Charlotte run club is building community a step at a time

KAMRYN HAILEY | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Mad Miles, a Charlotte-based run club, draws hundreds of participants to Camp North End for running and connection through exercise.

It’s a Tuesday evening on North Graham Street and as a throng gathers at Camp North End, Cornell Jones shouts at the growing crowd.

“It’s Mad Miles on a Tuesday!”

Jones is founder of Mad Miles Run Club, an initiative created in 2019 to “offer runners a safe place to learn, maintain a healthy lifestyle and catch goals.” But beyond encouraging healthier living, Mad Miles builds community while having fun in the process.

As groups of runners continue to trickle in, Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” and Glorilla’s “TGIF” blast from speakers to hype participants – from children to seniors – warming up for their 2-mile run. The crowd is majority Black, but Mad Miles is open to all, and runners even bring their pets so they can get their steps.

It's time to run, and Jones yells encouragement.

“Let’s go to work! It’s Mad Miles on a Tuesday!”

Whether people decide to sprint the distance or just go for a leisurely stroll with new friends, Mad Miles has room for everyone, regardless of athletic ability. Before the run, Jones asks for three pieces of good news – announcements range from breaking company records to quitting jobs – part of an extended community of support that isn’t limited to weekly meetups.

Amaya Miller, who has been attending Mad Miles since 2023, said she keeps coming back for the connections she’s made and because she “loves to see Black people flourishing.”

“Every corner you turn, somebody knows somebody that can put somebody on,” she said.

Participants network and form friendships as they make their way to the starting point. Even as new bonds are forged, Mad Miles has come a long way since it launched with less than 10 runners.

Brandi Hopson, who went to Winston-Salem State University with Jones, said it has “been amazing” to witness the club’s growth.

“It’s just a great community,” she said. “A great time for us to come together and just share the beauty of running.”

Even as the club continues to gain traction and members, Jones said he always envisioned Mad Miles being what it is today.

“To me, we’re just getting started,” Jones said. “There’s going to be way more, but it’s amazing to see so many people put their health first. You can just come out and have a good time.”

Jones believes what makes Mad Miles an “amazing space” is the lack of strict regimen and not having to pay a fee to be included. Seeing everybody at different levels of their fitness journey can be encouraging, he said.

“Everybody can look to somebody else here and see something in themselves,” Jones said. “To me, that’s why it’s important to work out together.”

After everyone has completed the circuit, Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” and Shai’s “If I Ever Fall In Love” play to set the mood for the cooldown. But the night doesn’t end there. Afterward, Jones leads line dances. The clacking of fans and 803Fresh’s “Boots on the Ground” can be heard across Camp North End. If someone doesn’t know the choreography, Jones asks that the music be turned down so everybody can learn.

As the crowd dissipates, Mad Miles on a Tuesday comes to an end and Jones is working towards his own personal goals. He’s preparing to run the Boston Marathon for the first time – something he wouldn’t do if it weren’t for Mad Miles. As a sprinter in college, Jones said marathons were never in his purview.

“Mad Miles helps me out every single week,” he said. “I always know I have people I can run with.”

There’s a promise of the same good vibes for next week before Jones closes the night.

“I’mma plant you now and dig you later,” he says. “Peace!”

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