We have another Prediction Run on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 8:30 a.m. at City Park. Free to SRR members, prediction runs are open to anyone. Any non-members who pay the registration fee become members for a year. No watches, no phones and you’ll guess your total time prior to walking or running 3.1 miles. Closest to the predicted time wins and the top three get nice prizes. Everyone gets refreshments and plenty of fun.

September has the new Hugh Bost Memorial 5K in Rockwell on Sept. 7, honoring the long-time police chief and raising money for Rowan County K-9 programs. Next comes the Run for the Word 5K in Landis, now in its third year, on Sept. 14. Proceeds go for the South Rowan Bible Teachers Association since the state does not fund those teachers. New this year, Landis special police officers, Sheriff Andy and Deputy Barney have offered to make sure everything goes well in their favorite town. And Sept. 21 brings the Town of Spencer’s Race to the River 5K. Formerly an afternoon event, the race moves to a 9 a.m. start that includes very fast miles 2 and 3 downhill to the river finish.

October has the new Back Creek Church Harvest Run 5K on Oct. 5. This is a totally rural course starting and finishing at the historic church in the western part of our county. Next up on Oct. 12 is the Dolphin Dash at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The race benefits the school and is our only cross-country 5K with the entire course on grass and dirt. Then we go into Halloween mode for the St. Matthews 5K on Saturday, Oct. 26. Another rural race benefits church members or area residents with significant health concerns and expenses. Sunday, Oct. 27, has the long-running Spooky Sprint 5K where all proceeds go to Rotary programs. New this year is a course that includes the Catawba College Shuford Stadium track, softball area and the Salisbury Greenway.

Also, in the fall will be our regular races at Grace Lutheran Church with the Clean Water 5K on Nov. 9 and the fast-growing Butterball 5K on the Nov. 28. December has the Freeze Your Buns 5K on the Nov. 7 and SRR’s long running Santa Run for Hunger 5K on the Nov. 14.

All of these races have a fun run except the Butterball, and all are on Saturdays except the Thanksgiving Day Butterball and the Sunday Spooky Sprint.

Our fall Beginning Runners Class will begin on Thursday, Sept. 5. As usual, 8 weeks of classes at the Salisbury PD building at Lee and Liberty. If all goes well, I hope to participate in the class as a returning runner following my back injury in May.

I love these classes and it’s always fun to meet the new people who take them. These classes have been offered for more than 20 years and the Salisbury PD is a wonderful host. We start with a half-mile distance on the first night and we’ll finish with running a 5K on the last evening. Eight weeks, all on Thursdays, beginning on Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. Participants will learn about topics including shoes and equipment, stretching and strengthening, nutrition, injury prevention, safety and running form.

Just a quick note about my back. I no longer have to wear the back brace, and I have less restrictions. My back is healing and if all goes well, I should be able to try running again in a couple of months. I have been cleared to ride a stationary bike but not a real one. Thanks for the incredible prayers and support!

Remember the feeling you get from a good run is way better than the feeling you get when sitting around wishing you were running! I know this for sure.