Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Fifth Annual Endurance Magazine Best Of North Carolina winners and finalists! And thank you to all of our readers who voted in our online poll. It’s amazing how passionate we are about our favorite places to shop, eat, buy gear, race, train and repair ourselves from all our hard work living an endurance lifestyle.
Have fun reading this year’s BEST OF awards and be sure to congratulate the winners and finalists next time you see them!
Best Running Specialty Retailer – Charlotte
Best Place to Buy Running Shoes
Run For Your Life
Runner Up – Charlotte Running Co.
Best Place to Buy Trail Running Shoes
Run For Your Life
Runner Up – Charlotte Running Co.
Best Place to Buy Apparel
Run For Your Life
Runner Up – TrySports
Best Place to Buy Women’s Apparel
Run For Your Life
Runner Up – Charlotte Running Co.
Best Customer Service
Run For Your Life
Runner Up – Charlotte Running Co.
Best Cycling Specialty Retailer – Charlotte
Best Place to Buy a Road Bike
Bicycle Sport
Runner Up – TrySports
Best Place to Buy a Mountain Bike
Bicycle Sport
Runner Up – Cool Breeze Cyclery / Trek Bicycle Store of Charlotte
Best Place to Buy a Tri Bike
TrySports
Runner Up – InsideOut Sports
Best Place to Buy a Kid’s Bike
Bicycle Sport
Runner Up – BikeSource
Best Customer Service
Bicycle Sport
Runner Up – TrySports
Best Outdoor Specialty Retailer – Charlotte
Best Place to Buy Camping Gear
REI
Runner Up – Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Best Place to Buy Hiking Gear
REI
Runner Up – Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Best Place to Buy Canoes/Kayaks & SUPs
REI
Runner Up – Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Best Place to Buy Outdoor Apparel
REI
Runner Up – Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Best Customer Service
REI
Runner Up – Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Best Charlotte Area Running Events
Best 5K
Yiasou Greek Festival 5K
Runner Up – TIE – Go Jen Go! & Southend Shuffle
Best 10K
Hit the Brixx 10K
Runner Up – Charlotte RaceFest
Best 10 Miler
Charlotte 10 Miler
Runner Up – TIE – Spencer Mountain 10 Miler & Tar Heel 10 Miler
Best Half-Marathon
Thunder Road Half Marathon
Runner Up – Charlotte RaceFest
Best Marathon
Thunder Road Marathon
Runner Up – New River Marathon
Best Trail Run
Whitewater Race Series
Runner Up – Charlotte Running Company Trail Race
Best Women’s Running Event
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Runner Up – TIE – Race for Peace at Home & Black Girls Run – WalkB4URun 5K
Best Turkey Trot
Southpark Turkey Trot
Runner Up – Lake Norman Turkey Trot
Best Charlotte Area Triathlon Events
Best Kids’ Triathlon
Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics Kids Triathlon
Runner Up – Kids’ Tri! Ballantyne
Best Sprint
Tri Latta Triathlon
Runner Up – Lake Norman YMCA Triathlon
Best Olympic/International
Stumpy Creek Triathlon
Runner Up – Over The Mountain Triathlon
Best Half-Iron
Beach2Battleship
Best Iron Distance
Beach2Battleship
Best Women’s Triathlon
Ramblin’ Rose
Runner Up – Dixie Divas
Best Charlotte Area Cycling Events
Best Criterium
TIE – NoDa Grand Prix & Dilworth Criterium
Runner Up – Novant Criterium
Best Century Ride
Lake Norman Excursion
Runner Up – Blood Sweat & Gears
Best Mountain Bike Race
Charlotte Summer Series
Runner Up – Tree Shaker at Anne Springs
Best Charity Ride
24 Hours of Booty
Runner Up – The Good Ride
Best Road Race
Rock Hill Bicycle Club Classic Road Race
Best Cyclocross Race
NCCX at Veterans Park
Runner Up – NCCX Salisbury
Other Charlotte Area Events
Best Obstacle Race
Spartan Beast
Runner Up – TIE – Warrior Dash & Tough Mudder
Best Color Run
The Color Run
Runner Up – Color Me Rad
Best Endurance Charity Event
24 Hours of Booty
Runner Up – The Good Ride
Charlotte Area Awards
Best Pre-Race Expo
Thunder Road
Runner Up – 24 Hours of Booty
Best Post-Race Experience
Hit the Brixx
Runner Up – Thunder Road
Best Event Medal
Thunder Road
Runner Up – Rocktoberfest
Best Event Swag
24 Hours of Booty
Runner Up – Thunder Road
Best Places to Fuel Up in Charlotte Area
Grocery Store
Harris Teeter
Runner Up – Trader Joe’s
Best Breakfast
Toast
Runner Up – The Flying Biscuit Cafe
Best Pizza Place
Fuel
Runner Up – Hawthorne’s
Best Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Runner Up – Dilworth Coffee
Best Local Brew
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Runner Up – NoDa Brewing Company
Best Place to Hang Post-Workout
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Runner Up – Triple C Brewery
Best Places to Work Out in Charlotte Area
Best Wellness Facility
YMCA
Runner Up – Carolina Sports Clinic
Best Fitness Club
YMCA
Runner Up – Charlotte Athletic Club
Best Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
Inner Peaks
Best Yoga Studio
Be Yoga
Runner Up – Yoga One
Best Outdoor Pool
Harris YMCA
Runner Up – Blakeney Swim & Racquet Club
Best Indoor Pool
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center
Runner Up – Blakeney Swim & Racquet Club
Best Charity Training Program
Team in Training
Runner Up – Tri it For Life
Best Places to Repair Yourself in Charlotte Area
Best Sports Medicine Practice
Carolina Sports Clinic
Runner Up – TIE – Greenapple Sports and Wellness & OrthoCarolina
Best Physical Therapy Practice
Carolina Sports Clinic
Runner Up – OrthoCarolina
Best Chiropractic Practice
Carolina Sports Clinic
Runner Up – Greenapple Sports and Wellness
Best Place to Get a Massage
Carolina Sports Clinic
Runner Up – Greenapple Sports and Wellness
Best Spa Facility
The Spa at Ballantyne
Runner Up – Ritz Carlton
