By Heather Ritner
By David Freeze
By the end of May, we are usually winding down a successful series of spring races and other events. Spring 2020 may end up with no races, but we are doing our best to still have at least one of them. The 19th Annual Bare Bones 5K is one of Salisbury’s oldest races and we’re working with Salisbury city officials to find a way to meet the upcoming requirements amid Phase 2, now projected hopefully to begin on May 23.
The city can’t OK the permit until North Carolina is actually in Phase 2. The original race date of May 23 won’t work due to the current uncertainly of when Phase 2 will begin, but we hope that one of the next few Saturdays will work. Salisbury was designated a national Runner Friendly Community due to a lot of criteria involving cooperation with city government. We are certainly getting that cooperation again and we will keep everyone posted as the situation develops.
Bare Bones is an interesting race that started 19 years ago when the title sponsor dropped out just two days before the race while suggesting that the event be canceled. With less ways to spread the word of a cancellation than are available now, the Salisbury Rowan Runners decided to take it on, treat the whole event as a thank you to the running community and keep the registration prices very reasonable. Over the years, we’ve recycled trophies and even unused T-shirts, but the 2020 event will have great awards and a slightly different logo on a brand new commemorative T-shirt. Proceeds go to Relay for Life and Rowan Helping Ministries.
Two other races scheduled for June have new updates. The very popular Main Street Challenge 5K, originally planned for Friday evening, June 5, in China Grove, has been postponed until Friday evening, Aug. 21. The Shiloh Missions 5K, held as part of the Faith Fourth of July is still scheduled for June 27. I spoke with race director Luann Fesperman on Thursday and she assured me that they have every intention to have the race on that date.
Over the last two weeks, I have exchanged various communications with the Road Runners Club of America about a return to racing amid the coronavirus. RRCA is the parent organization of more than 1,200 running clubs nationwide. They have suggested certain parts of the process that could be changed or altered to make social distancing work over 3.1 miles. While road racing is not a contact sport, the first races back will likely be required to follow at least certain guidelines for the safety of the volunteers and participants. During my competitive racing period of more than 800 running events over various distances, only once did I have more than a light brush of physical contact with a runner. A tight turn and a couple of bumps amid the start and then it was over. No other part of a race is as congested as the start.
Some of the suggestions for more social distancing that are likely to be used in the early return to racing include a larger starting area and the possibility of multiple starts. We can do these to meet the approved number for a gathering.
The second biggest gathering is usually the awards ceremony following the race. If the number likely to attend is above the gathering limit, we’ll hand each finisher a bag with refreshments and give them directions on how they can pick up any earned awards. Likely in that case, winners will need to visit Ralph Baker Shoes beginning on the following Monday.
Finally, Bare Bones has a virtual 5K choice. Virtual means that the runner doesn’t run the actual race but can complete the 3.1-mile distance at any time of their choosing within a week of the official race day. Those participants get a reduced price and a shirt but aren’t eligible for awards.
You’ve read the latest and you can find more as it develops at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org . Or you can call 704-310-6741. It seems that runners are ready to compete again, and interest is high so far in the three upcoming races. Hope to see you there.
By Ann Farabee
By Doug Creamer
Gardening
My wife and I have been doing a good job about social distancing and staying at home since the arrival of Covid-19. The only trips out involve getting food or going to the drug store. It’s been very hard not to visit with family and friends, especially for me, since I am such a social person. We know this will not last forever, even though it feels like it at times.
I know the hardware stores are open, but I have avoided them because they seem so busy. It’s spring and the garden centers at the hardware stores are full of beautiful plants. Most Friday nights in spring after we eat out, we normally end up walking around the garden center at Lowes. Well, we used to do that.
This is our favorite time of the year. We love spending time roaming around garden centers and enjoying all the beautiful plants. They are an essential business, so we decided to go to our local garden centers and get some flowers and vegetables.
I thought it would be better to go during the week when it would be quiet and less crowded. We were so excited for our adventure out into the world. It was a beautiful day and apparently other people also decided it would be a great day to visit the garden centers. The two we visited were busy. The good thing we both noticed is that people were practicing good social distancing. We were all looking for plants but being mindful of each other.
It was a good day. We came home with some treasures and are working at getting everything planted. It feels so good to get my hands in the soil. I enjoy working in both the vegetable and flower gardens because it brings us great joy. Seeds are popping through the soil, flowers are blooming, plants are growing and flourishing and we are filled with joy. Another thing that brings great joy to our lives is growing spiritually. Like flower and vegetable gardens, our spirits need to be tended and nourished.
