Columns

By David Freeze

Resolution Run 5K and a Red Cross Blood Donation

      One of my favorite races each year is the Bradshaw Rogers Financial Partners 5K at The Forum, and here are a few reasons why. The run/walk is held each year on January 1^st, the actual final resolution day for most people. And many of us have consumed way too many calories since Thanksgiving, so this date is the perfect time for a commitment and resolution to get more exercise That statement alone is too broad and rarely achievable because it is. But what if you decided to do your resolution in a trackable and achievable way?

     One of my neighbors, 12-year-old Naomi McDonald, told me that she was going to do 12 races during 2025 and it all would begin with the Resolution Run. Two friends, husband and wife, told me that they were going to walk some of our races this coming year as a commitment to better fitness.

    The Resolution Run 5K has several purposes, one of them being an opportunity to commit to a year of better health. Additionally, this is by far the lowest priced race of the year and 100% of all proceeds go to Rowan Helping Ministries. Cost is just $10 for early registration and then $15 on January 1^st. Donations of cash, non-perishable food and especially canned goods plus used running shoes will be accepted and used at Rowan Helping Ministries.

    Each participant will get a new shirt left over from our 2024 races, refreshments after the 5K and the unparallelled feeling of achievement on the first morning of the year. Especially if that achievement is a new thing, and you decide that you want more in the near future. All runners and walkers will be timed on an accurate course and results will be posted online afterwards. The top 10 male and female runners will get medals but the event can be as competitive or non-competitive as you want it.

     Start time is 9am but plan to arrive by 8:15 to enjoy the check-in process while picking out your new shirt and a bathroom break. The Resolution Run uses the Butterball course which is protected by Salisbury PD, other volunteers and is coned off. Count all this as a fun morning with no pressure and come make that commitment to better health, especially if all this is new to you.

     I am a big advocate of giving blood and have been doing so for more than 25 years. Since my back accident in May, I had not given but got back on track at Fieldstone Presbyterian Church in Mooresville on Monday. Why there? Because I have given four times there and each one has been extremely welcoming and pleasant. Homemade cookies help too!

     A co-worker told me once, “There is no way I am going to give blood!” My response was, “How will you feel when you need blood?” His response, “I hope it will be there.”

     Perhaps you have heard some of this before. Every two seconds, someone in the US needs blood for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. The need for blood is constant, with only about 3% of eligible people donating yearly. About 328 million people currently live in the US, and 6.8 million give blood. About 13.6 million units of whole blood are collected annually. Blood donations include red cells, platelets and plasma, and are one of the most important things we can do to help others, especially at this time of giving. There is no substitute for blood, and it can’t be manufactured. Your gift of blood will be appreciated.

       Go to www.redcrossblood.org or www.oneblood.org to read more and schedule a donation. Giving blood is a favorite thing for me to do, recently made more fun because I have become a competitive giver. Of course I want to give as often as possible, but being competitive by nature, I now test myself with how quickly I can give a pint. Red Cross would frown on any more details, but I regained the SRR record this past week.

     Look for more about the Resolution Run and other activities, soon to include a blood drive, at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

By David Freeze

A Magical Run This Morning

    What makes for the best runs, the ones we remember? Have you ever thought about it? On the morning of Tuesday, December 3^rd, I had one and here’s why I finished all excited about the effort.

     I don’t usually see anyone else out running so early in the morning. Since my effort at recovery, the other runners around here have gone other ways or later in the day.  

     Late the day before, I heard about the possibility of snow, just like most of you did. I always get excited about snow since we see it so seldom in this area. Predictions were that snow would fall about 2:30am, so I got up and checked outside. Sure enough, we had snow! I went outside and made a few pictures while walking around in it. But already, I was excited for my 5:45am run!

    It was 23 degrees when I got up at just before 5am and hit the road thinking that the pavement had very little snow and it wouldn’t be slick. I was wrong on both counts. The pavement in spots had swirled snow with icy spots, and when passing next to or under trees, I felt my feet slip on occasion. As most snow and ice runners figure out quickly, if the first foot slips and the other doesn’t stabilize the stride, then you’re likely going down. Over the years when I was a faster runner, I fell so hard on pavement a few times that my teeth felt the jarring crash. On sloping roads, or as it was this morning when passing under shaded areas, feet can lose traction quickly. Older now, and maybe with a little better wisdom because of it, I took it easy on the slick spots and even walked a few of them.

    We only had a half to 3/4ths of an inch of snow on the ground, but running this morning still made for a wonderful memory. I was able to find the blackest spots nearest the edge of the road for better traction to start and then on the return trip with more light in the sky, I looked for the grayest spots. I didn’t fall but just missed my goal pace for the run. If there had been more snow on the road, I would have looked for the whitest snow which always has the best traction.

     Speaking of memories, I remember a long-ago big snow when all five kids and a restless wife were in the house and wanted a few things from the store. I admitted to being a little restless myself and took off to the nearest convenience store, about five miles away. I had tied a plastic sled to my waist with a rope. This time, plenty of snow was on the road and almost no cars. It was too early in this storm for the snowplows to hit the back roads.

      I ran to the store, got milk to make snow cream, the Sunday Charlotte Observer (the Post would be delivered later), some bread and a few lesser things. I had a blast running back home and the sled came right along. Everybody was happy when I arrived, but no one more than me. After snow cream and some playing in the snow, we had a good time just reading, watching movies and looking at the winter wonderland all around us. I couldn’t have stood all the downtime without that run, but my mind was at ease with the great workout! Funny how that happens just about every time!

     On the morning of December 11^th, I ran in a steady rain and blowing wind from the southeast. The effort needed was harder than it should have been, and my soaked shoes, shorts, socks and shirt totaled three pounds afterwards. I wouldn’t have missed either of these memories. It is great to be back on the roads!

     Our next race ahead is the Bradshaw Rogers Financial Partners Resolution Run 5K at The Forum on January 1^st. Look for this and other events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org