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| Home > Sports > Sports23- Running & Walking | |||
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Sports and Recreation
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The great thing about running or walking for
exercise is that you can do it just about anywhere. One good place locally
is downtown Wilmington, where you can jog over the bridges and do the hills
or briskly traverse the Riverwalk from end to end, all the while enjoying
views of the Cape Fear River and beautiful historic surroundings. You may
want to check out some of the following prime locations or participate in
one of the area's several annual racing events. Our Triathlons section later
in this chapter lists several challenging events.
Carolina Beach Lake Park A 0.75-mile wide concrete trail circling this
picturesque lake is ideal for walkers and joggers who are looking for a
convenient, safe place to exercise all year long. It's very popular with
dogs as well, so pet walkers will appreciate having clean-up bags and trash
containers conveniently located along the way.
Greenfield Park
Among the most beautiful places in Wilmington to
jog or walk is the 5-mile loop around Greenfield Lake, south of downtown.
The scenic paved path bears mile markers and follows the undulating lake
shore across two wooden foot bridges (slippery when wet). Halyburton
Park
Located in the southwest district of Wilmington
near Independence Boulevard, the 58-acre Halyburton Park has a
handicapped-accessible, 1.3-mile walking/bike trail that traverses some
lovely natural areas.
"The Loop" at Wrightsville Beach This scenic sidewalk circuit is an
approximately 2.45-mile course that is very popular among locals. It
encompasses a portion of the perimeter of Wrightsville Beach Park along
Causeway Drive, plus Lumina Avenue and Salisbury Street. Bring the pooch.
There's a free Dog Bar (serving water) beside Bryant Real Estate at the
corner of N. Lumina and Salisbury plus two additional doggy fountains along
the route. Benches and drinking water are available for people, too. Pet
owners are required to clean up after their pets.
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Wilmington Roadrunners Club |
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The Wilmington Roadrunners Club, headquartered
at the YMCA, sponsors races, picnics, fun runs and evening runs. Entire
families are welcome. Membership in the Roadrunners Club includes
newsletter and magazine subscriptions, discounts on gear, and other
perks. This is the place to learn what's going on in the running world,
especially the events being held in the Cape Fear area. Call, watch the
YMCA bulletin board or visit www.wilmingtonroadrunners.org. |
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Oak Island Recreation Department Beach Walkers meet five days a week to enjoy a stroll
along Oak Island's beautiful strand while improving physical fitness.
The South Harbour Making Tracks walking group meets at the tennis courts
beside the pro shop on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9 AM.
Individuals can chose to complete either a one-mile or two-mile walk on
pre-aproved routes. Participants in each of these programs keep records
of their mileage and report it at the end of the month as part of an
incentive program.
Annual RacesRaces of different sorts are popular in our area, thanks to the gentle terrain and mild weather. Just a few of the regulars are listed here, but if you keep an eye on the Star-News "Sports," "Today," "Neighbors" and "Currents" sections, you'll likely find more. Some places in Wilmington to pick up event brochures and flyers are: Boseman's Sporting Goods,
5050 New Centre Drive, Wilmington, (910) 799-5990 New Hanover County Carolina Sports Medicine Battleship
NORTH CAROLINA The Carolina Sports Medicine Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
Half Marathon (13.1 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) is a challenging race that
starts and finishes at the Battleship North Carolina. The
half-marathon is a USATF–certified course that goes over two bridges,
passes through Historic Downtown Wilmington, tours beautiful Greenfield
Lake, crosses the Cape Fear Memorial bridge and returns to the
battleship. It is the largest half-marathon in the state. Two new state
records were set on this course in 2007. The 5K is a precisely measured
out-and-back course that crosses one bridge, makes a U-turn, and returns
to the battleship. This event is presented annually on the second
weekend in November by Ed Fore in cooperation with the staff of the
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Memorial, the Wilmington Family YMCA and
members of the local running community. The race features chip timing,
river taxi and trolley buses to race start, a Saturday Expo/packet
pickup at the Battleship Memorial, an awards ceremony overlooking the
beautiful Cape Fear River and free beer after the race. Proceeds benefit
the Battleship Restoration Fund, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society TNT,
Wilmington Family YMCA and several other local charities. Seaside Shuffle 5K Organized by the Wilmington Roadrunners
Club, this event is held in Wrightsville Beach the third weekend in
November. The Seaside Shuffle is based at the Blockade Runner Resort
Hotel. Men and women compete separately in a 5K road race over a USATF
certified course. This is billed as a 'race for runners' and includes a
post-race awards ceremony and party on the hotel's beautiful oceanfront
patio.
Wilmington Dog Jog On a designated Saturday each fall,
Wilmington Parks and Recreation hosts the highly popular Wilmington Dog
Jog to benefit the New Hanover Humane Society. The Wilmington Dog Jog
includes a 5K Run (3.1 miles) and a 1.5 mile Fun Walk, which encourages
people of all ages to run, walk or jog with their dogs, and ends with the
Pooch Plunge at the Legion swimming pool. There are door prizes as well as
vendors at this festive event, which usually sees more than 400 dogs and
their people participating. |
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The Wilmington YMCA Tri-Span Run |
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Wilmington Family YMCA and several area businesses, the Tri-Span 10K and 5K
takes place around the first of July. The 10K course crosses three bridges
along the Wilmington waterfront, and the 5K goes through historic Downtown
Wilmington. Money raised goes to the YMCA Children's Sustaining Fund for
after-school programs and scholarship memberships to the YMCA. Call Gray
Fore at the YMCA for detailed information. |
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Brunswick County Bald Head Island Maritime Classic Road Race The Maritime Classic takes place the first Saturday in
November and features a 10K footrace along some of the most scenic
byways in the region, ranging through dense maritime forest, open meadow
and through a manicured golf and beach community. Pre-registration
includes the ferry ride from Southport.
Freedom Run The annual 5K Freedom Run in Southport is an integral part of the N.C.
Fourth of July Festival activities. The early morning race, which has
attracted runners from as far away as Arizona, begins at Waterfront Park,
heads west on Bay Street, then winds through the Yacht Basin onto Brunswick,
W. West, Atlantic, Leonard, Fodale, Moore and Rhett Streets and finishes
right where it started. Refreshments and live music await all participants.
Oak Island Lighthouse
10K/5K Run/Walk The route of this popular run/walk begins at the Brunswick County Airport
(5K run begins at the Caswell Beach Town Hall), crosses the Oak Island
Bridge, turns through tree-lined streets, follows the beachfront and ends
just past the Oak Island Lighthouse at the N.C. Baptist Assembly. Framed Oak
Island Lighthouse prints by local artist Ricky Evans of Ricky
Evans Gallery are awarded to the three top runners overall and the three top
runners in each age group. Come join the competition!
North Carolina Oyster Festival Road Race The Oyster Festival Road Race is part of Ocean Isle
Beach's North Carolina Oyster Festival, held the third weekend in
October. Held on Saturday morning, this fun event is open to all ages.
Three races include 10K, 5K and a 1-mile Fun Run. The race begins and
ends at the pier. Call the chamber office for more information or to
register. The pre-registration deadline is mid-October.
Sea Trail 5 Mile Run This race begins and ends at the Sea Trail
Gazebo in Sea Trail Plantation. It is a 5-mile loop course on mostly
paved roads in Sea Trail and Sunset Beach. Awards are given to the top
three finishers in each age group and to the top three overall male and
female finishers. Proceeds benefit Brunswick Family Assistance.
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