By David Freeze
Beginning Runners Class Just Ahead
With all the cold of recent days, the warm spell last week had me thinking of spring. The cold was back on Wednesday morning when I went out to run in the steady rain, darkness and wind. At 32 degrees, I had plenty of preparation in place to stay dry and warm once I stepped out the back door, that step being the hardest one on such a morning.
I only wear a bright yellow rain jacket when the rain is steady, and this Wednesday morning filled that bill. Water standing in the road occasionally gets me sprayed by passing cars. When both cold and raining, I wear mittens with Food Lion bags tied around them to keep the rain out. A warm toboggan and a rain repellent ball cap over it both work well to stave off a wet head. My bare minimum distance since returning to running has been 3.5 miles and Wednesday totaled just 3.6. I’ll make it up.
Part of a rainy morning run is a pair of worn-out shoes, since they will get wet, sometimes very wet. I have plenty of used up pairs of shoes around for this purpose. Those shoes that haven’t been used for yard or barn shoes and still have a little bounce to them are the best. The first step back into the warm house is the third-best step of the morning. The second-best step is the one that ends the run, just ahead of my morning prayer walk.
After only missing one day on the road since being cleared to return to running by Novant Health’s sports medicine back specialist Dr. Eugene Eline on November 1st, I reached 430 miles completed on this challenging morning. A new pair of Brooks Glycerin shoes from Ralph Baker Shoes, my first ever of that model, has boosted my recent running pace. I still have some more improvement to do, but I try to push harder each day. Saturday is nine months since the accident.
It is time for SRR’s Spring Beginning Runners Class signup. The new class, sponsored by SRR, Salisbury Parks and Recreation and the Salisbury Police Department, starts on Tuesday evening, March 11th at 6pm. Spring classes are usually well attended and have the benefit of lengthening daylight as the class run gets longer each week. We start walking/running a half mile on the first night, then we gradually increase to 3.1 miles for the graduation evening of April 29th. The pace for all the runs is very gentle and each has the intended goal of just covering the distance. Participants are encouraged to run at a pace at which they can run and talk at the same time. Some walking is permitted, especially during the first weeks of the class.
Weekly meetings begin with a half-hour classroom session taught by local professionals on such subjects as shoes and equipment, running form, stretching and strengthening, injury prevention, nutrition and safety. Each participant gets the 8 week class, a training shirt, membership in Salisbury Rowan Runners for a year and free entry in the Bare Bones 5K on May 24th. Cost for the class remains at $65. More information on registering for the class is available at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org. Both online and mail-in options are available, and sign-up can be done on the night of the first class. For more information, you can also call 704-310-6741 or 704-202=6601.
Our next race is the Will Run for Food 5K and Fun Run at Centenary Methodist Church on February 22nd. All participants get a complimentary t-shirt and some fantastic homemade refreshments, plus a chance at overall and age group awards in addition to some cash prizes. Carla Kluttz, former NC State Champion brownie maker, is the race director and can be reached at 704-433-3755.
