Local Motion | Issue #18

Published: Tuesday, August 25, 2026 · 7:00 AM

👋 A Note from Jason

Rock and Roll Round Robin takes over the Foley Event Center this weekend — Aug 28–30, 18 rubberized indoor courts, classic rock playing courtside for three straight days. Registration's closed (211 players deep as of this week), but if you want to watch some genuinely good pickleball, show up and cheer.

Bloody Mary 5K is 11 days out — the championship race of the Run the Coast Summer Series. If you ran the Shark 5K back on the Fourth, this is where you pick up the series finisher medal.

September 12 is shaping up to be a two-event Saturday: Walk This Way's 80s 5K and block party in Foley, and the Brett Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon down in Gulf Shores. Both good, both the same morning — pick your adventure.

And last call: the Miles for Heroes discount code (15% off, Localmotion15off) expires at the end of this month, which means this is the last issue you'll see it in. If Sept 26 is anywhere on your radar, now's the time.

Let's get into it. 👇

🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!

An ER doctor in Cleveland named Stephen Biebelhausen just ran a mile in 4:17 — while pushing his daughter in a jogging stroller. Not a typo. Four minutes, seventeen seconds, extra weight, extra wind resistance, steering included. He beat the previous stroller-mile world record (4:26, set last year) by nine seconds, split it 2:12 out and 2:05 back, and by his own account went into the run thinking the record was 4:44 — so he had no idea how big the margin actually was until after.

For context, my own personal mile PR — no stroller, no daughter, no wind resistance, just me and my own poor life choices — isn't even in the same conversation. Guinness verification is still pending on his run. Mine wouldn't need it. Nobody's rushing to verify a time that slow.

🔥 This Week's Top Picks

🏓 PICKLEBALL

🏓 Nothing builds unearned confidence like shanking one off the frame for a clean winner, hearing "great shot!" from across the net, and just... walking back to the baseline like that's what you meant to do.

🗓️ This Weekend — 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, classic rock and soul playing courtside — Friday is Men's Doubles, Saturday Mixed Doubles, Sunday Women's Doubles. 211 players registered as of this week. USA Pickleball sanctioned (Southern Pickleball). ⚠️ Registration is closed — this listing is for anyone planning to come watch or cheer on a friend.

📌 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

🏃 This is why I love running — no matter how rough the week's been, work stress, a bad day, whatever life decided to throw at me — there's still nothing that resets my head like lacing up and getting out the door. Doesn't matter how slow. The miles don't care what kind of day you had. They just let you have it.

🔥 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

Five 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.

Fly Creek Nature Preserve Trail Run — Every Saturday · 7:00 AM · Fly Creek Nature Preserve, 22430 Main St, Fairhope Running Wild's newest weekly listing — a trail run/walk through Fly Creek Nature Preserve. All paces welcome, whether you're pushing it or just enjoying the woods.

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

🗓️ Coming Up — Sept. 5

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 did the Shark Run on July 4th, this is the natural next step.

Register here 👇

Walk This Way: 80’s 5K & Block Party — Sat. Sept 12 · 5:00–10:00 PM · Heritage Park, Downtown Foley (new this issue) Lace up, dress up, and party like it's 1985. A scenic 5K through Historic Downtown Foley and the Rose Trail, finishing at Heritage Park, then a full-on 80s block party — live cover band, food trucks, costumes highly encouraged. Not a runner? Block Party Only tickets are available. Hosted by the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation, benefiting local education. BYOB friendly.

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 — expires end of August, so this is the last issue to catch it. Feel free to share with friends and family too.

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.

🚴 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 #18. 🎉

Rock and Roll Round Robin takes over Foley this weekend — spectators welcome. Bloody Mary 5K is 11 days out, and September 12 is a two-event Saturday between Walk This Way and the Brett Robinson Triathlon. And if Miles for Heroes has been sitting on your to-do list, this is the last issue with the 15% off code — don't let it expire on you.

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