Coast | Coastal Plain

Any event of athletic endurance should end with a flourish. Few end with the flourish of the Go Jump in the Lake 5K, 10K and 15 K in Boiling Springs.

The course is mostly around Spring Lake, site of a summer triathlon known for its heat. It’s not likely to be much cooler for Saturday’s GJITL 5/10/15K. However, in the spirit of flourishing finishes, this race ends with contestants eagerly fulfilling the race’s intent, and jumping into the lake. Talk about incentive!

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 3, 8:30 a.m., Boiling Springs. $15-$35. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny with a race-time high near 70.

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Looking ahead: Wilmington YMCA Sprint Triathlon, Sept. 17, Blockade Runner, Wrightsville Beach. More info by calling 910.256.2251.

Piedmont

Sometimes, what we need to motivate us to move is motivation that’s not about moving.

That logic is for the birds, you say?

It is in the case of Saturday’s Birding with Vernon at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville. “Join our bird enthusiast, Vernon,” states a description of the event, “for an easy walk while looking and listening for our feathered friends. Discover different types of birds and their habitats.​“ (And get a healthy walk in, to boot.)

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 3, 8:30 a.m., Lake Crabtree County Park, Morrisville. Free. More info here

Saturday forecast: High in the upper 60s, chance of rain.

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Looking ahead: Nature at Night, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Lake Crabtree County Park, Morrisville. More info here.

Mountains

Nothing like an organized bike ride that recognizes all levels of preparedness. Been riding all season and in top form? Then the 100-mile and 100k (62 miles) options of Labor Day’s Tour d’Apple out of Hendersonville is for you. Likewise, if you’re in pretty good shape, but not that good of shape, you could try TdA’s 45-mile route. Haven’t dusted off your bike yet this summer? Perhaps you’d best be advised to do the 25-mile version.

All good options with plenty of rest stops and great scenery on this ride(s) that begin and end from Blue Ridge Community College. Sugarloaf Mountain, Bearwallow Mountain, Terry’s Gap, Pinnacle Mountain, Jump Off Rock — all some of the features you may (or may not) encounter, depending upon your route. Proceeds benefit the various charitable efforts of the Henderson Four Seasons Rotary Club.

Logistics: Monday, Sept. 5, 8 a.m. Blue Ridge Community College, Hendersonville. $55. More info here.

Monday forecast: Sunny with highs in the 70s.

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Looking ahead: Elk Knob Headwaters Community Day, Elk Knob State Park, Saturday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.. More info here.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

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GetGoingNC.com

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The post Your weekend: Go (run) and jump in a lake appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Water is the theme this Labor Day weekend, with a 5K you can jump into a lake after finishing, a festival that lets you take your chances on Class III water in a boat you build, and a triathlon that kicks off with a swim in a 72-degree mountain lake.

Coast

Go Jump in the Lake 5K isn’t a derisive suggestion; rather, it’s a thought on what you might do following a 3.1-mile run on a hot, humid August morning. This 5K starts and ends along the banks of Spring Lake in Boiling Springs: at the finish, runners are encouraged to keep going and take a refreshing dip. Includes a fun run, with a fun follow-up dip as well. Added incentive: the course is flat ‘n’ fast.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 31, 8 a.m., Spring Lake Park, Boiling Springs. $10 to $35. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 82, 40 percent chance of rain.

Piedmont

The ideal Labor Day celebration, in or book, is one where you essentially stay put and all the fun comes to you. Building a raft and sailing it down Class III water, running a 5K or 15K trail race, live music from three bands, fireworks and food — all in one place. This Sunday, that place would be the U.S. National Whitewater Center, home of all of the above. The day begins with the trail races at 9 a.m. and ends after the 9:30 a.m. fireworks show.

Logistics: Sunday, Sept. 1, U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte. Free. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 91, 50 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

Looking to capitalize on your summer triathlon training? Check out Saturday’s King of the Smokies Triathlon at Lake Junaluska.  Two tris, in fact. The sprint is a half-mile swim, 17.3-mile bike and 3.77-mile run, while the international is a one-mile swim, 25.76-mile bike, 7.37-mile run. Word is the lake will be cool enough to allow wet suits.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 31, 7:30 a.m. Lake Junaluska. $65 for the sprint, $180 for the international. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, 50 percent chance of rain.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

