Appearing like a dysfunctional flock of awkward birds before takeoff, runners crowded around the front of Tir Na Nog Irish pub in downtown Raleigh waiting in anticipation. As the large group counted down the minutes, runners showed off fitness apparel or exchanged stories while waddling around until someone made a move and bolted down Blount Street.

Bystanders watched while waiting for the flock of runners blocking their way to thin out. However, the bizarre embarkation of hundreds of runners is not an event out of the ordinary. The over 200 runners spilling out of the peripheries of the pub were starting the ritual Nog Run. Every Monday night, rain or shine, the Nog Run Club meets at the pub to run 3 and 5-mile circuits around downtown Raleigh.

“Let’s try not to get anyone run over tonight,” Eugene Wheeler, group organizer and employee of Fleet Feet Raleigh, joked before the event. “That’s generally not a good thing. We don’t want to ruin the event for everyone.”

Staff from Fleet Feet Raleigh running store and the Chiropractic Café organizes the run, which the pub has been hosting since the summer of 2008. In efforts to encourage fitness and socializing amongst runners, the layout of downtown Raleigh and the warmth of the pub lend themselves to serve both purposes.

The levels of fitness vary within the group, so a long belt of runners span along the streets of downtown Raleigh. Passing the Capitol, the runners head north to the old neighborhoods surrounding Oakwood Park and then make way west to St. Mary’s Street. From there they turn back south towards the Capitol, returning around dinnertime to the Tir Na Nog Irish Pub on Blount Street.


Not only is the Nog run a fitness activity, it is also a very large social event with a strong following. Upon finishing the run, which seems more like a religious ritual than a workout for the seasoned Nog runners, a large crowd sticks around to share a buffet of pasta, salad and discount beer to compensate for the calories burnt.

The average attendance fluctuates between 250 to 300 people. According to the event organizers, the largest attendance was 350 people.

Along with free food — although the bar encourages a one-dollar donation — the club organizes activities to compliment the dinner, which ranges from mustache contests, to trivia games, to the most recent activity, a charity toy drive.

The Nog Run Club is by no means exclusive and attracts a small yet dedicated student following.

“This was my first Nog run,” Zack Capets, a junior in aerospace engineering, said. “I wanted to try to come out because I’ve heard a lot about it from other people. It’s safer to run in a group and it’s also more social.”

The run spans a wide perimeter of downtown Raleigh and passes through some heavy traffic areas. The large group of runners tends to catch the attention of common passersby.

“I saw a lot of heads turning,” Capets said. “It’s funny thinking what others observing must think, especially of some of the people out here decked out in highlighter-yellow running shirts.”

Along with the dedicated Nog Running club members, the NCSU Triathlon Club comes to the event every Monday.

“This is our Monday practice,” Jennifer Omlor, a freshman in zoology and Triathlon Club member, explained. “It’s a good way to meet people and it’s a great workout. It’s a way for runners to train for a lot of different races. It’s helped me out a lot and improve my running.”

Eric Reed, a junior in civil engineering, said he has participated in the event several times.

“I heard about the run from a coworker,” Reed said. “He was telling me on how to get involved and plugged into the running/biking scene in Raleigh, since I’m new here. It’s really nice to be within biking distance to downtown Raleigh. For instance, today, I’m biking down to the run with a group of friends. We’re making an event out of it. Plus, the food is much better than expected for just one dollar.”

The event exemplifies the healthy dynamics between local restaurants and the people of Raleigh.

“It’s cool that they offer this because the runners and the pub want to support Raleigh,” Reed said. “If they want to celebrate with a discount beer at the end, better for the pub and the runners.”