Tuesday's Run at West Ridge Baseball Fields (Directions)

The Tuesday evening run tradition goes on all year long. Granted, it's nowhere near the size of the Summer Swing 5K Series, but it's just as fun, and completely informal (if there is such a thing). It's usually 3 to 6 people that meet between 5:30pm and 6:00pm at the West Ridge baseball fields on the East side of Opelika, on Tuesday evenings, each week. Would love for you to join us. It's a 1.08 mile loop around the baseball fields, well lighted, no cars, and plenty of good parking. You can run any pace you like, any distance. It's just for fun and personal fitness. Here are the directions. If you are coming from Auburn, on I-85, get off on exit 62 and turn right on Lafayette Parkway (Hwy 431) and head north. As you are approaching the Southern Union campus, turn right on West Point Parkway (Hwy 29) and drive one mile. Turn right at Sawyer Road, then take an immediate left on Ridge Road, which runs parallel to the baseball fields. Drive about 1/2 mile and look for the first parking lot on your right. (If you are coming from Opelika via Pepperell Parkway, just head east until you hit the Southern Union campus, and keep straight, then follow directions above). You will know you are at the right parking lot because you cross over the walking/running path as soon as you turn in. Park anywhere and walk back up to the path. If nobody is in sight, somebody will be coming up pretty soon, it's only one mile around the loop. Our "trick" is to put a couple of stones on top of the curb where the path crosses the road, telling others which direction the runners went. The quickest way to find runners on the path is to go the opposite direction of where the stones are placed. You run into each other instead of being in a "chase" mode, where you may always be on opposite sides of the loop. Make sense? If all else fails just hang tight and someone will be along shortly. If the parking lot is empty, that could be a sign that everyone had a conflict and couldn't make it. However that is a rare event. If all that mumbo-jumbo does not make sense, email me at durunforfun@yahoo.com or give me a call at 334-524-5021. Hope to see you soon. Doug

August 5 Run Results

It's in the bag! Check here for run 14 results. It was a great series, and I really enjoyed seeing all of you during the summer. We will crank it up again next May, and I expect you to be back then! More details later - but for now wanted to get these results posted. And remember, if you want some running company on Tuesday evenings, all you have to do is change locations. A few of us continue to run, but will be at West Ridge baseball fields in Opelika. More later on that. It's been fun! Doug

Last Run of the Season

I sure have enjoyed the summer series. It's been good to see all of you each week, plus meet new people every week. I'd like to encourage you to keep up your training, except maybe move it to a cooler part of the day! For anyone interested, there are a few of us that continue to run on Tuesday evenings, year round. We usually meet at the West Ridge ball fields in Opelika around 6pm. If you would like to join us, just get in touch with me for details, or talk to Bob Banks. It's a pretty laid back run (surprise). You can push as hard as you like, or just cruise. It's a little over a mile around the loop, and off the street and well lit. Plenty of good parking. Good place to run, especially in the winter months. Don't forget the free concert at 7pm; tonight is Route 66. See you this afternoon! Doug

Here are the results for the 7/29 run. Hope that you made it out for the run, I don't think we will have that cool of an afternoon in July for a long time. See you next week as we wrap up the series! Doug

No Excuses!

No excuses for not showing up for our run this evening! Cool fronts in July are rare, so you need to get out and enjoy this one. See you this evening. Next to last run! Doug

July 22 Results

Here are the results of the Tuesday, July 22 run. Much thanks to Raley Thorn and Bob Banks for help at the finish line. And congratulations to Cameo and Allen on the birth of their daughter! Good to see the whole family this evening. Two more weeks. Let's finish up with a strong showing. See you next Tuesday - Doug

Running in the Rain

Here are the results for our 11th run, on 7/15/14. Did it rain? Yes. Was it a problem? No, not if you like the temperature to drop about 10 degrees! I guess the best part was that we had 5 watermelons for 27 people. Watermelon feast! Much thanks to Alvin Walls for bringing the melons, and helping at the finish line. Always glad to have you there, Alvin. Three more runs left,winding it down. Hope to see you next week. Doug

Watermelon Day on 15th

How about some fresh, cold, free watermelon after our run this week? If that sounds good to you, be sure you show up this coming Tuesday the 15th. We are winding down, with only 4 runs left. Could be rain this week, as a cool front is moving in. I'll give an update right here Tuesday afternoon. Rain, great - lightning, not so good. Time will tell. See you Tuesday, I hope! Doug

July 8 Run Results

Here are the results for our July 8th run. Lots of you are showing some real improvement as the summer rolls on. Much thanks to Jacquelyn and Alvin for help at the finish line, and RehabWorks for their assistance and participation. Four more runs!

