 5K Training Group that met through the coldest and darkest evenings of the winter and through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to train for the Charlie Post Classic. Also in the photo are some of the folks who train with Charleston Runs throughout the year. Coach Noah and I are very proud of our group and all that they accomplished over the last nine weeks.

To the right is Maureen Phlegar, or as we call her, ‘Mo’. Mo has trained with me off and on over the last few years and two years ago wanted to train for the Marine Corps Marathon 10K in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, as we were part way through the training, she became ill and her doctors determined she had a virus that affected her heart function.

Lesser people would have set aside training for another but not Mo. She barely slowed down and was told to wear a heart rate monitor and not to let her heart rate rise above a threshold. She continued to attend MUSC’s Boot Camp program and as soon as she caught wind of our training group, she stopped me and asked how to sign up. I love this photo of Mo and it really demonstrates why I love coaching.

Three of our athletes placed in their respective age groups in the race, all at the 15K distance - Annie Powell, Betsy Wallace, and Al Cusick. Congratulations to all.

February Race of the Month – Almost Nine Miler Trail Run

It’s my turn to pick February’s Race of the Month!  Each month we’ll name our race of the month for the following month. You’ll usually see one or both us, Coach Noah (me) and Coach Greg, at that month’s race. If you want to nominate your favorite race for the race of the month, send us an email and tell us why. If you agree or disagree with our choice, tell us why in the comments below.

February Contenders

There are a lot of races in February.  Three on the first weekend!

Nativity Flapjack – 5k on James Island

Ashley Ridge Fox Trot – 5k in Summerville

Save the Light Race – 5K and Half Marathon on Folly Beach

I am a big fan of races on Folly Beach (love the people that live there).  Although I have never run the Save the Light Race, it’s on my list of races to do in the future.

On the 11^th, the Go Red Heart Run/Walk will be held in Mount Pleasant.  This is another great location for races and an excellent cause to support.

The last weekend of February has two more races that are near each other, but very different.

LifePoint Gift of Life – 5k on James Island

MESSA 8K for H2O – 8k on Folly Beach

The Life Point Gift of Life race always draws a good crowd and its fun to run in the James Island County Park.  The Messa 8K for H2O is one of my favorite races.  It is very well organized and its an 8K on Folly Beach (there are very few 8k’s in this area).  The Messa 8k for H2O would have been my pick for February’s Race of the Month had it not been for a trail run being held the week prior.

Almost 9 Miler Trail Run

Eagle Endurance

Our Race of the Month is the Eagle Endurance Almost 9 Miler Trail Run.  On February 18 Chadd Haffa of Eagle Endurance will continue his popular trail running series with the second annual Almost 9 Miler.  This is a “head start” trail run that begins at Buck Hall Recreation Area in McClellanville, SC.  Runners will be given a start time based on their age / gender on the day of the race.

I have run the trails in this area and they are amazing.  Most races in the Charleston / Lowcountry Area are road races, so any chance I get to run a race on trails I take it!  A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Palmetto Conservation Foundation for trail maintenance.

Check out our January Race of the Month, the Charlie Post Classic on January 28.

(The Charleston Running Club feeds our blog into their Facebook page and the opinions expressed here are only the opinions of two guys who love to run and inspire others to run. An endorsement here does not imply an endorsement by the Charleston Running Club, but it should.)