Local Motion | Issue #14

Published: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 · 7:00 AM

👋 A Note from Jason

Battle at the Fort happened Saturday, and Tina and I were there for all of it — 1-mile run, the Fastest Pickleball Serve Challenge, cold plunges, yoga, fitness challenges, and a vendor village worth the trip on its own. Huge thanks to Mike Thompson, Melissa Sprinkle, and all the volunteers who put on a great community event!

Also new this issue: Foley Run Club joins the weekly lineup. Tuesday nights at Moe's BBQ, routes through OWA, and by the sound of it, a genuinely fun group. Details below.

One more thing before we get into it — Miles for Heroes hooked Local Motion readers up with 15% off registration, code's down in the running section, and that deal's only good through August. If Sept 26 is on your radar even a little, don't sleep on it.

Let's get into it. 👇

🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!

First: the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships wrapped Sunday in Manhattan, and Noah Lyles ran a world-leading 9.79 in the 100m. Sha'Carri Richardson took the women's 100m in 10.77. Nikki Hiltz won the 1500m for the fourth straight year.

Second: On Running has been quietly scaling something called LightSpray — a robotic arm that sprays a seamless, laceless running shoe upper into existence in about three minutes flat. No stitching, no cutting, no glue. On says it cuts an estimated 200 to 300 hours of human work out of the traditional development and production cycle. The shoes are now actually on shelves after a full launch back in April.

This isn't just a manufacturing party trick, either. The upper weighs a claimed 170 grams — On calls it a "second-skin" fit, precision-sprayed with no excess padding, so the support is built exactly where your foot needs it instead of layered on generically. And it's race-tested: Hellen Obiri has worn it to wins in Boston, Paris, and New York, including a nearly 3-minute course record at the 2025 NYC Marathon.

🔥 This Week's Top Picks

🏓 PICKLEBALL

🏓 Genuine question: how do you have four adults on a pickleball court and NOBODY can remember the score? It's addition. By one. Each time. And yet somewhere around 6-4 the whole game turns into a committee meeting.

🗓️ 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

🏃 Four weekly group runs on the Eastern Shore and Foley calendar now — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. At some point "group run" stopped being about the run and started being about who's buying the first round after. I'm not complaining. I'm just noting the shift.

🔥 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

Four ways to run now — 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.

Foley Run Club — Every Tuesday · 6:00 PM · Moe's BBQ, Foley (new this issue) Gather at the Pavilion out front for group photos, then head out on 1-mile, 2-mile, or 5K routes through OWA — run, walk, jog, or just move at your own pace. No pressure, no judgment. Afterward, everyone heads back to Moe's for drinks, food specials, and good company. Open to anyone training for a race, starting a fitness journey, or just looking for their people.

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.

🚴 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.

That's Issue #14. 🎉

Big thanks again to Mike Thompson and Melissa Sprinkle for Battle at the Fort — and a warm welcome to Foley Run Club, our newest weekly listing. Don't forget: Miles for Heroes readers discount (Localmotion15off, 15% off) runs through August, and Bras Across the CAUSEway early bird pricing closes July 31.

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 Tuesday night Foley Run Club regular — 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