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GetGoingNC.com

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The post This weekend: a Labor of Fun appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Since we published that list we’ve heard from an additional 14 municipalities with greenways, from Whiteville’s four greenways totaling a mile in length to Rocky Mount’s 7-mile system to Pinehurst’s 11-mile. Not only we’re we pleasantly surprised that so many municipalities in North Carolina have greenways, but that so many have plans to expand. And not just the Raleigh’s, the Cary’s and the Charlotte’s. Havelock, for instance, will soon add more than 4 miles to its 1-mile system, Albemarle is working on a 3-mile rails-to-trails greenway that will connect its Rock Creek Park and Montgomery Park to downtown, and Sanford, currently with 2 miles, intends to build a 20-mile greenway that will run out to and along the Deep River.

In North Carolina, greenways are alive and growing.

As I’ve mentioned, we’re revamping GetGoingNC.com to include the most comprehensive greenway coverage in the state. Expect some news on that front by the end of May. Until then, the following list should help you track down any greenway in North Carolina. Keep it in mind as you travel the state. Find yourself in Jacksonville on business and in need of a run? Check out the 5.5-mile Jacksonville-Camp LeJeune Rails-to-Trails greenway. On your annual summer vacation to the Outer Banks and looking for a break from the beach? Take a bike ride on Manteo’s 8.8-mile greenway. And if you’re traveling any distance with kids, knowing where there’s a nearby greenway where they can stretch their legs (and burn some energy) can be invaluable.

Click on town names for details on their greenways.

* Indicates new listing from last week’s list.

Photo top: Raleigh’s Rocky Branch Greenway goes through the middle of the N.C. State campus. Here, it swings by the new softball field and State’s track.

Statewide

North Carolina Rail-Trails Includes a rundown of 28 rails-to-trails projects throughout the state as well as projects in development.

Coast

* Burgaw approximately 2.1 mile trail and greenway.

Greenville 3.3-mile greenway.

Jacksonville 5.5-mile Jacksonville-Camp LeJeune Rails-to-Trails greenway.

* Havelock 1.02-mile Greenway at the Recreation Complex off NC 101. Will be establishing a 4-plus mile Greenway on McCotter Canal soon.

Manteo 8.8-mile greenway.

* Whiteville Four greenways that connect and measure about 1 mile.

Piedmont

Triangle

Apex Three greenways, 6 miles.

Chapel Hill Six main greenways/trails.

Carrboro Includes 1-mile Libba Cotten rails-with-trails project.

Cary 47 miles of greenway.

Durham Eight greenways, including about half of the 22-mile American Tobacco Trail.

Morrisville One greenway.

Raleigh 68 miles of greenway with more under construction.

Smithfield 3-mile Buffalo Creek Greenway runs along the Neuse River.

Wake Forest About 8 miles of greenway in 9 sections.

Triad

Greensboro 32 miles of paved greenway.

Guilford County Overseeing the nearly complete 15-mile Bicentennial Greenway bridging High Point and Greensboro.

Winston-Salem 16 miles of greenway

High Point 9 miles of greenway

Wilkesboro 7.4-mile (and growing) Yadkin River Greenway.

Charlotte area

Mecklenburg County 35 miles of developed greenway

Carolina Thread Trail New effort to link greenways in 15 counties in the Charlotte area.

Gastonia One 2.7-mile greenway, one 1.7-mile rails-to-trails project

Kings Mountain 2.3-mile greenway

Concord 4-mile downtown loop.

Kannapolis 2-mile greenway.

Piedmont / elsewhere

* Albemarle Currently developing a 3-mile section of abandoned rail line into a greenway that will connect Rock Creek Park and Montgomery Park to downtown and to each other. About 1 mile is done, with grant funding being sought for development of the remainder.

* Archdale Approximately 3 miles of greenway trails in Archdale which begin in Creekside Park.

* Mount Airy 4.4 miles of greenway (2.2  miles on the Emily B. Taylor Greenway and 2.2 miles on the Ararat River Greenway). Ararat River Greenway also has water access. Three of four city Schools are connected to greenways.

* Pinehurst 6 miles of greenway, built since 2004.

* Rocky Mount About 7 miles of greenway. The longest: 3.1 miles of greenway trail along the Tar River.

* Sanford Two miles of greenway with the recent completion of a 1.4-mile section. Greenway eventually will reach to the Endor Iron Furnace on the Deep River. Long range plan: a 20-plus-mile loop from Sanford to and along the Deep River.

