Running Around Charlotte

Karyn Mendoza is a math teacher, mom, triathlete, former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader, and one of this year’s Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassadors. Yes, she’s just as enthusiastic as you’d expect a cheerleader to be – and in the best kind of way. On this episode of The Running Around Charlotte Podcast, she tells us how she got from the sidelines to the classroom to the starting line at...

On this episode of the Running Around Charlotte Podcast, we’re talking with Cara Hackett. She’s a 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador. Once you listen in here, you’re going to want to join her on the run! Her story is one of pure belief in self, dogged determination – and loads of laughs! Find out what all the fuss is about, and why she had us quite literally laughing out loud!

Devin Martin is clearly a man of action. When his “closest” run clubs were more than 30 minutes away from his house, he started his own. As it turns out, he wasn’t the only one in the neighborhood looking for running partners. It’s great having a “get it done” kinda guy on the Novant Health Charlotte Ambassador squad. And it was just as much fun having him as our guest on the program! Lindsey McGe...

Welcome to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! Today, we’re excited to welcome Alexander Valdovinos Garcia, known as @alxx.gar on Instagram. Alexander is a passionate runner and an active member of the Charlotte running community who brings energy, dedication, and a fresh perspective to the sport. Whether training for personal bests or connecting with fellow runners, Alexander’s journey is inspi...

Welcome to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! Today we’re excited to chat with Rachel Holloway, known as @Glamamazonian on Instagram. Rachel is a dynamic presence in the Charlotte running community and a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and women’s empowerment. With a background in communications, marketing, and leadership roles in both the nonprofit and corporate worlds, Rachel br...

Welcome to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! Today we’re joined by Lauren Speck—known to many as @laurennspeck on Instagram. Lauren is a biomedical engineering graduate, life sciences consultant, and passionate Charlotte runner. She’s inspired by her family’s health journey and brings a unique scientific perspective to her training, wellness, and community involvement. Whether she’s leading in...

Welcome to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! Today, we’ve got a special guest who embodies the spirit of Charlotte’s running community—Jeff Hudnall. Jeff is not only a dedicated runner and proud dad, but also a Masters athlete who recently crushed his sub-3 hour marathon goal. He’s passionate about the benefits of coaching, the joys of running in the Charlotte area, and building community thro...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! On the program with us today is Erin Vinson, a Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador, relay enthusiast, and ultra-distance runner. Erin’s running journey has taken her from the Dam to Dam, Ville to Ville, and Blue Ridge Relay courses, all the way to taking on the Blackbeard 100-mile run. She’s also known for her humor and honesty about th...

Welcome to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! On this episode, we’ve got Meilin Tompkins with us, a 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador who has inspiring story of her own. She went from being NOT a runner, to becoming a passionate ambassador for the marathon, and is now the marketing director for one of Charlotte’s “OG” running specialty shops!   Meilin’s story is a testament to ho...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. On this episode, we’ve got Erica Meisner, the founder of Mental Health Matters here with us.  Erica is not only a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, but she’s also a former college lacrosse player who turned into a runner! Her organization hosts the annual Mental Health Matters 5k here in Charlotte, bringing together runners...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re glad to be back in the studio with you —and of course – we’re happy to have you listening! On this episode, we get to catch up with the second-best looking bald guy on the Charlotte running scene.  My man Miller Yoho is on the program, and after you’ve googled his picture, you can listen in on this week’s conversation. Miller’s the guy be...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re glad to be back in the studio with you —and of course – we’re happy to have you listening! On this episode, we’re playing hookey with our new friend Sarah Barton Thomas. OK, we’re really not ditching out of class, but what else do you call it when you get the principal to spend a half hour of the school day with you? Recess??  Regardless,...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re glad to be back in the studio with you —and of course – we’re happy to have you listening! Today, we’re excited to introduce you to a guy who’s a regular at the finish line of the Novant Health Charlotte half marathon… Cliff Anderson. Clif also happens to be one of our 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassadors. Listen in and...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re glad to be back in the studio with you —and of course – we’re happy to have you listening! Today, we’re excited to introduce you to another one of our 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassadors. This week’s guest is Brendan Miller-Radest.  Brendan is a recovering New Jersey native living in Charlotte now. He’s a dog dad, regu...

A few months back, we got the chance to talk with Smita Warrier here on the show. She casually discussed what — for most folks — would be an anxiety-inducing and one-of-a-kind opportunity: running 7 marathons over 7 continents in just 7 days. Along with the mileage, she’d be raising money and awareness for educational assistance for girls in her native India. While she was out overachieving, we’re...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re excited to continue our special series featuring Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassadors. Our next guest is Tara Kelbagh, a passionate runner who has seen her life transform since she started running consistently. Tara attributes much of her positive experiences to the supportive community she’s encountered and now wants...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast! If you’re doing any kind of distance running you know – at some point you’re going to need a little fuel in the tank. In this day and age, there are LOADS of gels, “goos,” bars, and stuff to help keep your energy up. We’re probably tried them all, which has us REALLY excited about today’s guest. He’s got something all new, and all natural. We’r...

Welcome back to The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re glad to be back in the studio with you again! Today, we’re excited to kick off our special series featuring some of our 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassadors. This week’s guest is Tarik Haniff, a passionate runner and community leader who’s running all around Charlotte and its vibrant running scene.

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE here at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. We are excited to welcome Philip Sanford, the current president of the Charlotte Running Club. Philip has dedicated his time to fostering a welcoming environment for runners of all levels in our community. He leads the Triple C Beer Runners and serves as a coach for the Let...

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. We’ve got our long-time friend, Lisa Landrum here on the program with us. (Note: we didn’t say old…) Lisa is a runner, coach, and community-builder who has been instrumental in shaping the running landscape here Charlotte. As the founder of runCLTrun and Forward Motion, she&#8...

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo today, and we’re excited to have Cornell Jones back on the program with us. We’ll say it here: Cornell is a straight-up Renaissance Man; a former Division 1 college runner, Feature Producer for ESPN, runner and Mad Miles run club founder, and community-builder. If you don’t kno...

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. We’ve got Wyatt Moss here with us – arguably, one of the most Insta-Famous runners on the planet right now. Here’s why: In 2024, he set out to accomplish an incredible feat: running a marathon in all 50 states within a single year. As he nears the end of this remarkable journe...

Welcome back to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE here at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. Today, we have an incredibly inspiring guest – and good friend of ours — Tom Perri.  Tom is an absolute legend in the marathon world. He has led pace teams in marathons across the globe and is a familiar face at the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, having paced...

Welcome back to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast! We’re recording LIVE here at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. Our guest is Maddy Ebbert — the versatile visual artist and illustrator based right here in Charlotte. Maddy says her art is inspired by nature, self-love, the beauty of simplicity, and capturing everyday life with joy and vibrancy.  Maybe you’ve seen her work on...

Welcome to the Running Around Charlotte Podcast. We’re recording LIVE from the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo. Today, we have a special guest, and friend of ours, Ashley Mahoney. Ashley is an avid runner who has completed the Charlotte Marathon multiple times, and checked the box on her first ultra this year. Most of you may recognize her byline as a reporter at Axios Charlotte.