Over the years I have written numerous times about the need to spend time in God’s word and prayer. The spirit feeds on God’s word. It’s the source of wisdom, guidance, and knowledge about God. When we pray, we are in the presence of God. A person cannot be in the presence of God without being changed. These two are the basis of spiritual growth in our lives.
One thing I have neglected to point out through the years is how vital fellowship is to our spiritual growth. Here we are in a time of social distancing and we find ourselves missing a critical component to spiritual growth. How can we connect when we aren’t allowed to gather? How can we encourage and challenge each other to deeper spiritual growth? We have to be creative because it is critical.
I have been fortunate in my life. I have several very good friends. A real friend is someone who knows you, really knows you, maybe even better than you know yourself, AND they still love you. They know your sin, shame, bad attitudes, wrong motives, failures, and your weaknesses, and yet they stand with you and never make you feel bad about yourself. In fact, they help you to see God in you. They help you to focus on the good in your life. They believe the best about you. They see you as an overcomer, a victorious warrior. The relationship is mutual. You are a faithful friend because you do the same thing for them. You see, hope, and believe the best for them, too.
A friend will pick you up and love you when you are at your worst. They will also give you a swift kick in the rear if that is what you need. A friend laughs and cries with you. A friend will fight through the darkness to find you and help you see the light. A friend is there to lift you up, encourage and challenge you, and to see you through.
I want to encourage you to evaluate your friendships. Discover and treasure your true friends. Invest in those relationships because those are the ones that will benefit you in your walk with Christ. We have all been burned, but we can’t allow that to keep us from reaching out again because we need trusted friends to make it through life. Friends help us see through the fog and keep us on the right path. I believe friendship is God’s plan for strong spiritual growth.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
By Lynna Clark
We might be nearing the end of the current pandemic. David’s been saying all along we’d be able to tell that it’s almost over when we not only FIND toilet paper, but are able to purchase the SOFT rolls of choice. Well, yesterday he hit the jackpot! He commented to our friend Natalie at the grocery store how pleased he was with his good luck. She advised him to go buy a lottery ticket.
Poor man. Since I’m a delicate flower and currently going through another season of pain, he’s running all the errands plus doing the grocery shopping. He found a few paper face masks in our paint supplies but was afraid to wear one lest he be chastised for mask hoarding. But he promised not to kiss any cashiers or lick anything whilst he was out among the teaming masses.
Our Illinois daughter Stephanie, hoping to lighten the mood wore a mask left from Halloween while she shopped for groceries. Instead of laughs she received more than a few suspicious looks. But it sure helped with social distancing. Everyone seemed to be afraid to make eye contact. If they had, they could tell by the girl’s sparkly eyes that she really is smiling behind her mask.
Our granddaughter Kianna will graduate high school this May. Celebrations have all been cancelled. We wanted to encourage her with a card. But apparently graduation cards are not on the essential list. However, David found two random cards so we could at least mail her a check. As he showed me the one with the pig in a saddle [which advised the recipient to live high on the hog] he advised, “Just mark out Happy Birthday. Or if you like this one with the dog better, mark out the ‘I’ and make it ‘we.’”
I chose the dog card because obviously it was much classier, and corrected it to say “WE’ll always be there for you.” It still didn’t make sense so I marked out the ‘t’ in ‘there’ because technically we can’t be THERE, but we can be HERE. Looking at the edited mess, I included the sentiment, “We love you way more than this card would indicate.” Hopefully the gift will reflect our heartfelt sentiments better than the jacked up card. I’m just glad David remembered stamps at the grocery store. Bless his heart. It only took three weeks.
Two of our local grandchildren came by one day and hung out of the windows of their truck to throw me “air hugs.” They see me in pain often and their mother always warns them not to hug too hard. Jesse nearly made me cry when he commented with his air hug, “This way I can hug you as hard as I want!”
Yep, surely we’re nearing the end of the crisis. I am really looking forward to being hugged as hard as I want.
By Ann Farabee
May I just step back for a minute from my writer’s pen and share my heart? I have tried for the last three weeks to write a column about the impact of COVID-19 on our lives. I wanted to reach your hearts with my words during this unique time in history.
I had just spent another afternoon working on it. Working on it. Working on it.
Frustrated, I pushed my chair back from the table, and as I did, I saw a plaque that had been given to me a couple of years ago. But this time — I really saw it. The message spoke clearly to my heart.
The words:
Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God.
