Most everyone LOVES a comeback story. You can count us in that “most everyone.” And, for any number of reasons, if you run for any length of time, you’ll probably have a few comeback stories of your own.

Our next guest on the Running Around Charlotte podcast is testament to that. Siobhan Havlik is a 2023 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador, and has a few comeback stories of her own, bouncing back to running after three pregnancies.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:01 — 20.2MB)

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Move over, Wednesday nights. There’s a new-ish run club on the calendar. The Legion SouthPark Run Club is one of the new clubs on the block, but they’ve got some familiar faces in the crowd.

One of those faces is our friend, Anne Fechtel. She’s also one heck of a runner in her own right, and just got back from Boston. We’ll get to that in a minute, but first, let’s welcome Anne back to the Running Around Charlotte podcast.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:42 — 17.1MB)

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No offense, afternoon and evening runners, but there’s just something AMAZING about starting the day with a good run. But, even the early birds need a little company sometimes.

Jourdan Sullivan recognized the opportunity to create some community before the sun comes up. She started a group called Charlotte Morning Run, which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays along the Rail Trail here in the South End. She’s our guest today on The Running Around Charlotte podcast.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:25 — 16.0MB)

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Training for an event takes perseverance, a plan, and – most importantly – it takes time. Finding the kind of time to train for long-distance and multisport events makes finding time even more of a challenge.

Trying to find time for that kind of training AND work and family is a tall order. Today’s guest on the Running Around Charlotte podcast knows a thing or two about finding that balance. Tia Smith is a runner, triathlete, motivator, mom, and a 2023 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon ambassador.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:37 — 27.1MB)

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Hey, whatcha got going on this weekend? How about a free, fun, and friendly-friendly 5k event where you can run, walk, jog, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you! It literally happens EVERY Saturday morning at 9 o’clock along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway here in Charlotte.

No, it’s not a “flash mob” or happy accident. This kind of “park run” is literally a global movement to build some community around the idea of movement. Sarah Kline and Mitch Mitchell are event directors for the Little Sugar Creek Greenway’s Park Run. They’re our guests today on the Running Around Charlotte podcast.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:32 — 17.9MB)

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Back in the day, you could time and score all but the biggest events with a Timex and a couple handfuls of popsicle sticks. (Yep. That’s a real thing.) Nowdays, even the smallest events can get world-class timing and scoring, instantaneous results, and cherries on top.

One of the companies that does just that is Start to Finish Event Management. Odds are pretty good, that if you’ve run a race around here – and in a couple of other major markets – you’ve run with Jen Forsyth and the folks from Start 2 Finish.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:48 — 21.8MB)

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If you’re one of those runners who’s just GOT to have your tunes to make the miles melt away, then you’ll love our next guest. Heck, if you’ve been to practically ANY event on the Charlotte running calendar, then you probably already know him.

DJ Rosice Batsui is the bedrock of the local running event experience; providing the soundtrack for the RunCharlotte 6-Pack Series of events and the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:52 — 19.1MB)

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Like many college and university students, Luis Bayon’s undergraduate experience was full of twists and turns, new experiences, changing majors, and self-discovery. But Luis’s journey from business major to yogi has many more detours than most – and it all started when his family picked up and moved from Cuba to North Carolina.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:29 — 22.4MB)

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If you spend any time running at all, you’ll eventually experience a setback. Whether it’s work, family, illness, or injury… very, very few of us skate through without something that slows us down. We could do an entire YEAR’S worth of shows on all the stuff that’s knocked us off schedule.

Our next guest can sympathize. Jeneice Jamison is making her own comeback of sorts. She’s a writer and TV news producer, a runner – of course – and one of this year’s Novant Health Charlotte Ambassadors.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:57 — 13.7MB)

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Philip Sanford was in high school when his mom was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer. She was just 41. As a grown-up, a runner, and an advocate, Sanford has picked up the cause his mother was unable to continue. 

He’s been to Capitol Hill to lobby for better outcomes. He’s also the local director for Charlotte’s colon cancer awareness run, the “Get Your Rear in Gear” 5k. He also happens to be a 2023 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador – and he’s our guest on this episode of the Running Around Charlotte podcast.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:17 — 18.6MB)

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