What we’re about
Purpose - Work up a good sweat and cool off with a drink with some fun people
This is a group for people who like to do some outdoor activity and hang out and chill afterwards. Patterned after a classic pub running club, the idea is that a leader will pick an activity to do together and a place to cool off and relax afterwards at one of our local watering holes. Current policy is the leader who calls the activity buys the first round!
Who - If you like to sweat and also like to relax, this is for you
Everyone interested is welcome (over age 21 if they want to have an adult beverage at the end). In terms of activity, we hope to have Highlanders ranging from the couch-to-5K crowd to veteran trail ultra-runners. We have some local bike riders who like to go the distance on the road, some who are just learning how to gravel ride, and some who like to doodle around in Highlands Hammock.
It's fun to have people to challenge yourself with, and fun to have people to hang out with, and putting them together is a recipe for a good time. We can talk about our successes and failures, our next challenge or race and encourage each other to make the most of the beautiful place we live.
What - Outdoor activities and local watering holes go together like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong
Whether running, cycling, hiking, kayaking or other activities we haven't thought of yet, all of our outings should be between 1/2 to 1 hour of exertion, with a strict NO-DROP policy. It gets hot out here on the Lake Wales Ridge, so the plan is to start out as it begins to cool off around 6 or 6:30 pm on a weekday and get back before dark. We will have a plan for the evening storms in the rainy season -- this may include weekend morning activities, but we know weekends can get pretty full!
In Highlands County, we have breweries, wineries, tiki bars, dives, coffee roasteries, roadhouses, fraternal organizations and no shortage of personal lakeside and riverside docks. Let's try to vary it up! Ideally, we can meet up at a single start/end point, but that's not written in stone. Even staying in the county isn't, but between Avon Park and Venus, from Lorida to Lake Placid, there's a lot of ground to cover! Of course, drinking responsibly is critical and even more so when driving.
Leaders will provide maps and turn-by-turn directions if needed.
Participants are adults on their own recognizance regarding their fitness levels and pace. We are not doctors and any advice we give should be taken with margarita salt. There's no shame in slowing down or resting and there will always be someone to accompany you if you poop out -- it has happened to everyone who challenges themselves. And we encourage everyone to have your cell phone with you at all times -- that's just good sense.