We’re heading into holiday season! How could that be happening already? Another fall season is flying by for the Salisbury Rowan Runners. November holds several more races, a new one mixed with three veteran events. All the while drawing closer to several more December and early 2024 SRR races.

     In November, we’ve already started off with the brand new Donuts for Dollars on Saturday, November 4^th. Using a 2-loop course never tried before in order for the GNC store to host the event, the race was held to benefit the Salisbury Police Department Foundation. Those proceeds directly will benefit officers and staff in ways not funded by the City of Salisbury.

    Next weekend, we have two races. The Clean Water 5K will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on November 11 and offer the popular hush puppies to all participants. Race director Pam Roseman has to eat all that are left over so she’s hoping for a big turnout. Proceeds benefit the Lutheran Church’s world-effort to improve the available drinking water supply.

    The following day, the Girls on the Run 5K happens at Salisbury Community Park. It is largely a non-competitive 5K that celebrates the graduation of the fall class for GOTR. These girls have trained and had classes at nearby elementary schools. The fall celebration has regularly been held in Rowan County for many years. There is a competitive community runner race that is open to anyone. All this happens on November 12^th.

     Then our favorite Thanksgiving tradition, the Butterball 5K, is once again set for The Forum on November 23^rd. An 8:30am start guarantees early calorie burn and completion of the whole event in time for other Thanksgiving activities.

     An early look at December highlights the Freeze Your Buns 5K in Spencer on December 2nd and SRR’s own Santa Run 5K benefiting Rowan Helping Ministries on December 9th. Santa will once again visit with nice SRR members, but this time likely will arrive by farm tractor. Bigfoot is coming too.

    Also underway currently is a new walking class at RHM. We’re doing a mini version of the BRC for 8 weeks, again doing a classroom session on pertinent topics like hydration, walking form, and sleep etc. before we go out to walk as a group on Mondays. So far, Matthew Weaver, Lynn Furr and Connie Hoffner have helped with this program and it is open to all SRR members. We’re walking on the nearby sidewalks and are currently at 1.5 miles on the way to hopefully 3.

    Big plans are underway for Winter Flight 2024 and the annual meeting on February 3 and 4, 2024. We have black light-weight hoodies planned for the race and Meredith Abramson is at work on the 41^st annual logo.

    New this year is an appeal to all SRR members to help us with the Winter Flight sponsors. Minimum sponsorship level for listing on the shirt is $250. Any club member who secures a new sponsor for $250 and up will get an extra free ticket to the annual meeting and special seating at the front of the room. We have extra costs this year for PD and higher prices on other things. Please contact me at david.freeze@ctc.net if you can help or have questions.

     A reminder that notable world class endurance runner David Horton will be our keynote speaker at the annual meeting. He’s raced across America and was once the fastest to complete the Appalachian Trail.

   Mark your calendars and plan to be a part of these events. Work them as a volunteer and you might just be lucky to get assessed by SRR’s own world class Wayne Crowder and become part of Wayne’s crew. He’s got another column in this newsletter, ready to inspire as always.

     See you on the roads!

David