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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