Local Motion | Issue #13

Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 · 7:00 AM

👋 A Note from Jason

Battle at the Fort is this Saturday in Spanish Fort. Big month after that too — pickleball tournaments and a 5K with a decade of history behind it.

Oh, and a race discount for you — the good folks at Miles for Heroes hooked our readers up with 15% off registration. Code's down below.

Let's get into it. 👇

🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!

Okay, we need to talk about the mile.

Saturday in London, Josh Kerr ran 3:42.66 for the mile. That's not just fast — that's a world record. He broke a mark that stood for 27 years, set by Hicham El Guerrouj at 3:43.13 back in 1999 in Rome. Kerr had been publicly chasing this since late March, trained at altitude in Albuquerque, and had Brooks build him custom spikes and a speed suit for the attempt. Two teammates paced him through it, and he still had enough left to beat Yared Nuguse to the line by three seconds.

Twenty-seven years. Think about that. El Guerrouj's record outlasted flip phones, three Olympic cycles, and approximately one thousand "is the mile dead" think pieces.

(Full race recap from World Athletics → · Watch the race →)

🔥 This Week's Top Picks

🏓 PICKLEBALL

🏓 Two tournaments in one week this August — Paddle Classic on the 22nd, Round Robin the 28th–30th. I really need my twoey in form before then. I need it dropping in the opponent's kitchen, not my own — the car ride home with Tina is a lot more enjoyable that way.

🗓️ Save the Date — August 22

The Foundation Paddle Classic — Sat. Aug 22 · Foley Pickleball Courts, 671 Kenny Stabler Ave, Foley Presented by Vulcan, Inc. and hosted by the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation. Gender doubles, round robin into a playoff bracket, brackets split by age and skill level (beginner through advanced). 100% of proceeds go to local education — grants and resources for South Baldwin students and teachers.

Register here👇

🗓️ Save the Date — August 28–30

Rock and Roll Round Robin — Fri–Sun. Aug 28–30 · Foley Event Center, 1001 E Pride Blvd, Foley Three days of indoor pickleball on the Foley Event Center's 18 rubberized courts, with classic rock and soul playing courtside. Nearly 60 players already registered as of this week. USA Pickleball sanctioned; $50 gets you up to three events.

Register here 👇

📌 Open Play — Every Week

Mike Ford Tennis Center — Stimpson Park, Fairhope Lighted courts · Lessons, clinics & socials. Call for open play schedule: 251-990-9526

W.O. Lott Park — Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun 8:00–11:00 AM · Wed/Fri 6:00 PM · Daphne 12 outdoor courts · Free · All levels welcome.

Pickleball at OWA — Sun–Fri 10 AM–7 PM · Sat 8 AM–8 PM · 200 S OWA Blvd, Foley (worth the drive) 4 indoor climate-controlled courts · $10/hr guest pass · $55/mo membership · Walk-ins welcome. In Alabama. In June. You know what that means outside. Come inside.

Know of open play anywhere else on the Shore? Hit reply — we'll add it.

🏃 RUNNING

🏃 You know your training run is going to be tough when you walk out the door and by the time your Garmin locks onto GPS you're already sweating.

🔥 This Weekend

Nothing on the local race calendar this weekend — a quiet stretch before the next training cycles kick in. Good week to just log easy miles.

📌 Weekly Runs

Three ways to run — pick your night.

Fairhope Beer Runners — Every Monday · 6:00 PM · Fairhope Brewing Company, Fairhope Just wrapped their first full year. The format is refreshingly simple: 5K and 1-mile routes are mapped, but go as far and as fast as you want. No tracked miles. No recorded times. Social matters as much as the miles — stick around after for a raffle around 7 PM, then stay as long as you like. Fleet Feet supports with small giveaways each week. Show up, run, be social.

Manci's Antique Club Run/Walk Social — Every Wednesday · 6:00 PM · Manci's Antique Club, Daphne Heading into their fourth year this October — which tells you everything you need to know about how good this group is. Same idea: 5K and 1-mile routes, but run your own race. No times, no pressure. The social after is the point. Fleet Feet keeps the giveaways coming, and the raffle at 7 PM is a legitimate reason to stick around.

