New! Birkdale Runners/Walkers Meetup Group

This morning my wife Laurie and our son James went to Birkdale Village in Huntersville, NC to check out the new Birkdale runners and walkers meetup group.  I'm accustomed to having only two or three people show up for my weekly runs, so it was a real treat to see nearly two dozen other participants waiting in the in the parking lot.  After a few introductions we were off at whatever-pace-you-choose on the new McDowell Creek Greenway Trail.

The McDowell Creek Greenway Trail is a ten foot wide 1.5 mile trail from Westmoreland Avenue to the future Robbins Park, surrounding residential neighborhoods, and Birkdale Village.  It's mostly flat with several entry points along the way.  We started and finished at the new Fleet Feet store on Cranlyn Road.

Local resident and longtime runner Tim Richter started the Birkdale Runners and Walkers Group in January with the intent of getting people together to enjoy the benefits of being outside, be it running or walking.  Kristin and Mark Harris, owners of the Fleet Feet, have graciously offered up their store as the meeting spot.  They had Starbucks coffee and treats as well as water at the finish.  Talk about a reward!

After the run we stuck around a talked with many of the other participants.  Everyone was overwhelmingly positive and happy to be there, especially on such a sunny day.

If you are in the east Lake Norman area (Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, etc.) and are looking for a group with which to run or walk I'd highly recommend joining the Birkdale Runners and Walkers Group.  Joining is very simple - just go to their website and submit your information, then show up.  I think you'll really enjoy it.

Chad R.
Davidson Area Running Team