Published: June 9, 2026
👋 A Note from Jason
Big week ahead: the Port City Pickleball Summer Break Showdown is THIS weekend at W.O. Lott Park — if you've been "planning to register," that window has officially closed and the window to just show up and cheer has opened. And ten days from now, the GrandMan: Return of the Grand finally happens. We have mentioned it in every single issue and we are not even a little sorry.
Also — a $500 running shoe. I need to talk to you about a $500 running shoe.
Let's get into it. 👇
🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!
Okay. The shoe.
You may remember back in Issue #1, we told you about Sabastian Sawe running the first sub-2-hour marathon in London and collectively breaking everyone's brain. What we didn't tell you — because we were saving it — is what was on his feet.
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3. Five hundred dollars. For a running shoe.
Now, before you close this email — it gets worse. This thing weighs 97 grams. A size 8.5. If you're not a grams person, that's about the weight of a granola bar. For reference, a Nike Air Force 1 weighs 465 grams. This shoe is literally one-fifth the weight of a sneaker you'd wear to brunch.
Here's the kicker: reviewers describe it as essentially a single-race shoe. Wear it, PR, retire it. Five hundred dollars. One race. For elite marathoners chasing world records, this is probably rational. For the rest of us running a Turkey Trot in November, it's the kind of thing you read about from the couch while eating said granola bar.
The limited release sold out in minutes. Resale prices on StockX hit $5,500 for larger sizes. Five thousand five hundred dollars. For a shoe you wear once.
Tina saw the price and said something unprintable. I told her it was basically the same as pickleball paddle technology and she pointed out that paddles don't disintegrate after one tournament. Touché.
(A wider release is coming this fall. We'll keep an eye on it — from a respectful distance.)
🔥 This Week's Top Picks
Port City Pickleball Summer Break Showdown — Sat–Sun. June 13–14 · W.O. Lott Park, Daphne (this weekend!)
GrandMan: Return of the Grand — Sat. June 20 · Fairhope Municipal Park (10 days — final call)
Doc's Hot Trot for ARC 5K — Sat. June 20 · 7:30 AM · LuLu's, Gulf Shores (same day, worth the drive)
Shark 5K at The Wharf — Sat. July 4 · Orange Beach (save the date — 4th of July tradition)
🏓 PICKLEBALL
🏓 Quick reminder that playing mixed doubles pickleball in 90-degree Alabama heat is a perfectly healthy relationship activity. The sweat is bonding. The arguments about who should have taken that middle ball are communication. We're growing.
📅 Coming Up — Next Weekend
Port City Pickleball Summer Break Showdown — Sat–Sun. June 13–14 · W.O. Lott Park (Daphne Tennis & Pickleball Complex), Daphne We've had this one on the calendar since Issue #1 — and it's finally here. One of the bigger Eastern Shore pickleball weekends of the summer. Home courts, 12 outdoor courts, all skill levels. If you're registered, get ready. If you're not, come watch and take notes for next year.
📅 Coming Up — June 20
United Way of SW Alabama Emerging Leaders Tournament — Sat. June 20 · PickleRage, 314 S University Blvd, Mobile, AL Indoor climate-controlled pickleball for a great cause — benefits United Way of Southwest Alabama. PickleRage means no weather excuses. And no sweating through your paddle grip before the first point. Details and registration through Alabama Pickleball Tournaments.
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
🏃 The real reason to run in Alabama in June is so that fall races feel like a vacation. You're not training. You're building character. Drenched, salty, slightly unhinged character.
🗓️ Coming Up — June 20
Doc's Hot Trot for ARC 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run — Sat. June 20 · 7:30 AM · LuLu's at Homeport Marina, Gulf Shores (worth the drive) Flat, certified 5K that starts and ends at LuLu's. Proceeds benefit ARC-Baldwin County. Post-race party at LuLu's included — this is non-negotiable, they will not let you leave without eating something, and honestly that's fine. Packet pick-up Friday June 19, 3–6 PM at LuLu's; race day pick-up from 6:00 AM. A race that finishes at LuLu's is always worth the drive.
🗓️ Save the Date — July 4
12th Annual Shark 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run — Sat. July 4 · 7:00 AM · The Wharf, Orange Beach (worth the drive)Independence Day tradition at The Wharf. Everyone gets a finisher's medal. Everyone. Age group awards, a DJ awards party, and one of the better post-race vibes on the Gulf Coast. First 250 registrants get a custom Shark Run shirt in their size — after that it's first-come, first-served on sizes. Packet pick-up July 3rd noon–3 PM at the Sandshaker at the Wharf, or race day from 5:45 AM.
⚠️ Note: We've seen conflicting start times listed (7 AM on RunSignup; 8 AM on some tourism sites). Verify before you set your alarm.
📅 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.
📌 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
🔥 10 Days Away — June 20
GrandMan: Return of the Grand — Sat. June 20 · 7:00 AM · Fairhope Municipal Park
Ten days. We have been talking about this race since Issue #1 and the moment is almost here.
Jump off the Fairhope Pier into Mobile Bay. Swim to shore. Run a 5K through downtown Fairhope. Collect medal. Feel very good about yourself.
Individual, relay, para, Athena/Clydesdale divisions. All proceeds benefit Mobile Baykeeper. We have said everything there is to say about this race. If you haven't registered, the fence is closed. Get off it.
🗓️ 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.
That's Issue #7. 🎉
GrandMan week is almost here. If you're racing it, we want to hear all about it — hit reply after June 20 and tell us how it went. If you signed up because we mentioned it seven issues in a row, we accept full responsibility and also think you're going to love it.
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