* Southern Pines Eleven miles with two more to be built.

* Statesville More than six miles of greenway with another 2.5 now being paved.

Mountains

Asheville 4.3-mile greenway with plans for 15-mile system with 12 interconnected corridors

Black Mountain More than a mile of greenway, with plans for three more greenways.

* Boiling Springs (Cleveland County) Fifteen to 20 miles of trail for equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers along with being the beginning of an awesome blue way. We are celebrating our 16th birthday this year.

Brevard 5-mile paved greenway links Brevard with Davidson River area.

* Fletcher 3.1 miles of greenway (mix of wood chip, pebble stone and concrete) in Fletcher Community Park running along Cane Creek and Hoopers Creek.

Franklin 4-mile, mostly paved, Little Tennessee River Greenway

* Lenoir Greenway runs 4.76 miles over approximately 25 acres

Morganton 3.8-mile Catawba River Greenway, with connecting .6-mile Freedom Trail.

The post Finding more greenways in North Carolina appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “Hmm, I run 5 miles I can eat guilt-free for the rest of the day. Maybe this guy is on to something.” If that logic works to motivate you, then lace up and keep the fork and knife warming up at home. But the healthy effects of starting this particular day with a run could have widespread benefits. Consider the implications, based on research out of Vanderbilt University.

• “Running helps lower blood pressure by maintaining the elasticity of the arteries.” That could come in handy watching your beloved Lions in their annual Thanksgiving debacle. Not to mention coping with your mother-in-law’s running commentary on how dinner is (or isn’t) progressing.
• “Running also helps maximize the lungs’ potential, as it keeps them strong and powerful.” Good lung potential: Again, with yelling for/at your beloved Lions and with your obligatory defense in defending dinner to “mom.”
• “Running strengthens the heart and helps prevent heart attacks.” Again, with the Lions, again, with “mom.”
• But most significantly: “Running does not increase appetite. In fact, exercise tends to diminish it, acting as a suppressant.” That means not only will you not wake up with a giblet hangover Friday morning, you’ll have leftovers to last a week.

Trots and runs: make them an integral part of your Thanksgiving.

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Here’s a rundown of Thanksgiving Day trots and runs in North Carolina:

Coast & Coastal Plain

Boiling Springs
Ruby C. Hunt YMCA 13th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run and Walk
Where: Ruby C. Hunt YMCA.
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Races: 5K
More info here.

Duck
15th Annual Advice 5K Turkey Trot
Where: Advice 5-cent B&B
Time: 9 a.m.
Races: 5K
More info here.

Goldsboro
Goldsboro YMCA Turkey Trot 5k
Where: Goldsboro YMCA
Time: 8 a.m.
Races: 5K, 1-mile kids fun run (8:15 a.m.)
More info here.

Wrightsville
6th Annual Turkey Trot
Where: Wrightsville Beach Town Park and Gazebo
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Races: 2.4-mile main event, 2.4-mile or 1-mile Gobbler Family Fun Walk.
More info here

Piedmont

Charlotte
5th Annual Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5K, 10K & Half Marathon
Where: Gold’s Gym, Cornelius
Time: 7:40 a.m.
Races: 5K, 10K (7:35 a.m. start), half marathon (7:30 a.m. start)
More info here.

Triad

Greensboro
Greensboro Gobbler
Where: Country Park
Time: 9 a.m.
Races: 5K, 1.5-mi. Dog Jog and Youth Run (8:30 a.m.)
More info here.

Winston-Salem
Turkey Strut 5-K
Where: Reynolds High School
Time: 9 a.m.
Races: 5K, 1-mile fun run (8:30 a.m.)
More info here

Triangle

Cary

Turkey Trot
Where: Inside-Out Sports
Time: 9 a.m.
Races: 8K, 1-mile fun run (8:30 a.m.), 100-yard kids dash (10 a.m.)
More info here

Raleigh
Ridgewood Turkey Trot
Where: Ridgewood Shopping Center
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Races: 8K, 1-mile fun run (8 a.m.), Kid’s Dash (9:45 a.m.)
More info here

Wake Forest
Gobbler’s Run
Where: Downtown Wake Forest
Time: 8 a.m.
Races: 5K
More info here

Mountains

Asheville
Turkey Trot 5K
Where: Carrier Park
Time: 9 a.m.
Races: 5K
More info here

The post Start Thanksgiving with trots and runs appeared first on GetGoing NC!.