Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Sixth 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 – Triangle
Best Place to Buy Running Shoes
Bull City Running
Runner Up – Fleet Feet Sports (Morrisville, N. Raleigh, Raleigh)
Best Place to Buy Trail Running Shoes
Bull City Running
Runner Up – Fleet Feet Sports (Carrboro / Durham)
Best Place to Buy Apparel
Bull City Running
Runner Up – TIE: Inside-Out Sports / Omega Sports
Best Place to Buy Women’s Apparel
Athleta
Runner Up – Bull City Running
Best Customer Service
Bull City Running
Runner Up – Inside-Out Sports
Best Cycling Specialty Retailer – Triangle
Best Place to Buy a Road Bike
Inside-Out Sports
Runner Up – Durham Cycles
Best Place to Buy a Mountain Bike
TIE: All-Star Bikes / Durham Cycles
Runner Up – The Bicycle Chain
Best Place to Buy a Tri Bike
Inside-Out Sports
Runner Up – Durham Cycles
Best Place to Buy a Kid’s Bike
Performance Bicycle
Runner Up – Durham Cycles
Best Customer Service
Inside-Out Sports
Runner Up – Durham Cycles
Best Outdoor Specialty Retailer – Triangle
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 Triangle Area Running Events
Best Mile Run
Rocket Mile
Runner Up – Pegasus Mile
Best 5K
Florence Forth 5K
Runner Up – Bull Moon Ride & Run
Best 10K
Florence Forth 10K
Runner Up – Carrboro 10K
Best 10 Miler
Tar Heel 10 Miler
Runner Up – Medoc 10 Miler
Best Half-Marathon
Bull City Race Fest & Food Truck Rodeo
Runner Up – Tobacco Road
Best Marathon
Tobacco Road
Runner Up – City of Oaks
Best Trail Run
Medoc Trail Marathon
Runner Up – TIE: Hot Chocolate Run / SPCA Doggie Dash
Best Women’s Running Event
Esprit de She
Runner Up – Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Best Turkey Trot
Ridgewood Turkey Trot
Runner Up – Inside-Out Sports Turkey Trot
Best Triangle Area Triathlon Events
Best Kids’ Triathlon
Plunge, Pedal & Plod
Runner Up – Tar Heel Youth Triathlon
Best Sprint
Plunge, Pedal & Plod
Runner Up – Triangle Triathlon
Olympic/International
Beaverdam Triathlon
Runner Up – White Lake
Best Half-Iron
Ironman 70.3 Raleigh
Runner Up – Finish Strong Half Iron Triathlon
Best Iron Distance
Beach2Battleship
Best Women’s Triathlon
Ramblin’ Rose Chapel Hill
Runner Up – Ramblin’ Rose Raleigh
Best Triangle Area Cycling Events
Best Kids Cycling Event
Super Cooper’s Rockin’ Run and Ride
Runner Up – Tarwheels BikeFest Fun Ride
Best Criterium
BHB Spring Hill Criterium
Runner Up – 9th Street Derby
Best Century Ride
Velo4Yellow
Runner Up – Raven Rock Ramble
Best Mountain Bike Race
6BC
Runner Up – Umstead Gravel Grinder
Best Charity Ride
Velo4Yellow
Runner Up – Bull Moon Ride and Run
Best Road Race
Falls Lake Road Race
Best Cyclocross Race
BHB Cross Central
Runner Up – NCCX Lion’s Park
Best Women’s Ride
Le Tour de Femme
Other Triangle Area Events
Best Obstacle Race
Special Operators Challenge Muddy Nick
Runner Up – Big Muddy Challenge
Best Color Run
Color the Hill
Runner Up – The Color Run
Best Kids’ Event
Super Cooper’s Rockin’ Run
Runner Up – Special Operators Challenge Little Muddy
Best Endurance Charity Event
AlzNC Run to Remember
Runner Up – Amberly Race for Our Heroes 5K
Triangle Area Awards
Best Pre-Race Expo
Rock n’ Roll Raleigh
Runner Up – City of Oaks
Best Post-Race Experience
Bull Moon Run and Ride
Runner Up – Medoc Trail Marathon
Best Event Medal
Medoc Trail Marathon
Runner Up – Tobacco Road
Best Event SWAG
Medoc Trail Marathon
Runner Up – Tobacco Road
Best Places to Fuel Up in Triangle Area
Best Grocery Store
Whole Foods
Runner Up – Harris Teeter
Best Breakfast
Elmo’s Diner
Runner Up – Briggs
Best Pizza Place
Lilly’s Pizza
Runner Up – Mellow Mushroom
Best Coffee Shop
Sola
Runner Up – Bean Traders
Best Local Brew
Full Steam
Runner Up – TIE: Big Boss / Lonerider
Best Place to Hang Post-Workout
Full Stream Brewery
Runner Up – Weaver Street Market
Best Places to Work Out in Triangle Area
Best Wellness Facility
UNC Wellness Center
Runner Up – Rex Wellness Center
Best Fitness Club
ActivEdge Fitness & Sports Performance
Runner Up – Camp Gladiator
Best Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
Triangle Rock Club
Runner Up – UNC Wellness Center (Cary)
Best Yoga Studio
Maria Finnegan Fitness
Runner Up – Gratitude Hot Yoga
Best Pilates Studio
ActivEdge Fitness & Sports Performance
Runner Up – Pulse Pilates
Best Outdoor Pool
Lifetime Fitness – Raleigh
Runner Up – Granite Falls Swim & Athletic Club
Best Indoor Pool
Lifetime Fitness – Raleigh
Runner Up – Optimist Pool
Best Charity Training Program
Team Fit & Able
Runner Up – Team in Training
Best Places to Repair Yourself in Triangle Area
Best Sports Medicine Practice
Triangle Orthopaedic Associates
Runner Up – Duke Sports Medicine
Best Physical Therapy Practice
Run Raleigh PT
Runner Up – Triangle Orthopaedic Associates
Best Chiropractic Practice
Chiropractic Cafe
Runner Up – Elite Performance Chiropractic
Best Place to Get a Massage
The Sport of Massage
Runner Up – ActivEdge Fitness & Sports Performance
Best Spa Facility
The Umstead Hotel & Spa
Runner Up – The Retreat at Brightleaf
