Every fall, Parks and Recreation, the Salisbury PD, Novant Health and the Salisbury Rowan Runners get excited to host the next class of new runners. The spring class is typically bigger, and the fall class is smaller yet more determined.

We start Thursday evening, Sept. 5, at the PD at the corner of Lee and Liberty streets. This is our 20^th year of doing the class and I believe it is our sixth year of using the PD as the meeting location. Each Thursday, we will meet at 6 p.m. and cover a classroom topic for the first 30 minutes. Subjects include a class overview, running shoes and equipment, stretching, strengthening, running form, nutrition, injury prevention and safety. Experts on each topic will do the weekly presentations.

On the first night, come dressed to run or run/walk to complete a half mile, and from that distance all participants will begin to train toward a week 8 goal of 3.1 miles (5K). Nobody is going to push your pace, the only goal is to keep running at a slow pace.

I have my own goal for this class. My broken back happened on May 15 in a farming accident. I am going to attempt to complete 3.1 miles myself by the end of the class, the first time that achievement has been in doubt during one of these classes or for 45 years. Good things are happening with my healing.

Each participant gets a dri-fit training shirt, their own training schedule and plenty of encouragement during their 8-week journey. The total for the class is $65, which includes membership in SRR for a year and one local 5K race for class graduation.

The first September race locally is the Hugh Bost Memorial 5K and Fun Run in Rockwell on Sept. 7. Bost was the long-time police chief, and all proceeds will help fund canine officers for Rowan County law enforcement. The course will tour Rockwell, beginning and ending at Rockwell Park. Current Police Chief Cody Trexler is the race director.

Sept. 14 brings Deputy Fife and Sheriff Andy to the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run in Landis. Yes, Deputy Fife already has ideas for crowd control, which may or may not include his one allocated bullet. All proceeds help fund the South Rowan Bible Teachers Association. Three teachers work in six area schools and all funding must be privately secured.

Finally, on Sept. 21, the town of Spencer hosts the Race to the River 5K and Fun run. Proceeds go to Rowan Creek Week. A morning race for the first time, the last two miles are a fast downhill to the river and the Wil-Cox Bridge. A bike ride and canoe trip on the river are part of the day’s festivities.

A wonderful fall season gets underway next week although the calendar still will say summer for a few more weeks. Join me as I hopefully learn to run 3.1 miles again and then please come participate in one or all of these fine, well-organized races. Walkers are always encouraged.

More information on all of these events is at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org.