Just last week, we had three days of consistent rain, much of it early in the day. For the first time, I had three pairs of shoes sitting on the back deck railing waiting for a warm sun to dry them. Most other methods to dry shoes take forever and my favorite way of drying them with a hair dryer takes too long if they are soaked and makes them smell like burning rubber, which can’t be good for the shoe.

   I’m writing this on July 30^th which is the first day in recent memory without excessive humidity. How pleasant it was to run this morning at 60 degrees. More of those days aren’t far off.

  We are in the slowest part of the year for the club, with just one event in August. The SRR Prediction Run is on August 29^th and is going to be fun with an extension of our Ralph Baker Shoes/Topos giveaways from last year. We will have some great door prizes and a new pair of Ralph Baker Shoes for the winner. And a pair of Topos as a prize drawing for everyone else. I am taking a close look at Topos myself now and just had a great run in the Phantom 4 model today. First take is that the shoe is light, extremely comfortable and has more bounce than the Phantom 2 that I tried a couple years ago. My toes have been taking a beating recently and need more room. The Topos roomy toebox works just as well as the shoe fits the rest of the foot. Knowing a good thing, I am already getting a second identical pair. Amanda Lewis is the race director, and she will confiscate all watches, phones and any other timing device before the race, after each participant predicts their time. SRR members are free, so plan on joining us. Amanda will have some sort of post-prediction run breakfast too.

    Looking ahead to September, SRR has two races. First on September 12^th is the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run in Landis on a superfast course. Most importantly, all proceeds will go to the SRBTA, South Rowan Bible Teachers Association, which raises funds solely for the purpose of funding Bible teachers in five area schools. SRR’s membership director, Lynn Furr, is race director.

   Then on September 26^th, we have the Sisters in the Fight 5K and Fun Run. All 5K proceeds will directly impact local families in crisis.  “Every step participants take and every dollar raised will help us provide food, clothing, household essentials, emergency support, and help supplement the cost of medication for those battling cancer and heart disease,” is their quote.  The race location is Overton School, with the course using the Salisbury Greenway and the Prescott neighborhood.

     Steve Clark’s 2026 Dragonboat team will take to the water on August 22nd, with some new team members, at the Salisbury Shriner’s Club.

      October is likely to have seven races, so it will be very busy. More on them next month. In fact, the rest of the year is quite full of races.  I am into my last year of as president of the club, and I want my final year to be very successful for SRR.

      “To give anything less than your best it to sacrifice the gift,” is attributed to Steve Prefontaine, but it was Dr. Myron Goodman’s favorite quote. Look for the tribute to Dr. Goodman in the newsletter.

    See you on the roads!

David