President’s Message

president
  Yes, it is already December, almost the end of another great year for SRR! We’re going to close out the year with a bang with two solid races, and then start it off with another one on January 1st. Here is what we have ahead.
The Freeze Your Buns 5K and Fun Run is set for 1pm on December 7th. This is the kickoff event for the Winterfest celebration for the Town of Spencer and is headquartered near town hall. Race awards will be handed out on the Winterfest stage. Stay after the race for plenty of fun!
Then, on December 14th, we’re at the Millbridge Ruritan’s Building near Sloan Park for SRR’s Santa’s Run for Hunger 5K and Fun Run, all of it benefitting Rowan Helping Ministries West. Again, the race is held in conjunction with the North Carolina Bigfoot Reunion. Board member Connie Hoffner lives along the course and reports the host Bigfoot family frequents her area and has been grunting more while banging a lot of sticks. She is unsure exactly what that means for the event but is sure the locals seem more excited than normal. Bigfoot sightings are frequent during the event. Pancakes and other breakfast goodies are planned for the postrace celebration along with the always popular Bigfoot contest.
What does a Bigfoot contest consist of? All men who can verify wearing a size 12 or larger shoe and women who wear size 10 or larger in the race will be entered in a drawing for a pair of running shoes sponsored by Ralph Baker Shoes. Since this is an SRR event, we can use volunteers who will also get a shirt and breakfast.
Then, just as the holiday season is coming to an end, we have the Bradshaw Rogers Resolution Run 5K at The Forum on South Main Street in Salisbury. Meant to encourage a New Year’s Day Resolution for better health and fitness, the 5K is open to walkers and runners for a nominal fee of $10 before race day and $15 on race day. All runners will be timed, and the top ten male and females will get awards. Canned goods and new or used shoe donations will be accepted.
Last year, almost 100 runners and walkers participated on the same course used for the Butterball. This is another SRR event! We can use volunteers at this event too.
Major planning is underway for SRR’s big weekend of February 1st for the annual meeting and February 2nd for the 42nd Annual Forum Fitness Winter Flight 8K/5K and Fun Run. All proceeds also benefit Rowan Helping Ministries who will have a huge volunteer impact. About 50 volunteers are needed for race day, so if you’re interested, we can use you. Volunteers get a hoodie!
SRR’s Steve Staley will be the keynote speaker for our annual meeting. Staley is 70 and one of the most competitive grandmaster’s runners in our area. He has over 93,000 running miles and has a lifetime of stories. His topic will be “How I Got Here!” He has 46 marathons and almost 1600 races after an early weight issue inspired a drastic lifestyle change.
Debbie Suggs Catering is again supplying the pasta meal for the evening when all the major club awards for 2024 will be awarded. The annual meeting and dinner are free to all members in good standing and race sponsors. Winter Flight is the oldest 8K in the state, the state championship race and at least the fourth oldest race of any distance.
Exciting times are ahead as we close one year and open another. Be a part of it all or as much as you can! You can help make someone’s world a slightly better place!
See you on the roads!

Upcoming Calendar Events

Events in December 2024

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
November 25, 2024 November 26, 2024 November 27, 2024 November 28, 2024(1 event)

All day: Butterball 5K

November 29, 2024 November 30, 2024 December 1, 2024
December 2, 2024 December 3, 2024 December 4, 2024 December 5, 2024 December 6, 2024 December 7, 2024(1 event)

All day: Freeze Your Buns 5K

December 8, 2024
December 9, 2024 December 10, 2024 December 11, 2024 December 12, 2024 December 13, 2024 December 14, 2024(1 event)

All day: Santa Run for Hunger 5K

December 15, 2024
December 16, 2024 December 17, 2024 December 18, 2024 December 19, 2024 December 20, 2024 December 21, 2024 December 22, 2024
December 23, 2024 December 24, 2024 December 25, 2024 December 26, 2024 December 27, 2024 December 28, 2024 December 29, 2024
December 30, 2024 December 31, 2024 January 1, 2025(1 event)

All day: Bradshaw Rogers Financial Partners, Inc. Resolution 5K

January 2, 2025 January 3, 2025 January 4, 2025 January 5, 2025

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