A few years ago, I drove across the country and ended up in Charleston, West Virginia, on my way to my parents' house in North Carolina. I hadn't been to Charleston before and was blown away by the prettiness of the town and the friendliness of the people. If it wasn't for the incredible heat and humidity, I could live in Charleston in a second. Charleston is also the home of the Charleston Distance Run, which at 15 miles in length is the longest run in the state. The event also has a 5K and a 10K run, for those of you who can't imagine running 15 miles.
The Charleston Distance Run has been going on for more than 35 years and is very popular, with more than 1,000 people lacing up their running shoes and joining in. The course starts out through downtown, where you can ogle the gorgeous colonial buildings (I'm so in love with Charleston's buildings!) and see some of Charleston's amazing history. It continues along the waterfront and even into one of the local cemeteries, so watch out for the ghosts!
The course is quite hilly in parts, although most of the hills are at the beginning of the run. Also, like always in Charleston, it'll probably be hot and humid so don't forget to keep hydrated. Keep up a steady pace though and you shouldn't find this run too difficult. The only thing to warn about is to watch traffic around by Pennsylvania Avenue, because it can be busy. There will be staff to help out, but they can't watch every person and every car, so make sure you know what's happening and you'll have no problems.
The Charleston Distance Run coincides with the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, so this really is all weekend kind of an event. The regatta features tons of boats (obviously!), a huge carnival and hot air balloons that take off at night and glow as they rise into the air. And because this all takes place in the south, there's the usual mounds of food and drink, all served up with the typical southern hospitality and smiles. The Charleston Distance Run is going to be my excuse to visit Charleston again soon - not that I really need one, of course.
