Running enthusiasts don't have to jog far to find good company. There are plenty of running clubs across Charlotte, offering exercise and a chance to build community. If you're seeking a greater challenge, there are opportunities to put your endurance to the test.

Picture this — Running a 4.167-mile loop through the mud and elevated trails in Concord in the heat of summer. You're in a race against time. You must complete the course in 60 minutes, and you get whatever's left of that time in rest before doing it all over again. Can't beat the clock? You're out. At the end, only one runner is left standing — no matter how long it takes.

Up your alley? The inaugural Sweaty Backyard Ultra Cox was an "ultra marathon" race drawing Charlotte's running culture on the last Saturday of July.

Donnie Harris and Jonathan Clayton are the co-race directors of the inaugural Sweaty Backyard Cox Ultra marathon event. | Photo by CLTtoday

"This type of event naturally attracts people who want to push themselves physically," said race co-director, Donnie Harris. "That's just how they're built. But I think it's also the community."

The event took a year of planning — hand digging and marking the course in a friend's backyard.

"4.167 miles is a specific length because when you hit 24 hours, you hit 100 miles," said race co-director, Jonathan Clayton. The inaugural race welcomed 25 runners. The hope is to grow so future races can become qualifying events to larger scale marathons.

Interested runners can find a long list of upcoming events throughout the year.

"People interested in trail racing often start off with shorter distances," said Harris. He recommends aspiring runners to "walk" before they start to "ultra run." "You don't start running 50 miles, you build up to it."