Results

Here are the results of last night's run. Boy was it hot! Doug

SCORCHER

Better come well prepared to our run Tuesday July 1. Looks like it could be brutally hot, a real scorcher. This is not the day to worry about setting a PR! Plan on dialing it back a bit and not pushing too hard. I'll bring plenty of Gatorade and water. Look forward to seeing you Tuesday. Doug

Here are the results from last night's run. Hope that you were able to join us! Doug

30% Chance of Rain This Evening (4pm update)

See you this evening. 30% chance of rain as of 4:00pm this afternoon. A little shower would be nice, while you pass mile marker 1! The run is on, regardless of rain, except in the case of nearby lighting. We will hope that does not happen today. Later - Doug

Hot and Muggy

Tough run last night, very hot and muggy. Here are the results. Maybe next week the humidity won't be so bad..... Doug

No Rain at 6pm

The weather report says 0% chance of rain at 6pm. Come on out and let's see if they are right! Doug

Running in the Rain

Nice and cool yesterday as we had 20+ show up to enjoy a run in the rain. Will post results Wednesday evening. HERE are the results! Get out and enjoy the cool and cloudy weather. It won't be this way for long! Doug

Run 5 Results

Here are the results of run 5, June 3, 2014. And here we are, 1/3 of the way through the series. If you have been waiting for it to cool off before you come out, better forget that plan! Get on out here. Much thanks to the Connors, and Alvin Walls at the finish line. Yes, you heard right, Alvin made it over to help out. He said he had such a good time visiting with friends, that he is coming back next week. Of course, not to run, but to visit - and as he said earlier, to make sure that Bob Banks doesn't cut the course short. :-) See you next week, Doug

Rain Rule

Since we are in this period of scattered showers, and it's impossible to predict what the weather will be on Tuesday run evenings, here is my rule of thumb: If it is raining, our run will still take place, UNLESS there is lightning in the immediate area. Personally, I like to run in the rain, especially this time of year. If it is raining during the run, that will impact my race timing options. Electronic timers don't like to get wet, and they are expensive. We'll revert to manual timing in those cases, and do the best we can. For 6/3, there is a 30% chance of rain. We should be okay. Don't forget to take time to vote, get it done early so you will be able to join us at 6:15p! Doug

Run 4 In The Books

Another great day for a run yesterday - weather perfect but a bit warm. Just wait until July. Here are Run 4 results. Hope that you are having a great Memorial Day Week! Doug

Results Are Posted

Finally, here are the results for run 3. See you next week! Doug

Great Run!

Nearly perfect weather allowed us to kick-off the 2014 Summer Swing Series with a great run. We had about 30 to 35 show up and get a good workout, and do some catching up with friends they had not seen since last summer. If this year is like last year, those numbers will grown to about 50 or 60 per week, maybe more. Looking forward to 13 more weeks of running, free concerts, and enjoying a lot of good company. If you have not joined us before, come on out and give it a try. All the details are found in the links in the right margin. I've got the results ready but won't be able to post them until this evening. Check back and see how you did. Doug

Good to Go - Tuesday May 6th

Looks like perfect weather for a run this week - unlike last week, with the threat of severe weather. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! All the details are in the links to the right. We'll plan to start the run at 6:15pm - so try to get here by 6pm at the latest so you can register. Doug

3pm Update

Still uncertain on the weather, but it looks like the worst of it will be after 7pm. We will have an informal run for anyone who wants to come. Run start 6:15 - but if you get there early and want to go ahead, that's fine. I'll put the cones out about 5:15. Just keep an eye on the weather and if it looks questionable, be smart. Doug

Just in Case the Weather Behaves

This morning, looks like canceling the run was a no brainer. Now, I'm getting mixed reports on the weather forecast. Tell you what - if the bad weather does not materialize at 6pm, we'll have an informal run - just for fun, no timing/results. Come if you like. I'll try to give a 3pm update. Doug

Watch the Weather

Early forecasts include severe weather for our first run Tuesday 4/29. I will keep you posted here. Be sure to check back Tuesday after lunch. Doug

Concert Schedule

I've included the 2014 Summer Swing Concert schedule in a link to the right. Plan to enjoy as many of these free live concerts as you can. I've moved the start and finish line back a bit - closer to the area where everyone hangs out after the run. I think that will work out better for all. One more week! Hope to see you on the 29th! Doug

April 29th Start Date - First Run

All right! Finally, it's about time to get started on another great series of Summer Swing 5k runs! As has been our tradition for the past few years, we will get started the WEEK BEFORE the Summer Swing Concerts begin. Mark your calendars for April 29th, and come on over to the Opelika Recreation Center on Denson Drive between 5:30pm and 6:00pm. We'll start the run at 6:15pm. This year will be a 15 run, 15 week series, each Tuesday of each week. We will crank up 4/29 and finish up August 5th. The concert series (14 of them) starts 5/6 and runs through 8/5 as well. There is a great lineup of artists, as usual. Plan to take advantage of this FREE concert every Tuesday night! I'll provide the schedule soon. For the "old hands", I plan on keeping things pretty much the same as last year. $10 will register you for the entire series, or you can pay $1 per run, as you go. Those 18 and younger, no charge. We will offer a technical running shirt for those interested, at cost. I'm working on getting the design completed and print ready in May. I'll plan on offering the standard hamburgers and hot dogs as usual, at cost. I will need some help either grilling or at the finish line - so if you feel so inclined please get in touch with me at durunforfun@yahoo.com or call me at 334-524-5021. For those of you who are new, welcome to what may be the best summer of running (or walking) that you have ever experienced! Guaranteed that you will meet new people and make new friends, in a laid-back atmosphere that I think we have the patent on. For the more serious runner, we have all you need as well. It's a challenging, measured and marked 5K course, and we'll offer timed results for each run, available online here each week. For those who prefer to walk, come on out, you will have plenty of company. Bring the stroller and your pet (leashed of course)if you like. More details soon. Look forward to seeing you in three weeks! Let's make his year bigger and better than ever! Doug

Summer Swing Series Coming Up

Just around the corner - the 8th version of the 5K Summer Swing Series is approaching. I'll be working on dates and other details and share those within a few days. I'm ready for some warmer weather! Doug