Being a Woman About Town - Running Routes

When I moved back home from DC, I had to get used to running down country roads rather than through the big city. Although the peace of my little neighborhood in Mint Hill was pretty conducive to getting your zen on, I much prefer running in an urban area. I think it has something to do with accountability. No, those poor souls leaving the office at 8pm don't care that you're running, but I use each person I pass as a reason not to stop... especially if you're one of the creeps catcalling as I'm sweating like a 400lb man. Being an uptown girl, I'm somewhat limited in the route department, but some popular favs are listed at the bottom of this post.  

Things to keep in mind:

Crosswalks. Nothing is worse than hitting the wrong intersection at rush hour. This is both a timing and route-mapping issue.
Pedestrian traffic. You don't want to have to bob and weave too much and no one wants your sweaty body rubbing against them on their commute... well, some do... and for them, we have pepper spray.
Safety. As much as I love my tunes, make sure you can still hear your surroundings and that you are also visually aware of the people and cars around you.

Travel. Don't be shy about getting in your car to drive to a fun new route. You have to keep yourself interested and your body guessing!

Modify. Don't like a certain leg of a route you want to try? Change it! It's your run, you're the boss. Combining routes and changing them to suit your needs is a great way to change it up.

It's worth waking up a little early for a sunrise like this! Morehead in front of the Dowd YMCA.

All of my maps were created with RunningMap.com. The blue flags are mile markers and the red bubbles are points of interest.

Uptown(-ish):

Uptown Proper: It's pretty easy to crisscross through uptown and make up your route as you go. I started to make a map for this route, but it was plain stupid and I have much greater faith in you than to post a loop through Uptown's grid. Have fun with this one and improvise!

Dowd YMCA: Adding a pit stop to your route can be a game changer! Don't think you can run a full 6-miler? How about trying two 3-milers with a short break? I use Sgt. Roy's Total Strength or Heather's Barre class as my breaks if I can. (2.25 miles, one way)

Like, Sports and Stuff: Train like a pro while you run by all of Charlotte's major sports venues: Panther's practice field, Bank of America Stadium, BB&T Ballpark, and Time Warner Cable Arena. (3.29 miles)

Dilworth: The Scott Ave hill is one of my most and least favorite places to run. Expletives usually cannot be helped at the top. This route is light on stops at crosswalks. (3.39 miles)

The Rail Trail: Gets a little crowded, but a great "back-and-forth" route, nonetheless. Again, I won't insult your intelligence with photo of a line through South End. This route follows the light rail.

Around Town:

Montford to Freedom Park: I did this route for my beer run post and loved it! Any Charlottean worth her salt knows Freedom Park can be a little slice of Heaven. (4 miles)

Little Sugar Creek Greenway: passes the Metropolitan. Resist the urge to stop at Target. This Greenway is also a part of the Montford route above if you want a long run.

4 Mile Creek Greenway: Asphalt and boardwalk trail in Matthews. Guess what?! It's 4 miles.

Toby Creek Greenway: Links to Mallard Creek Greenway in the University area. Parking at 235 E Mallard Creek Church Road (Mallard Creek Park) or the Harris Teeter shopping center at the other end of this route on University City Blvd is a breeze.

Out of Town:

Running to The Battery in Charleston, The Loop in Wrightsville Beach, or around the monuments in DC are my personal favorite routes on vacation. Make sure you plan carefully when you're in an unfamiliar place, though. Don't be afraid to stop and explore a little either!

What is your favorite route?

A Different Kind of Beer Run

During visits back to my alma mater, I used to run through Chapel Hill as much as I could. I would come back from DC (warmly known to me as "Dirty, Smelly, Swampy Hell") to visit my then-boyfriend's parents and be determined to soak in as much of "Blue Heaven" as I could. The first time we drove back, he- as a very sweet gesture- played James Taylor's "Gone to Carolina" as we hit the interstate and I burst into tears wailing "Whyyy would you dooo thaaat?" I was a little homesick/irrational. Graduating from Carolina felt like a horrible breakup and I was still in the binge eating Ben & Jerry's pints phase of my grief.

His parents' house was about 3 miles from the very edge of campus and the route included a monster hill (and a Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen... don't get me started), so I knew I'd have to be pretty determined to make it back to my baby blue mothership and finish a 6-miler. Confession: sometimes I called him to pick me up mid-route. Don't judge.

Just hangin' at the prettiest campus you ever did see. Actually taken 2 months after graduation... talk about an awkward outfit for a walk through campus in July.

The Old Well, UNC Chapel Hill

It never failed that once I made it back from my run, his parents would offer me a beer. See, they were from Austria where beer is like water... delicious, mind-altering water. "It's good for you, will rehydrate you" they would claim fervently. Bless them and their good intentions but I never quite bought into it... unless I was going straight from run to pool, then it was justifiable. And for dang good reason! Have YOU ever been hungover? I happen to know that some hangover symptoms are caused by dehydration- ha!

From my trip to Schonbrunn Palace in Austria, land of beer and castles. Totally my kind of place.

But, hold the phone. It seems that a post-run brewski isn't all bad. According to an article on Runner's World, a beer after a run, some water, and a little food can help replenish electrolytes, carbs, and nutrients. GREAT NEWS! Next round's on me! Before you break out the beer bong, remember that moderation is key because- duh- although beer does have some good-for-you stuff in it, it is still alcohol and alcohol is bad. Let's not get too cray.

Feeling like you're playing Red Light, Green Light? Me too. So here's my plan for beer-ing after running: 

1. drink a LOT of water

2. have a little snack

3. then drink ONE beer

If it's for the electrolytes, good carbs, and nutrients, one serving should be enough anyway. A lot of beer-centric run clubs have popped up and gained popularity recently, and being social with one drink rather than pounding pints and being "that girl" should be the goal. Besides, I'm a vodka soda, one lemon, one lime drinker if it's the type of outing where we're getting weird (cue the eye rolls, bartenders of the world).

Here are some local running clubs that offer libations after logging miles:

Tuesday - Running for Brews @ Brazwell's

Tuesday - We Run Uptown @ Vida Vida

Wednesday - NoDa Brewery Run Club

Thursday - Triple C Beer Runners

Did I miss anyone? Comment below!

I tried the Tuesday night Running for Brews club with Ali and it was really fun! We didn't stay for the brews after our 3.75 mile run to Freedom Park and back to Montford (we opted for froyo instead), but I'm looking forward to going back and also trying other clubs. 

The route. This was the (almost) 4-miler, and there were longer and shorter options.

Hi, we're cool.

They had free samples of Nuun electrolyte water enhancer, Core Power protein shake, and protein bars as well as Run for Your Life stickers, a prize for the person who brought the most friends along, and a punch card toward a free t-shirt. I'm all about free stuff! The leader, Alicia (I think), was awesome and such a positive motivator too. 

Running for Brews meets every Tuesday at 7 at Brazwell's. On Tuesday, 9/16, King of Pops will be on hand for the Brazwell's Brain Freeze Popsicle Run. Uhhh... I'm there and question your priorities if you're not considering it too. You had me at popsicles.