Local Motion | Issue #5

Published: May 26, 2026

👋 A Note from Jason

Five weeks in. We didn't quit. That feels like a win.

Before we get into this week's events, I want to circle back on something. We mentioned the Running Wild Women's Self-Defense Seminar two issues in a row because we genuinely believed it was worth showing up for. Tina went — and I am glad she did. She came home talking about how much she learned, but what struck her most was the camaraderie in that room. A group of women with a shared experience, all there for the same reason, looking out for each other. She's grateful Running Wild put this together, and so am I. If you missed it and wish you hadn't, hit reply and tell us — that kind of feedback is exactly what gets events like this repeated.

Now — this issue lands the day after Memorial Day, which means most of us are nursing a cookout food coma.

This week: the Paddles for Purpose tournament that got rained out back in May has been rescheduled for THIS Saturday at W.O. Lott — great cause, get signed up fast because registration closes Wednesday. The Grandman is now less than four weeks away. Medal Madness is next weekend. And MLP Columbus is happening THIS week at a venue called Pickle & Chill — more on that below.

Let's get into it. 👇

🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!

Two things this week.

For the runners: The Summer Sizzle speed program at Running Wild is three weeks in. If you've been going — you already feel the difference. If you haven't started yet — it runs every Tuesday through July 14 and you can still jump in. Here's the thing about speed programs: the people who show up in week four while everyone else waits for "the right time" are the ones crossing finish lines in October feeling like completely different athletes. The right time is Tuesday at 5:30.

For the pickleballers: Major League Pickleball's second event of the 2026 season runs this Thursday through Sunday in Columbus, Ohio — at a facility called Pickle & Chill. We need a moment. Pickle. And. Chill. That is the name of a real professional pickleball venue. The defending 2025 champion Columbus Sliders play their home games there. This is the state of the sport we have chosen. It is glorious. If you've never played in an MLP-style team event, you need to — the team format adds a whole other level, and don't even get me started on the anxiety the singles DreamBreaker brings to the competition. The bubbly guts are no joke. 🏓

🔥 This Week's Top Picks

🏓 PICKLEBALL

🏓 Fun fact: pickleball is now officially played in over 70 countries. 70 countries. There are only 195 countries on Earth, which means roughly one in three nations has decided that whacking a wiffle ball with a paddle in a parking lot is a legitimate use of their time. We are proud to be among them.

🔥 This Weekend

Paddles for Purpose Tournament (Rescheduled) — Sat. May 30 · W.O. Lott Park (Daphne Tennis & Pickleball Complex), 2000 Main St, Daphne The original Paddles for Purpose tournament back in May got rained out — it's back, rescheduled for this Saturday. This is a Baldwin County DA Foundation charity event supporting justice, public safety, and victim services in our community. Round-robin format, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles divisions, skill levels 2.5–4.0. 1st entry $50/person, 2nd entry $25/person. Door prizes, food, and concessions on site. Great cause, great courts — if you're on the fence, just go.

Registration closes May 27 — that's Wednesday. Don't wait.

🗓️ Coming Up — Three Weeks

Port City Pickleball Summer Break Showdown — Sat–Sun. June 13–14 · W.O. Lott Park (Daphne Tennis & Pickleball Complex), 200 Main St, Daphne The big Eastern Shore pickleball weekend of the summer. 12 courts, great vibe, registration is open. Don't sleep on it.

🗓️ Coming Next Month

United Way of Southwest Alabama Emerging Leaders Tournament — Sat. June 20 · PickleRage, 314 S University Blvd, Mobile Charity tournament for a great cause. Indoor at PickleRage — no weather excuses. Just note that the Grandman Aquathlon in Fairhope is also that morning, so you may need to choose your adventure.

📌 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 late May. You know what that means outside. Come inside.

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

🏃 RUNNING

📅 Ongoing — Every Tuesday

Summer Sizzle 10-Week Speed Program — Every Tuesday · 5:30–6:30 PM · Running Wild, 72 South Section St, Fairhope Three weeks in, runs through July 14. Speed work, hill intervals, and distance work rotating weekly. If a fall race is circled on your calendar — or you want one to be — this is how you build the engine for it.

📅 Coming Up — Next Week

Medal Madness 5K, 10K & Half Marathon — Sat. June 6 · 8:00 AM · 1711 Hillcrest Rd, Medal of Honor Park, Mobile, AL Three distances, finisher medals for everyone, costume contest if you're feeling bold. No on-site registration — sign up in advance on RunSignup. Good tune-up race if you've got something bigger circled on the fall calendar.

🗓️ Save the Date — Coming Next Month

Doc's Hot Trot for ARC 5K & 1 Mile — Sat. June 20 · 7:30 AM · LuLu's at Homeport Marina, 200 E 25th Ave, Gulf Shores (worth the drive) 5K, 1-mile walk/run, benefiting ARC - Baldwin County. Awards across all age groups. And then — a post-race party at LuLu's. We will never stop mentioning this race as long as the words "party at LuLu's" are part of the description. No on-site registration — sign up in advance.

🗓️ Save the Date — This Fall

Miles for Heroes 5K & 1-Mile Run/Walk — Sat. September 26 · 8:00 AM · Olde Towne Daphne 5K and 1-mile options, post-race finish festival with live music and food trucks. 100% of proceeds support suicide prevention and mental health awareness for veterans and first responders through IGY6 - Gulf Coast. Right here in Daphne, great cause. Registration is open now.

📌 Weekly Runs

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.

🚴 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.

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

🗓️ Coming Up — Four Weeks

GrandMan: Return of the Grand — Sat. June 20 · 7:00 AM · Fairhope Municipal Park

We have now mentioned this race in every single issue of this newsletter. We are not stopping. Here's the situation: it is a swim off the Fairhope Pier into Mobile Bay, then a 5K run through downtown Fairhope. It is beautiful, it benefits Mobile Baykeeper, and it is right here. You have four weeks to train for a swim plus a 5K, which is entirely doable for most people reading this.

This is your fifth sign. In a row. Register.

Individual, relay, para, Athena/Clydesdale divisions available.

🗓️ On the Radar — This Fall

Brett Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon — Sat. September 12 · Gulf Shores West Beach (worth the drive) Olympic and Sprint distances. Swim the Gulf, bike the coast, run the beach. Early registration is open.

👀 Just Happened

PhinMan Youth Triathlon — Cancelled · Mon. May 25 · Gulf Shores Gulf Shores Recreation & Cultural Affairs cancelled the PhinMan Youth Triathlon due to inclement weather. If your kid was signed up and ready to race — we're sorry. That's a tough one. The good news: PhinMan typically runs a fall edition too, so keep an eye on gulfshoresal.gov for when that gets announced. The kids will get their moment. 🙌

That's Issue #5. Five weeks in and still going. 🎉

This newsletter keeps getting better because you keep sharing it and hitting reply with events, tips, and corrections. Genuinely — thank you. We can't find everything from behind a desk.

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 pickleball partner who keeps asking "is anything happening this weekend?" — 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