Summer is definitely here now! It has hit us hard, with the warm temperatures for the first week of July and the humidity that somehow finds us even if the rain doesn’t. It is a challenging time to have races, and few are on the calendar. I probably won’t see my favorite long sleeve running shirt until September. Most early mornings will include high humidity and heavy sweat.

   So what do we do to save our fitness until cooler days of late summer and early fall? Here are a few things that I do. Stay with your routine, don’t go inside to run or walk. Maintaining your outside exercise will help with getting used to the crueler conditions. Slow down, it is certainly OK to do this. Get some of your mileage from walking. Don’t let rain keep you from running. This summer;s long-range forecast includes continued minimal rainfall. I look forward to running in the snow during the winter and can’t wait till it rains enough to run in as well. Either way, keep your fitness journey going.

     Our next race is the Run for the Greenway 5K and Fun Run at Overton School on July 18^th. Race director Steve Clark says that all the best things about his race will return. Great door prizes and the food, Steve’s specialty, enhance one of SRR’s oldest races. One of our newsletter contributors once rated the food at the Greenway 5K as the best he had seen all year. Join us for a fun race!

      Then we skip all the way till August 29^th for the SRR Prediction 5K. We’ll again meet at the City Park shelter at 8am and either run or walk your most predictable 5K for great prizes and refreshments. Watches, phones and any timing device won’t be allowed but your pace only matters to your prediction. All SRR members are free to participate, and anyone can join the event for the cost of an annual membership.

     Steve Clark is assembling another dragonboat team for the annual competition on August 22^nd. The most active members who can be on hand for race day and two practices are eligible for the boat.

      Other things happening soon include SRR timing area middle school cross country meets and financially contributing to the active county high school cross country teams. Informal practices will soon be happening if they aren’t already. One other change of note is that the fall BRC class will start on Tuesday, September 8^th. Classes for this fall only will be held on Tuesdays instead of the usual Thursdays. Meeting time will remain at 6pm for eight weeks at the Salisbury Police Department.

    September, October and November will be jammed full of races. Stay focused on your fitness and get ready. Days, weeks and months are flying by at a very rapid pace.

    We still need used running shoes and volunteers to help us serve lunches and dinners at Rowan Helping Ministries. Matthew Weaver heads up the evening crew, and you can reach him at 704-453-0917. Drop off the shoes at upcoming races or call me about them and lunchtime RHM serving at 704-310-6741.

    The perfect runners quote for me—“Run before the day gets crowded.” And my favorite—See you on the roads!

David