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  • April 02, 2021 8:42 PM | Melissa Seuster

    Art McDonald loves to run. A lot. Like, 3,339 miles in 143 days. That’s an average of 23.3 miles a day.

    Why would he do that, one might ask?

    During a time of virtual challenges and little-to-no “live” races, Art wanted to add meaning to his miles. He recalled the story of Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete and cancer research activist who embarked on a cross-country run for cancer research, despite losing one leg to osteosarcoma. Fox got to 3,339 miles in 143 days before the cancer metastasized and forced him to stop. “My legs are a lot older, but I have two good ones,” said Art. “By completing this challenge, I was able to persevere and honor a great man.”

    In addition to his personal challenge, Art accepted and met the CRAW challenge – Circumpolar Race Around the World. This virtual race started on Sept.1, 2020 with the goal of completing 30,167 miles among 10 team members. The “course” starts at the U.S. / Mexico border and moves south through Antarctica, wrapping back around the globe through the North Pole to return to the start (see https://www.craw.racing/ for details). Art’s team, Fear of the Running Dead,finished this feat in just 198 days, becoming the first run/walk team to cross the finish line! Contributing a total of 4,231 miles in just over 6 months, Art was averaging 21 miles a day. His teammate, local running legend and CRC member Joe Schlereth, led the team in mileage. They enjoyed teaming up with people from France, California, the Asia Pacific (military) and other regions in the United States.

    Amazingly, Art’s impressive running career began just 11 years ago when he started running with his son, Graham. His first marathon was in 2014 in Charlotte. Since then, he has run 10 full marathons and one 50-miler, the 2017 JFK Ultra in Maryland. It was by far the most memorable of his races. “I wasn’t sure I would finish it, but Graham ran with me,” he said. He was so proud and grateful to finish that he commissioned an artist to paint a portrait of them at the finish (see below).

    Although Art lives in Rock Hill, he spends a great deal of time running on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Midtown with the Run Far training program. “I just really love the Charlotte running community. It’s great to be around people achieving things.”

    So what would Art tell the next generation of runners? “As long as you put one foot in front of the other, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter if it’s 3 miles or 30 miles. Everything’s an accomplishment.”

    In 2021, Art intends to run the Chicago marathon in under 4:00 hours. If traveling is not an option, he will surely be running in Charlotte.

    “I believe that 99.5% of runners are encouraging. I do this to further inspire the younger generation, my son, grandchildren, and other runners.”

    Thank you, Art, for providing exactly the inspiration we needed to get through 2020.

                

    Art (left) with Joe Schlereth.                           Art (left) painted with son, Graham.

  • November 22, 2020 6:27 PM | Melissa Seuster

    by Eric Smith

    Fall treated us with some fantastic weather for running and now as we move into winter the days are getting shorter and it’s time to break out the tights and gloves. Personally, I love this time of the year given the cooler temps, less humidity, and the holiday lights & decorations make the runs entertaining.

    This is also the time folks start to look ahead to the next year and sign up for races to have a goal to train for over the holidays but things are far from “normal” right now with the absence of large scale races to sign up for.

    The Charlotte Running Club will continue to focus on providing ways to encourage everyone to keep running over the winter by hosting weekly, monthly and special one time events. We have started a weekly Track Tuesday session and Wednesday Trail run for anyone who wants to try something new and the monthly CRC Free 5K continues to be a great opportunity to run fast with others on a safe greenway route. Recently, CRC hosted the new monthly Dash N Dine event to support locally owned restaurants through a difficult time with the COVID restrictions. Later this week, the CRC & Black Men Run 12 Hour Run for Youth will be held on Friday November 27th from 7am - 7pm benefitting Let Me Run and Girls on the Run. Please consider coming out to Freedom Park to run or walk the 4 mile route and make a donation supporting two great charities.

    All of the aforementioned events are open to everyone in the community so please bring your family or friends. Have a safe and happy holiday season!


  • November 22, 2020 6:27 PM | Melissa Seuster

    This November 27, instead of shopping or nursing your turkey hangover, get out and run with Charlotte Running Club and Black Men Run! Over the course of 12 hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., we will be raising money for Let Me Run and Girls On The Run. Both of these tremendous youth organizations teach character lessons and healthy lifestyles through running.

