Friday, April 4, 2014

Fullsteam Ahead!

Runners mingling in front of Fullsteam
One of the many things that I love about the Triangle is the extensive running community that thrives across the three cities. The area is a genuine treasure trove of outdoor trails, weekend races and running meet-ups. In Durham, my favorite running discovery over the past year is the Fullsteam Ahead! Run Club.

Organized and sponsored by Bull City Running Company (an excellent locally owned running supply store in South Durham), the club brings together runners of all shapes, sizes and skill levels. 




Where: Fullsteam Brewery, 726 Rigsbee Ave, Durham, NC 27701
When: Wednesday's, 6 PM
More info: http://www.bullcityrunning.com/events/fullsteam-ahead-run-club/

The fun begins in front of Fullsteam Brewery on Rigsbee Avenue at around 6PM. People gather by the brewery's huge warehouse doors, chatting with friends new and old, contorting limbs in all manners of stretching routines or swapping out their tired old running shoes for a free sample of some new kicks for their chosen route that day.

Taking new shoes for a test drive


There's no hard and fast rules on what path to follow, but the three suggested routes include a 3, 4 and 6+ mile option, all of which showcase some great Durham scenery while getting a sweat in. My favorite route, providing my legs agree with me that day, is the 6 miler. The route goes through Durham's Warehouse district, Duke's East Campus, up to the steps of Duke Chapel (make sure to touch the Chapel door or it doesn't count) and back again
Duke Chapel beckoning 
to a pack of Bull City runners

Action Shot




















The scenery and exercise are great, but the pièce de résistance of run club is grubbing on delicious food truck dishes and local beer afterwards.

Because what's the point of exercising, if not to stuff your face with calories immediately after you burn them off?

There is no shortage of street food dinner options on Rigsbee Ave. Usually, three or so food trucks will be slinging hot eats to hungry runners, along Motorco's newly opened kitchen across the street from Fullsteam.

It's hard for me to stay away from two classics that I credit with introducing me to the wonderful world of food trucks: Pie Pushers and Kokyu Korean BBQ. The Spicy Goat (pizza slice with pineapple, goat, cheese and banana peppers) and Gyro taco (marinated soy 'beef', pickled onions, cucumbers and mint yogurt sauce) are pictured below, alongside Fullsteam's Fearrington Spring (a hoppy Belgian Dubbel).

Pizza, Beer and Taco: Fitness Refuel
The Fullsteam Ahead! Run Club is an awesome display of the active community culture in Durham. Now in my second year of participating, the club continues to be a great opportunity for meeting others with similar interests, exploring Durham on foot or just getting in a good workout.

And eating. Of course.

1 comment:

  1. This almost convinced me to come out to Run Club! Except for the whole running part.

    ReplyDelete