Local Motion | Issue #8

Published: June 16, 2026

👋 A Note from Jason

This is the one we've been building toward.

The GrandMan: Return of the Grand is this Saturday. Jump off the Fairhope Pier. Swim to shore. Run a 5K through downtown Fairhope.

Also this week: two brand-new group runs just joined the Local Motion weekly lineup — one on Monday nights, one on Wednesday nights. More on those below.

Also also: the pickleball rulebook changed this year and there's a solid chance you didn't know. Let's fix that.

Let's get into it. 👇

🤯 Wait — Did You See This?!?!

Raise your hand if you knew USA Pickleball changed its official rulebook on January 1, 2026.

...We'll wait.

The big one — and it trips up a lot of players — is the rally scoring "freeze" fix. A little context: rally scoring (where every rally produces a point, not just rallies where you're serving) has been a provisional option in sanctioned tournaments since 2025. But there was a catch: even under rally scoring, only the serving team could score the game-winning point. So you could be up 14-10 in a game to 15, your opponent serves into the net, and... nothing. Side-out. The cruelty.

As of January 2026, that freeze rule is gone. Under rally scoring formats, a point is a point on every rally — including game point. If the server faults while you're sitting on match point, the game is over. Clean. Simple.

Important note: this applies to rally scoring formats used in sanctioned tournaments — not traditional recreational play, which still runs on the you-only-score-when-serving system. But if your league has made the switch, or you play in tournaments, this one affects you directly.

There's more. Referees can now issue warnings and technical fouls before a match even starts — including during warm-ups. So if you've got a warm-up trash-talker on your court, consider yourself warned.

🔥 This Week's Top Picks

🏓 PICKLEBALL

🏓 Skill level 3.0 players average 6–10 shots per rally. Skill level 4.0 players average 12–20. I'm working on getting to the part where I stop celebrating every shot that clears the net.

🔥 This Weekend — June 20

United Way of SW Alabama Emerging Leaders Tournament — Sat. June 20 · PickleRage, 314 S University Blvd, Mobile, AL Indoor, climate-controlled, for a great cause. PickleRage means no weather excuses — and no asking yourself why you're playing pickleball in direct Alabama sunlight when there are walls available. Benefiting United Way of Southwest Alabama. All skill levels, 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 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

🏃 Running in Alabama in June is a spiritual experience. It builds humility. It builds resilience. It builds a deep personal relationship with your hydration pack. Mostly it's just you, the heat, and a very detailed internal monologue about your life choices.

🔥 This Weekend — 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, and the post-race party at LuLu's is non-negotiable — they are not letting you leave without eating something, which is entirely fine because you just ran a 5K and you've earned it. Packet pick-up Friday June 19, 3–6 PM at LuLu's; race day pick-up starts 6:00 AM. A race that ends at LuLu's is always worth the drive.

🗓️ Save the Date — July 4

12th Annual Shark 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run — Sat. July 4 · The Wharf, Orange Beach (worth the drive) Independence Day tradition at The Wharf. Everyone gets a finisher's medal. DJ awards party, custom age group awards, and one of the better post-race vibes on the Gulf Coast. First 250 registrants get a custom Shark Run shirt in their size. Packet pick-up July 3rd noon–3 PM at the Sandshaker at the Wharf; race day pick-up from 5:45 AM.

Start time: 7:00 AM. Packet pick-up July 3rd noon–3 PM at the Sandshaker at the Wharf; race day pick-up from 5:45 AM.

📅 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

Three ways to run with people this week — 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.

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.

Three nights, zero excuses. We'll see you out there.

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 · Olde Towne Daphne A certified 5K course through beautiful Olde Towne Daphne, benefiting IGY6: Gulf Coast — a nonprofit raising community awareness for suicide prevention and mental health for veterans and first responders, and funding additional crisis intervention training for local first responders. This one matters. Put it on the calendar.

🚴 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

🔥 THIS SATURDAY — June 20

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

Eight issues. We made it.

We mentioned the GrandMan in Issue #1. We mentioned it in Issue #2. Issues #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 — every single one. Some of you registered because we kept talking about it, and we accept full responsibility.

Saturday morning, you jump off the Fairhope Pier into Mobile Bay. You swim to shore. You run a 5K through downtown Fairhope. You collect your medal and feel deeply, unreasonably good about yourself.

Individual, relay, para, Athena/Clydesdale divisions. All proceeds benefit Mobile Baykeeper. This is your community, your bay, your race.

If you're racing — we want to hear about it. Hit reply after Saturday and tell us everything.

🗓️ 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 #8. 🎉

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 Monday night running buddy who just found out there's also a Wednesday run — 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