    The event is free and runners can come and go as they please. There will be a 4-mile mapped course which may be run as often as you want. Run solo or as a team and see how many miles you can put together. Ask your friends, family and neighbors to sponsor you and help you raise money for these great causes. We will be giving awards for top mileage for individuals and teams.

    We realize that many of you are traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, so you don’t have to be present to participate. Run “virtually,” wherever you are, and challenge yourself to see how many miles and how much money you can raise.

    Visit https://raceroster.com/events/2020/35499/black-friday-long-run-for-youth to register and be sure to follow our Facebook & Instagram pages to keep up with the day’s activities.


  • November 22, 2020 6:26 PM | Melissa Seuster

    By Melissa Seuster

    Summerson Springer has moved five times and became a mom five times. But one thing that has never changed is her love of running. “I run most days of the week just to stay sane,” says Summerson. “It is my constant in my ever-changing life.”

    Born and raised in West Virginia, Summerson studied exercise physiology at Marshall University, where she met her husband Bryan. Fitness was a part of her life – and her major – so she ran to stay in shape while also teaching aerobics classes and personal training. When she moved to Minnesota for Bryan’s orthopedic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic, she had to adapt to running in the cold, sometimes as cold as 20 degrees below zero!es.“I was working at the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center at the Mayo Clinic, so I was always meeting people interested in fitness and health” she said. “I met lots of fun people who liked to run, and we ended up forming a great running group filled with camaraderie, laughter and motivation. We would wake up at 5:15 am in the freezing cold and needed each other’s support.”

    While in college, Summerson had run a few 5Ks, but in Minnesota, she went right to training for a full marathon. She ran her first, the Med City Marathon in Rochester, MN on Memorial Day weekend 2001. Since then, she has completed 12 full marathons, including Los Angeles, New York City, Grandma’s & Marine Corps.

    After three more moves to Florida, Arizona & Boston, she ended up in Charlotte in 2005.

    “We moved here, and two weeks later we had our first child Brycen. I went straight to being a stay-at-home mom.” With Bryan’s new career as a physician at OrthoCarolina, it didn’t take long for Summerson to seek a social connection with other moms who liked to run. “We would run through Myers Park with our strollers,” she said, “and when Finn was born I got a double stroller. Then Bennett was born and I got a triple stroller!” Being able to pack up and take the kids out for a run gave her a sense of freedom, and lifelong friendships formed.

    It was around this time that Bryan also started running. They would hire a sitter to come at 5:30 am so they could train together. In 2014 they ran the LA marathon, and later completed Chicago and New York City marathons together.

    As a young mom, Summerson became involved in several charities, including Love Without Boundaries. When Summerson first met Bryan, she was touched by his large family which included five adopted sisters. In 2013 their family grew to include Evie, their first daughter who they adopted from China, and then in 2017 came Poppy, their fifth child and second daughter, also adopted from China.

    Summerson now spends countless hours volunteering for charities that support vulnerable children and families. Last year, she and Bryan hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim in one  day as part of Difference Makers, an organization that allowed them to raise money for their chosen charity. This year, they were planning a similar trip to the Appalachian Trail, which had to be adapted to a COVID-19 virtual challenge to support the Salvation Army.

    Looking ahead, Summerson and Bryan plan to run the Kiawah Half Marathon. Although the race has gone virtual, they will carry on their tradition of traveling to Kiawah on the second week of December to run their “virtual” race right there on the island.

    Regardless of what life sends their way, running will remain their constant.

    Have an interesting running-related story to tell? We are looking for new members to feature. Contact Melissa Seuster at run.charlotte@gmail.com.

  • November 22, 2020 6:25 PM | Melissa Seuster

    We're excited to welcome these new members into the CRC fold:

    Korbi Kay Blanchard

    Betty Burns

    Matthew Collins

    Jennifer Dufresne

    Jon Fenton

    Valerie Glover

    Christy Hambright

    Paul Kiefer

    Keith Koteles

    Paul Margiotis

    Tyler Post

    Preethi Srinivasakumar

    Christa Sumwalt

    Jayce Watson

    Not a Member Yet? Click HERE to Join 450 other Charlotte-area runner and sign up today. For only $20, you enjoy~

    • Group runs and special events centered on running

    • Discounts at local running stores & races

    • Finding new people to run with through our social media pages

    • Access to our Online Store and cool merchandise


  • November 22, 2020 6:22 PM | Melissa Seuster

    These hoodies and T-shirts will be available in time for the holidays! If interested, please email run.charlotte@gmail.com and we will contact you as soon as they are ready for purchase.


