Joe McMahan

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! If you’re doing any kind of distance running you know – at some point you’re going to need a little fuel in the tank. In this day and age, there are LOADS of gels, “goos,” bars, and stuff to help keep your energy up. We’re probably tried them all, which has us REALLY excited about today’s guest. He’s got something all new, and all natural.

We’re talking with a local runner and entrepreneur who’s making waves in the endurance fueling world. We’re excited to welcome Joe McMahan, the founder of Azoia Endurance, a company making all-natural energy gels right here in Charlotte.

Tarik Haniff

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re glad to be back in the studio with you again! Today, we’re excited to kick off our special series featuring some of our 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassadors. This week’s guest is Tarik Haniff, a passionate runner and community leader who’s running all around Charlotte and its vibrant running scene.

Philip Sanford – CLT Run Club

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE here at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. We are excited to welcome Philip Sanford, the current president of the Charlotte Running Club.

Philip has dedicated his time to fostering a welcoming environment for runners of all levels in our community. He leads the Triple C Beer Runners and serves as a coach for the Let Me Run program at Sedgefield Middle School, too. Philip also writes a weekly newsletter for his Team Sanford Running program, sharing insights and tips to help runners improve their performance. We’re looking forward to discussing his journey in running, coaching, and how he envisions the future of the Charlotte Running Club.

Lisa Landrum – Runner, Advocate

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. We’ve got our long-time friend, Lisa Landrum here on the program with us. (Note: we didn’t say old…)

Lisa is a runner, coach, and community-builder who has been instrumental in shaping the running landscape here Charlotte. As the founder of runCLTrun and Forward Motion, she’s created platforms that connect and support runners of all levels. She’s a helluva runner in her own right, and long-time pace team leader for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. 

More important than all of that, she’s a Cotswold mom and friend of ours. Lisa, welcome back to the program! You were actually the very FIRST guest on the show!

Cornell Jones – Mad Miles RC Founder

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo today, and we’re excited to have Cornell Jones back on the program with us.

We’ll say it here: Cornell is a straight-up Renaissance Man; a former Division 1 college runner, Feature Producer for ESPN, runner and Mad Miles run club founder, and community-builder. If you don’t know from the Mad Miles Run Club, you’re either just visiting, or you’re one of the 117 people moving to Charlotte every day. And today’s your first day in town! 

 Cornell, welcome to the show! 

Wyatt Moss – 50 states in one year, IG influencer

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. We’ve got Wyatt Moss here with us – arguably, one of the most Insta-Famous runners on the planet right now. Here’s why:

In 2024, he set out to accomplish an incredible feat: running a marathon in all 50 states within a single year. As he nears the end of this remarkable journey, Wyatt will be taking on the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon this Saturday. 

Maybe you know him from TikTok, or his unique marathon challenges. Regardless, Wyatt has runners and non-runners wondering what he’ll do next: from eating Chipotle burritos in every state to running with a full rack of ribs, or wearing a tux during the New York City Marathon. We’re nervous-cited to see what he’ll do here in Charlotte! 

Tom Perri – Author, Pacer

Welcome back to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE here at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. Today, we have an incredibly inspiring guest – and good friend of ours — Tom Perri. 

Tom is an absolute legend in the marathon world. He has led pace teams in marathons across the globe and is a familiar face at the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, having paced all of the first 10 events. Tom is also an accomplished author, sharing his wealth of running knowledge with others. But what truly sets Tom apart is his indomitable spirit. Despite battling stage 4 prostate cancer, he continues to lace up, lead, and inspire. With nearly 700 marathons under his belt, Tom’s is a testament to the power of perseverance and the human spirit.

Maddy Ebbert – Artist, Muralist (Designed the event shirts)

Welcome back to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE here at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. Our guest is Maddy Ebbert — the versatile visual artist and illustrator based right here in Charlotte. Maddy says her art is inspired by nature, self-love, the beauty of simplicity, and capturing everyday life with joy and vibrancy. 

Maybe you’ve seen her work on Instagram, or walls and buildings all over the country… Most recently, she’s brought her unique vision to the running community by designing the artwork for the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon event shirts. Maddy, welcome to the program! 

Ashley Mahoney – Runner, Writer

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. Today, we have a special guest, and friend of ours, Ashley Mahoney. Ashley is an avid runner who has completed the Charlotte Marathon multiple times, and checked the box on her first ultra this year. Most of you may recognize her byline as a reporter at Axios Charlotte. 

Diego Ferraras – Ability Experience

Welcome to The Running Around Charlotte podcast! Today, we’re excited to have Diego Ferradas with us. Diego is the Director of Community Engagement at The Ability Experience, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders.

Diego is not just passionate about his work but also about various sports and activities. He recently participated with his team from The Ability Experience in the Around the Crown 10k. But he’s no one-hit wonder! Diego is a multi-faceted individual with interests spanning cycling, pickleball, and flag football, too!

Welcome to the show, Diego!