Sports Talk: Running for Fun Around the Area

As a correspondent sports writer for The Casey County News, I write an weekly editorial column for the publication. Published June 26, 2013.  

Late June and July bring some of our hottest days of the year, so thinking of being outside and breaking a sweat from physical activity may not be exactly appealing to most people. A raft floating in the pool with a cold drink or a trip to the lake definitely sounds 10x more refreshing.

However, taking advantage of the cooler mornings is always a rewarding way to start the day. I love seeing the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle becoming a bigger part of our community. The young running group that has been working out together the past month is such a turn around from what I had to train and run with ten years ago. I made semi-regular trips to Danville just to find running partners.

The additions of Back and Body as well as the walking/running trail connecting downtown to the Ag/Expo center in the past several years have brought great motivation and convenience to the county for making fitness a part of our lives. It’s no longer uncommon to see runners of any age getting in their daily mileage on the streets of Liberty. Today I even saw bikers out and about.

If you have not yet done so, sign up for Liberty’s 5K on the morning of July 4, which kicks of the county’s Independence Day festivities.  Sure, 8 a.m. may be an early activity for a holiday, but (a) nobody wants to be running once the sun gets high; (b) you always feel good when you’ve completed such a big task by 9 a.m.; (c) the company is great!

With running growing in our community, it’s also growing around us. Right now Casey County has four regular runs a year (July 4, Apple Festival, Turkey Trot and Cabin Fever), which I am thrilled about. Meanwhile, on practically any given weekend, it’s not hard to find a nearby 5K to kick off your Saturday. (I’m sorry to report we’re too late for the Twinkie Run in Danville held yesterday.)

Upcoming area runs include:

JULY

4: Casey County Liberty Bell 5K Run/Walk, 8 a.m. at Courthouse Square

6: Firecracker 5K, 8 a.m. Stanford (Main Street)

13: Rockcastle 5 Miler, 8 a.m. Mt. Vernon (Renfro Valley)

20: Bluegrass State Games 10K/5K, 8 a.m. Nicholasville

27: Jingle in July 5K, 8 a.m. Lancaster (Garrard County High School)

AUGUST

3: Coach Plummer’s 5K Run, 8 a.m. Danville (Admiral Stadium)

10: Run with All Your Hart/Walk , 8:30 CDT Russell Springs (Russell County Auditorium)

10: Dash for Life 5K, 8 a.m. Junction City (Junction City Park)

17: Run Bike Hike, 8 a.m. Mt. Vernon (Lake Linville)

17: Bluegrass Drug Run for Camp Can Do 5K Run/Walk + Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. Danville (Ponder Court)

24: Pigskin Classic 5K and 1 Miler, 9 p.m. Danville (Admiral Stadium)

31: Run for the Pets 5K/15K, 8 a.m. Burgin (Shawnee Run Baptist Church)

SEPTEMBER

7: Smokin’ Butt Ride, 9 a.m. Danville, (Downtown)

15: Constitution Run for the Arts 5K, Danville (Constitution Square)

21: CASA Superhero Run 5K and Kids 1K, 9 a.m. Lexington (Coldstream Park)

28: Hope 53 5K Run/Walk, 8:30 a.m. Danville (Millenium Park)

A great resource and “in” to a wonderful running community is Danville Bike and Footwear. Their website (www.dbfky.com) includes a calendar of many of the local runs as well as a pretty complete listing of races taking place throughout the state.

I speak from personal experience and connections when I say those in the running community just north of us are fantastic people and encourage those of our own running community to connect with this group.

For more information about the Liberty Bell 5K visit www.libertykentucky.org.