Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 · 7:00 AM
👋 A Note from Jason
Boston Marathon registration closes this Friday, Sept 18. If you're sitting on a qualifying time, don't sit on it much longer.
If a January marathon's on your radar, this is the week — Mobile Marathon's 16-week training block starts right about now. Also worth flagging early: PINKleball registration closes Sept 26, three weeks from today.
October 10 is turning into a busy Saturday down south — Bras Across the CAUSEway in Mobile or the brand-new Shrimp Festival Run in Orange Beach. Your Saturday, your call.
And Halloween's showing up early this year: the Haunted Hustle 5K takes over Gulf Place on Oct 17, an evening lineup of a Wicked Walk Parade, a Monster Mash Dash, and the 5K itself. Costumes encouraged, so start planning now.
Let's get into it. 👇
🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!
New research pulled from three long-running U.S. health studies — nearly 150,000 people, tracked for 30 years — found an actual "sweet spot" for strength training: 90 to 120 minutes a week. That amount was linked to a 13% lower risk of dying from any cause, a 19% lower risk from cardiovascular disease, and a 27% lower risk from neurological disease. Benefits leveled off past two hours a week — more wasn't better, it just stopped helping. Stack that with 150+ minutes of aerobic exercise on top, and the overall drop in death risk jumped to around 45%.
🔥 This Week's Top Picks
Boston Marathon 2027 Registration — Closes Friday, Sept 18 at 5:00 PM ET
PINKleball Tournament: Paddle for a Purpose — Sat. Oct 3 · Veterans Park, Alabaster (worth the drive) — ⚠️ registration closes Sept 26
Miles for Heroes 5K & 1-Mile — Sat. Sept 26 · 8:00 AM · Olde Towne Daphne
Shrimp Festival Run (new) — Sat. Oct 10 · 7:30 AM · Orange Beach (worth the drive)
Coastal Half Marathon, 5K & 1-Mile — Sat. Nov 28 · Orange Beach (worth the drive) — ⚠️ early pricing ends Sept 18
🏓 PICKLEBALL
🏓 Raise your hand if you've got a perfectly good partner standing on the left side with a perfectly good forehand — and you still lunge across and backhand it every single time.
🔥 This Weekend
Nothing on the local tournament calendar this weekend. Open play courts are running all week if you need your fix.
📌 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.
Gulf Shores Sportsplex — Every day, sunrise–10:00 PM · 19025 Oak Road West, Gulf Shores (worth the drive) 12 outdoor lighted courts · Free · Can't be reserved, just show up. Restrooms and water on site.
🗓️ Save the Date — October 3
PINKleball Tournament: Paddle for a Purpose — Sat. Oct 3 · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM · Veterans Park, Alabaster (worth the drive — full disclosure, this one's about 4.5–5 hours from Fairhope, well outside our usual radius, but it's for a great cause and we've got Birmingham ties) A doubles tournament across 10 skill-level divisions (2.5 beginner through 4.0+, men's, women's, and mixed), benefiting FORGE — a Birmingham-based breast cancer survivor center. USA Pickleball rules, round-robin group play into knockout brackets, medals for 1st–3rd. $25 tournament entry + $15 event fee per person. ⚠️ Registration closes Sept 26.
Know of open play anywhere else on the Shore? Hit reply — we'll add it.
🏃 RUNNING
🏃 Tina makes fun of me every time I go for a run wearing two watches — a Garmin for the running metrics, an Apple Watch for the music. I'm sure I look like a goob…..it is what it is.
🔥 This Weekend
Nothing on the local race calendar this weekend — good week for easy miles, or try the Saturday trail run at Fly Creek.
📌 Weekly Runs
Five 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.
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 — September 26
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. Registration is $35 ($28 for ages 15 and under). ⚠️ The reader discount code (Localmotion15off) has expired — standard pricing applies now.
🗓️ Save the Date — This Fall
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.
Shrimp Festival Run (new this issue) — Sat. Oct 10 · 7:30 AM · Orange Beach Sportsplex (worth the drive) 5K, 10K, or 5K walk, tied to the National Shrimp Festival. $30 through Sept 19, then price increases — same weekend as Bras Across the CAUSEway, so pick your Saturday.
Keesler Federal Battleship 12K (new this issue) — Sun. Nov 15 · 8:00 AM · USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Spanish Fort The race the training-program flyer kept pointing to — now with its own confirmed date and registration. A 12K (7.45 miles) around Battleship Memorial Park, 2.5-hour time limit. ⚠️ $65 through Oct 5, price increases after.
Coastal Half Marathon, 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run (new this issue) — Sat. Nov 28 · Orange Beach Sportsplex (worth the drive) 19th annual. Half marathon, 5K, 1-mile fun run, or a virtual option. ⚠️ Early pricing ends Sept 18 — after that, prices go up for the half and the 5K.
Haunted Hustle 5K (new this issue) — Sat. Oct 17 · Gulf Place Town Green, Gulf Shores (worth the drive) An evening Halloween lineup: Wicked Walk Parade (6:00 PM), Monster Mash Dash (6:30 PM), then the Haunted Hustle 5K Run/Walk (7:00 PM). Costumes encouraged. $15–$30 depending on event, price increases closer to race day.
🚴 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.
🗓️ Save the Date — Thanksgiving Morning (new this issue)
16th Annual Turkey Fondo — Thu. Nov 26 · 8:00 AM · Pro Cycle & Tri, 510 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope An out-and-back group ride, self-paced — family-friendly or competitive, your call — to burn off some of the morning before the food starts. Suggested donation benefits the Fairhope Cycling Project. ⚠️ Distance and full route details not yet posted — check back closer to the date.
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
Nothing on the local multi-sport calendar since the Brett Robinson Triathlon wrapped up.
Know of an upcoming swim-bike-run event? Hit reply — we'll add it.
🏅 MARATHON WATCH (new section — first run, feedback welcome)
A recurring look at the Abbott World Marathon Majors and any regional marathons worth a training plan — appears when there's something worth flagging, not necessarily every issue.
The Majors:
Boston Marathon 2027 — Final week to apply — registration closes Fri. Sept 18 at 5:00 PM ET. Includes the new random-draw "Boston Qualifier Selection" (~1,000 extra spots for near-miss qualifiers) covered last issue.
Chicago Marathon — Sun. Oct 11, less than a month out.
Berlin Marathon — Sun. Sept 27, less than two weeks out.
NYC Marathon — Sun. Nov 1.
Worth the drive if you're training for a winter marathon:
Mobile Marathon (formerly First Light Marathon) — Sun. Jan 10, 2027 · Mardi Gras Park, Mobile (worth the drive). Full marathon, half marathon, and relay options, benefiting First Light Community Foundation. ⚠️ Training-plan math: a standard 16-week marathon block means training should start around September 20 if this is your race.
Keesler Federal Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon — Sat–Sun. Dec 12–13, 2026 · Biloxi, MS (worth the drive). Full and half marathon distances. ⚠️ The 16-week training window for this one opened in late August — still time to jump in if you commit now.
That's Issue #21. 🎉
Boston Marathon registration closes this Friday, and if a January marathon's the plan, the 16-week training window for Mobile starts about now. October 10 is shaping up as a two-race Saturday between Bras Across the CAUSEway and the new Shrimp Festival Run, and Halloween shows up early this year with the Haunted Hustle on Oct 17.
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