I am just back from my summer bike ride and eager to get rolling with our running and racing opportunities for the late summer and fall.

    We just had our first race in many years at Knox Middle School that was not on the historic course used by the Greenway and Bare Bones 5K’s, as well as many others. Long range plans have at least a good chance of a state-of-the-art track facility on the property. Last Saturday’s Robert Stephen Gilmour Labor of Love 5K was a success on a new course, beginning and ending near Horizons.

   On September 9^th, the action shifts to the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church in Landis. The course is likely the flattest in the county and the Town of Landis will maintain course safety throughout the event. All proceeds go to the South Rowan Bible Teachers Association for the costs of Bible teachers at Carson and South Rowan High Schools, Corriher Lipe and China Grove Middle Schools with the possible addition soon of Southeast Middle School.  

     Spencer’s Race to the River 5K and Fun Run will leave the fire department at 2pm on September 16^th and race northeast straight to the Wilcox Bridge and Yadkin River. The very hilly first mile from last year has been changed to a straight shot down Salisbury Avenue to the river, at least 2/3rds of the course on a fast downhill. This will be a fast course! The Town of Spencer will showcase its energetic and growing Parks program. Non-competitive cycling and kayak events are also involved. Awards, three deep this year, and entertainment will be held at the new Yadkin River Park Trailhead. The event benefits Rowan Creek Week and starts at 2pm.

       October 14^th is the retooled Dolphin Dash on the cross-country trail at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. More details are pending.

     GNC presents the Dollars for Donuts 5K and Fun Run on November 4th to benefit the Salisbury Police Department Foundation with the intent of providing various means of support to the officers and associated personnel. The Police Department Foundation is not funded by the City of Salisbury. The race will be headquartered at the GNC store, and the course has not been finalized but will be in close proximity to the store. This is a new event.

    Back again is the Clean Water 5K and Fun Run at Grace Lutheran Church on November 11th. Globally, 1.8 billion people, about one out of every four people, drink from contaminated water sources. Unsafe water leads to illnesses that claim the lives of 840,000 people each year, almost half of whom are children under the age of five. What’s more, women and children spend hours each day collecting water. This keeps them from school, work, education and time with family. All proceeds from the race will benefit the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Global Water Ministry.

   The Girls on the Run of the Greater Piedmont 5K follows the next day, November 12^th, as a celebration event at Salisbury Community Park at 2pm. The is the largest fall event, with approximately 600 GOTR graduates and a running buddy for most of them. Community runners can register separately.

     And finally, Salisbury’s largest competitive 5K, and a Salisbury holiday tradition, will be held on Thanksgiving morning at 8:30 at The Forum. All proceeds go to Prevent Child Abuse Rowan.

     The fall Beginning Runners Class begins on Thursday, September 7^th at the Salisbury PD on the corner of Lee and Liberty Street. Check the SRR website for a complete description of the class. All current members of SRR can take the class for free and are especially welcome to attend as supporters of the participants.

    As a club, we keep moving forward by supporting quality events of local charities. Our serving at Rowan Helping Ministries remains strong, led recently by Matthew Weaver’s strong effort.

    Finally, some thoughts for fun. “Our running shoes have magic in them. The power to transform a bad day into a good day; frustration into speed; self-doubt into confidence; chocolate cake into muscle.”
—Mina Samuels, author of Run Like a Girl 

   See you on the roads,

David