    Lightweight Unisex Hoodies:$30

                           Women's soft tri-blend T-shirt in Red or Gray: $20  





    Men's soft tri-blend T-shirt in Red or Gray: $20


  • November 22, 2020 6:22 PM | Melissa Seuster

    Those of you who subscribe to Runner’s World may have heard of a new documentary entitled “Not Today.” This film powerfully examines the realities of sexual harassment and violence against runners through the stories of three women. CRC sought special permission to share this link with members so that it may be available to all women and men who care about the running community.

    Link: Runnersworld.com/watchnottoday

    Password: ISAYNOTTODAY

    After watching Not Today, please share your thoughts on our social media pages, discuss with running friends, and take to heart simple practices that can make us safer on the roads, trails and greenways.


  • November 22, 2020 6:21 PM | Melissa Seuster
    • In the coming weeks, you will be receiving your membership renewal notice. Currently, membership runs by calendar year (Jan 1 - Dec 31). If you had chosen "auto-renew," CRC will be charging the card on file for the same membership level as the previous year. Auto-renew runs on three year cycles so if you chose this three years ago, you may need to re-enter your info.


    • Members join CRC for connection, motivation, and the love of running. As a nonprofit organization run completely by volunteers, your small annual contribution allows us to continue our mission, To build a strong and healthy community through running It is the Club’s goal to bring the expansive, diverse and exciting Charlotte running community together under one umbrella through motivation, group runs and social events.

      As Charlotte area’s largest USATF run club, we create opportunities to run, race, and socialize with likeminded people. Find new people to run with through our social media pages, subscribe to our newsletter, and access our online store for exclusive club merchandise. Become an active part of creating a vibrant running community close to home.

    • Membership levels and renewal instructions can be found HERE. Thank you for continuing to support Charlotte Running Club!


  • November 22, 2020 6:20 PM | Melissa Seuster

    Have you noticed an increase in CRC-sponsored events lately? If you haven’t checked these out yet, here are more opportunities to become involved with the Club:

    Regular Events, Open to All:

    • Track Tuesdays, 5:30 a.m. at Community House Middle School Track. Email Eric Smith at run.charlotte@gmail.com for more info.
    • Wednesday Morning Trail Run, 7 a.m. at Colonel Frances Beatty Park. Contact Chad Champion at run.charlotte@gmail.com for more info.
    • Dash & Dine, 6 p.m. at various restaurants around Charlotte (last one was at Hawthorne's Pizza in Elizabeth). Run a few miles then enjoy dinner & drinks while supporting a local restaurant. Next one will be December 1, location TBA. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for details.
    • CRC Free 5K, 6:30 p.m., on the last Tuesday of every month, on Little Sugar Creek Greenway behind Carolina Pavillion (9571 South Blvd). Next event is Tuesday November 24!  

    Holiday Events:

    • Black Friday Run for Youth, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Freedom Park. Click HERE for details.
    • Holiday Lights Run sponsored by Omega Sports. 6 p.m. December 13. Start at Omega (Park Rd Shopping Center) and tour Myers Park neighborhoods to take in the Christmas lights and holiday cheer.

    Members Only (info sent to member emails):

    • Charlotte Running Club (Promenade location) members appreciation event.
    • Destination Marathons special discount on Wilmington Marathon/Half Marathon - expires Nov. 30.


  • June 01, 2016 6:30 AM | Anonymous

    Our annual summer picnic will be on Saturday, June 25th from 12-4pm.

     

    Where:  Park Road Park - Shelter #3  (6220 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210)

    When:  Saturday, June 25 from 12:00 - 4:00 pm

    What to bring:  Bring a folding chair and a side dish to share.  The club will provide the meat and buns for the bbq grill.  Come out with the entire family for an afternoon of cornhole, volleyball, and fun with your fellow CRC members.

          


    Questions? Contact Bill Shires (bshires@yahoo.com)

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The Charlotte Running Club consists of passionate runners that strive to spread the love of running and to help each other grow. The Club's goal is to bring the expansive, diverse, and exciting Charlotte running community together under one umbrella through motivation, group runs, and social events. 

Contact us

Email: run.charlotte@gmail.com

"Charlotte Running Club" is a 501(c)7 non-profit organization. Contact: P.O. Box 34763, Charlotte, NC 28234.

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