This column will be a regular part of your Sunday paper as we go forward. Salisbury and Rowan are the center of a hotbed of running activities, so we’ll spend some time talking about current happenings. We also will talk about the notable performances of some of the local runners, but you can bet that we’ll include some others besides the winners. Another part of the column will be some information about what is going on in other areas of the country and occasionally other parts of the world.

Of course, my favorite sport is running, but I plan to discuss some additional cross training and good habits that help runners of all ages to improve the quality of their time on the roads and trails. With all of that being said, I plan to start each week’s column with the races and other events coming up soon. So here we go!

This afternoon, Nazareth Children’s Home is hosting its own first time event. The Nazareth Children’s Home Trail 5K begins at 2 p.m. with a fun run for kids to follow. The 5K will run on the series of trails behind the East Rowan YMCA. Following the 5K and fun run, Nazareth will host a cookout for all participants. They have plenty of door prizes, awards, long sleeve dri-fit shirts and lots of enthusiasm. Race day registration begins at 12:45 p.m.

Next Saturday’s 5K race is the Color Me Pink 5K at Salisbury Community Park on Hurley School Road. I don’t know much about the race, except that it benefits Relay for Life. Awards are for overall winners and go two deep in 10 year age groups for both male and female. Some information is available at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org. Call Elizabeth Clark for more details at 980-234-1202.

While we are on the subject, Salisbury Community Park on Hurley School Road is one of Rowan’s hidden gems. The park is peaceful where you want it to be, and offers lots of opportunities for runners and walkers. There is nearly a mile long paved greenway around a wooded area and the lake. Runners and walkers also have wooded trails and various courses of different lengths around the park. Catawba College, Livingstone College and some local middle schools are using the park for their home cross country meets.

The following weekend has two 5Ks, one in Landis and one in Salisbury. The Breast Cancer 5K is set for Landis on Saturday, Oct. 24. This event has shirts, nice awards and a complete lunch for all participants afterwards. The lunch is provided by the Landis Fire Department and consists of grilled chicken, pasta, chips and a drink.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, one of Salisbury’s most enjoyable events is the Spooky Sprint 5K and fun run. With the Halloween theme providing an incentive for a fun costume contest following both races, fast times are often another result of the course that begins and ends at Catawba College. The Rowan Rotary hosts this well organized event and uses the proceeds for Rotary programs.

Both these races are listed at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org and downloadable race brochures with plenty of information are available.

Two things discussed most often in my group classes over the last two weeks have centered on the heavier than usual rain during the period. The first one is about how to get your running shoes dry during multiple rainy days. The same issue can apply to high humidity days during the summer when sweat collected in the shoes results in heavy and damp shoes.

Wet shoes are no fun when preparing for your daily run, so here are a few tips. First thing, once you find a pair of shoes that you like, get a second pair. Then you can alternate the two pairs and give them extra time to air dry. Air drying is the only real option because tossing those shoes in the drier melts the glue and causes the shoe to break down much quicker. Other shoe drying options include stuffing them with newspaper. The newspaper absorbs the moisture and speeds drying. Another idea is to put them in a warm place that has air moving. One of my favorites has been the place where the refrigerator vents near the floor. Just put the shoes in that moving air and they will dry quickly. Even better yet should the sun shine is to put them outside on the deck and let nature do the work.

One additional tip will help to keep the shoes smelling good. Save your drier sheets and stuff the shoes with them after a run. Or for those that need the most attention, use the drier sheets straight out of the box.

In the second part of rain related discussion, I always tell others that running in the rain is fun. Not as much in the heavy rain, but light to moderate rain is certainly no reason to forego your workout. The body will still warm up well and the rain cools the body temperature enough to make the effort more comfortable. Mechelle Kuld, from our current runners class at Novant, told me the other day, “I went out to run on one of those rainy days last week expecting to run three miles. It felt so good. I continued past four and on to four and a half. I could have kept going. I will look for another rainy day run soon.”

See you next Sunday! Hope to see you on the roads, running or walking, between now and then.

David Freeze is a nationally certified running coach and president of the Salisbury Rowan Runners. Contact him at david.freeze@ctc.net. Learn more at Learn more at www.Ulearn2run.com