God was telling me to be silent — and listen. I closed my eyes and bowed my head, allowing my mind and thoughts to go silent. I heard a God whisper from Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts.” That was followed by, “I can do more for you in a second than you can do for yourself in a lifetime.”
I looked up. I knew. I set aside the column I had been working on — and began to write this one — about the whisper of God.
I knew I could never formulate the words needed to express my appreciation for those of you on the frontlines during the virus. I see you stepping up. I see you accepting your mission with grace and mercy. I see that God is whispering encouragement to your hearts. You are heroes.
Nor can I formulate the words to express how my heart hurts for those of you who are suffering during these uncertain times. God will whisper sweet peace to you. And one day, as the clouds begin to lift, the sun — and the Son — will shine again.
Each week, as I write and video my column, I am not only thinking of my story, but I am also thinking of your story. May I never write a column without first hearing the whisper of God — because I write not just for me — but also for you.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah looked for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire — but he heard God in the whisper.
How do we hear God whisper? Be silent. Listen.
The whisper is personal — not for all of us at once — but for each one of us.
The same God who created the universe can also whisper to each of our hearts.
It really is amazing.
God is at work.
Yesterday. Today. Forever.
By Heather Ritner
This is an encouraging video about sharing grace for others……..
By David Freeze
Most of us know Matthew Weaver as an extremely talented piano player and singer. Over the last decade or so, I have enjoyed his music. I couldn’t help him with that but for the last few years, we’ve began to talk running.
Matthew said, “Growing up in the country, I have enjoyed the outdoors my whole life. My parents and sister, Mary Jean Hobart, and I always took walks together as a family day or night. Sunday was always a walking day after church, and we hiked a lot in the mountains. Exercising has always been a part of my family’s life, and my father and I played baseball for years. Even mom used to get up to bat. (Go Yankees!) There was no sitting around in my house growing up. We had no television, so we were always outdoors doing some activity.”
At Appalachian State, Matthew spent a lot of time in the outdoors hiking, trout fishing and swimming in the waterfalls, and joined his friends for two mile walks and runs around the campus. Everyone in Boone seemed to be outdoors.
Busy with his performing and traveling, I knew that Matthew had faced some challenges with his calorie intake. He said, “I’ve been up and down over the years with weight, and my problem is not sweets. My issue is eating everything on my plate and then some. While traveling and performing around 200 times a year, I had developed some bad habits. Diets don’t work. I found I should eat what I want, but in proper portions and not depriving myself which leads to binge eating. You can’t perform on a full stomach but proper fueling prior to a concert works best. I just can’t load up on the calories after a concert at 11 p.m. to compensate for what wasn’t eaten hours before. My weaknesses are Pringles and blackberry cobbler. I can eat them, but not every day and only in proper portions. Rewarding yourself once a month is good with maybe a second helping occasionally.”
Back to exercise, and how Matthew makes it work. He said, “I feel better mentally and physically when I exercise. I download old-time comedy, detective, and Western radio shows, good preaching, music, and Car Talk for listening. I’m exercising my mind, body, and feeding my soul as I walk and run. Often I am walking and running at 11 at night. I’ve lost around 40 pounds since late fall, and down almost three sizes.”
Matthew plays five shows at a time in one day at the Biltmore Estate. He gets 15 minutes off between shows, so he goes walking to get some exercise between sets. Matthew has completed over 3,500 miles since July 2017. This April, he’s already over 140 miles.
Going forward, Matthew knows that he needs to stay on track. He said, “I have to be more conscious of my health. Diabetes is badly genetic on my father’s side and I feel helpless as I watch my dad struggle with this issue which is causing heart failure and disease. But dad always has a smile on his face and keeps going. I love my momma and daddy, and he’s still my fishing buddy.”
Matthew added, “I want to lose 30 more, and encourage others to turn off your TV and go outside and walk. You don’t need expensive clothes to exercise and get in shape. I do recommend a pair of good shoes from Ralph Baker’s and your feet, joints, and body will thank you.”
I know Matthew is hooked on all the benefits of exercise and expect more success. He said, “A day without exercising is like a day with no Bible reading, prayer, or playing music and singing. It’s a regular part of my life. I get grumpy if I miss more than a day.”
I’ve seen and heard of so much more exercise than normal during the lockdown. There’s a lot of pent up energy. Hopefully, statewide rules will relax in time for the local races to resume soon. The Bare Bones 5K on May 23 is still on the schedule. Check www.salisburyrowanrunners.org for any updates.
By Ann Farabee