By David Freeze
Catching up and details for a busy fall!
I recounted all the duties of a good race director last week, and there are many. What I failed to mention is another list of things that must get done following the actual race. Here are most of those things but probably not all.
Final payments from sponsors must be collected, and bills for shirts, awards, any food bought for refreshments and additional things like the sound system, photographer and porta johns must be paid. All the volunteers, including fire and police, will get shirts as do most of the sponsors. Results and photos have to be posted, and sometimes a finish line video. Lots of thank you notes must be written.
And as soon as all of that is done, initial thoughts of date, location and race headquarters need to be arranged and booked for next year. What worked and what didn’t will make for immediate discussion.
Notable last week was the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run in Landis. 20-year-old James Anderson from Landis won the 5K race in 17:56. Anderson is the regular winner of this race, but most notable was the effort of Grace McDaniel who ran 20:25 and topped the women. Her time is fantastic but is especially notable since she is an 8th grader at China Grove Middle. Grace is 13, making her one of the youngest females to ever run this fast on an accurately measured course in Rowan County. The race itself drew over 200 participants for the first time in an effort to fund Bible teachers for South Rowan area schools. Donations can still be made by calling race director Lynn Furr at 704-724-2819.
This month’s racing will be completed with the Sisters in the Fight 5K at Overton Elementary School on September 26th. The course uses a portion of Salisbury Greenway and is open to all ages and abilities. The mission of Sisters in the Fight is to support women by educating them on early detection and offering essential resources for those diagnosed with breast cancer, heart disease, and who are facing domestic violence. We offer help with transportation, household tasks, meals, childcare, and medical costs, support groups for women and children affected by trauma, financial aid for children experiencing trauma, life coaching for overall well-being and social groups for healing and support. All proceeds from the race will help us expand our services and support that impact the lives of women, children, and families in need, as well as help promote community awareness.
On October 3rd, we have the new Faith in Motion Liberty 5K and Fun Run near Morgan School. The next weekend, we cross the county to go west to Back Creek Presbyterian Church for the Harvest Run 5K and Fun Run, with pancakes afterwards. Then. October 17th is the only “Do the Double” day of the year with two races, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. The Run to the River 5K and Fun starts the day in Spencer and Fall Crawl 5K and Fun Run is that afternoon near Landis.
Next up is the Saturday/Sunday race duo that have been with us a long time. First on Saturday is the St. Matthews 5K and Fun Run at St. Matthews Church, then the scene shifts to Catawba College for the oldest of any of these races, the Spooky Sprint 5K and Fun Run.
Some of the best energy and pure racing happens at the local middle school cross country meets. Just ahead are several meets for Erwin Middle School at the East Rowan YMCA on September 24th, October 1st and October 6th. Salisbury Academy has their home meet, a big one, on Tuesday, September 22nd China Grove Middle School has one more meet remaining on October 1st. All of these meets welcome spectators and the coming cool weather with less humidity will enhance performances.
Look for more details on all of these races and the results at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