Thursday Night Group Run — Every Thursday · 6:00 PM · McSharry's Irish Pub, 101 N Bancroft St, Fairhope Run at your own pace, stay for food and good company. The best post-run tradition on the Eastern Shore.

Know of a group run we missed? Hit reply — we'll add it.

🗓️ On the Radar — This Fall

Miles for Heroes 5K & 1-Mile Run/Walk — Sat. Sept 26 · 8:00 AM · 1705 Main St, Daphne Certified 5K course through Olde Towne Daphne, benefiting IGY6: Gulf Coast — supporting suicide prevention and mental health for veterans and first responders. Finishers Festival with food trucks and music after.

🎟️ Local Motion reader discount: 15% off with code Localmotion15off at checkout — good through August. Feel free to share with friends and family too.

Register here 👇

10th Annual Bloody Mary 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run — Sat. Sept. 5 · 7:30 AM · Tacky Jacks, Gulf Shores (worth the drive) Race three of the Run the Coast Summer Series — and the championship race where series finisher medals are handed out. If you're doing the Shark Run on July 4th, this is the natural next step.

Register here 👇

Bras Across the CAUSEway 5K & Festival — Sat. Oct 10 · USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (worth the drive)The 10th annual — a full decade of "Turning Miles Into Miracles." Timed 5K, a family-friendly 1-mile fun run, or a virtual option. All proceeds fund the Patient Assistance Program, helping local breast cancer patients with gas, groceries, copays, rent, and other essentials. Early bird pricing runs through July 31 — $30 for ages 13+, $25 for 12 and under.

Register on RunSignup →

🚴 CYCLING

📌 Weekly Rides

Pro Cycle Saturday Morning Ride — Every Saturday · 7:30 AM · Pro Cycle & Tri, Fairhope ~28 miles · All paces welcome. Best shop ride on the Gulf Coast. Show up, clip in, and hang on.

Pro Cycle Tuesday Night Hammerfest — Every Tuesday · 6:00 PM · Pro Cycle & Tri (Spring/Summer) 25 miles · Rear light required · ~20+ mph. Come find out.

Pro Cycle Thursday Night Social Ride — Every Thursday · 6:00 PM · Pro Cycle & Tri (Spring/Summer) 20 miles · No-drop · ~17–18 mph. Katie "momma-ducks" this one — nobody gets left behind.

Three rides a week. Saturday if you want miles, Tuesday if you want a challenge, Thursday if you want both and also to feel like part of a group.

No formal cycling races on the Baldwin County calendar for the next two weeks. Know of a club ride or group event? Hit reply.

🏊 TRIATHLON & MULTI-SPORT

🗓️ On the Radar — This Fall

Brett Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon — Sat. Sept. 12 · Gulf Shores West Beach (worth the drive) Sprint and Olympic distances. Swim the Gulf, bike the coast, run the beach — with staging at The Hangout (101 Gulf Shores Pkwy). Olympic swim starts 7:00 AM; Sprint "Tri-It-On" swim starts 7:45 AM. Friday packet pickup 4–6 PM at The Hangout. Year 19 of this race. Registration open now.

⚡ HEALTH & WELLNESS EVENT

Battle at the Fort — Sat. July 25 · 7:00 AM–Noon · Town Center Park, Spanish Fort (3000 Town Center Ave)

4 days out. A health and wellness event and fitness challenge rolled into one morning — vendor village, cold plunges, saunas, a 1-mile run, yoga, meditation, F45/5A-style fitness challenges, and a Fastest Pickleball Serve Challenge. Complete "The Fort Pass" for a shot at prizes. Rain or shine, ages 16+ to participate.

That's Issue #13. 🎉

Battle at the Fort is this Saturday, and there's a full slate of pickleball, running, and multi-sport events on the calendar through October. Pick one — or all of them.If you know of a group ride, open swim, yoga in the park, or any local fitness event we've missed — hit reply. And if someone in your life needs this in their inbox — a neighbor, a training partner, your Monday night running buddy who just found out there's also a Wednesday run — send them to localmotionactive.com to subscribe.

See you on the courts and the roads. 🌅

— Jason (and Tina 🏓)

Local Motion — From the Bay to the Beach. localmotionactive.com