AORTA News: November 2nd, 2026
2026 Beat Bama ! Results & Videos!
A Spooktacular Halloween Run!
AORTA runners hit the streets bright and early Saturday for some spooky miles through 3, 4, or 5 local cemeteries! Thanks to everyone who joined us, especially those in costume! Happy Halloween from AORTA!
Race Volunteers Needed!
As a runner, we know your time is valuable. But if you have a couple hours to spare, we could use your help for one of the upcoming AORTA supported or directed races! Assisting at a local race is a fun and rewarding experience. You are surrounded by health conscious individuals that, like you, are motivated fitness enthusiasts and appreciate the effort of volunteers.
Upcoming Local Races
Unity Wellness Center AIDS Day Run/Walk
- When: Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Time: 8:00 AM (1-Mile), 8:30 PM (5K)
- Where: Town Creek Park, Auburn, AL
- Fee: $5 (1-Mile), $5 (5K) (t-shirt $20)
- Description: Join us for the 9th Annual Unity Wellness Center World AIDS Day Run/Walk, featuring a $5 fee for both the 5K and 1-mile events (with an option to add a shirt for $20). Age group awards will be given, and there will be a raffle and refreshments for the whole family. The 1-mile walk starts at 8:00 am (untimed), and the 5K timed race begins at 8:30 am. This event commemorates World AIDS Day, a global day of unity against HIV, and supports Unity Wellness Center's vital services, including HIV testing, counseling, medical care, case management, and prevention education.
Moore’s Mill Turkey Trot
- When: Thursday, November 26th, 2026
- Time: 8:00 AM
- Where: Moore’s Mill Club, Auburn, AL
- Fee: $35 includes t-shirt
(Register by Nov 17th for guarenteed t-shirt)
- Description: The annual Moore’s Mill Club Turkey Trot is something NOT to be missed! Taking place Thanksgiving Day morning, it has become a fun family tradition for many. Runners, joggers & walkers - this fun run is for EVERYONE!
- Last year we raised $40,000 for the Food Bank of East Alabama!
- $1 Donation Equals 7 Meals!
Active Auburn Jingle Jog & Santa Stroll
- When: Saturday, December 05, 2026
- Time: 6:30 AM (1-Mile), 7:00 AM (5K)
- Where: Toomer’s Corner, Downtown Auburn
- Fee: $20 (Fun Run), $30 (5K)
*Prices increase after November 26.
- Description: The Jingle Jog 5k and Santa Stroll Fun Run are here again – so pull out those Santa hats and ugly sweaters! Join Active Auburn on Saturday, December 5th at 6:30 a.m. as we ring in the holiday season in style! The Santa Stroll Fun Run (1 mile) will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner and the Jingle Jog 5k will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner.
Auburn Toys for Tots 5K/10K and Fun Run
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM (1-Mile), 8:30 AM (5K/10K)
- Where: Town Creek Park
- Fee: $20 (1-Mile), $30 (5K), $40 (10K)
** Prices increase after October 15th
- Description: Mark your calendars and start the holiday season in a festive mood with a 10K, 5K, or 1-Mile! All participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy. to be distributed to children in need. This year, Toys for Tots donations are especially important. the weak economy has caused many to lose jobs, be furloughed, or be forced out of work for long periods of time. Families in these difficult situations desperately needed a little extra holiday cheer this holiday season. The Toys for Tots race will help bring people together during the holidays. All participants who register online by November 30th will receive a souvenir festive t-shirt!
Weekly Whimsy
Running Shoe Rotation: How Many Pairs Needed?
Matteo Sargenti, The Running Week
Rotating running shoes can lower injury risk and extend the life of every pair. Find out how many shoes to own, when to switch, and what each pair should do.
Most runners own one pair of running shoes. They wear that pair every day, log every easy mile and every interval in it, and only think about replacement when the foam feels dead. That single-pair habit is also one of the quietest causes of nagging injuries and shorter shoe life. The fix is a rotation, and it is much cheaper than it sounds.
Why One Pair of Shoes Is Probably Costing You
Every running shoe places your foot through one specific pattern of cushioning, heel drop, stack height, and stiffness. Run only in that shoe, and your stride loads the same muscles, tendons, and bones in the same way thousands of times a week.
A 2015 study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports tracked 264 recreational runners over 22 weeks. Those who used more than one pair of running shoes in parallel had a 39% lower risk of running-related injury, even after adjusting for other variables.
You can read the supporting injury research summarised in this systematic review on training errors and running injuries. The link to repetitive load on the same tissue is consistent across the literature.
The Science of Same Stress, Same Place
A small change in shoe geometry produces a small change in cadence, foot strike, and calf engagement. Multiply that across hundreds of strides and the load on any single tissue drops. Connective tissue, especially tendons and the plantar fascia, needs variation and time to adapt.
Our guide on plantar fasciitis recovery lists worn shoes and sudden gear changes among the most common triggers.
How Many Pairs Do You Actually Need?
For most runners, two pairs is the baseline, three is the sweet spot, and four is only useful at higher mileage. The right number depends on how often you run and what kinds of sessions you do.
Beginners running 3 to 4 times a week do fine with two pairs, alternating between them. Intermediate runners logging 4 to 6 sessions a week benefit from three pairs, each with a slightly different purpose. High-mileage runners or anyone in marathon training will get the most out of three to four pairs. Each pair then has time to fully dry, decompress, and recover its foam between runs.
Building the Right Rotation for Your Training
The trick is to give each pair a job. When every shoe has a role, you stop wearing your best pair into the ground on easy days.
The Daily Trainer
This is the workhorse. It covers 70 to 80 percent of your weekly miles: easy runs, recovery runs, and base-building mileage.
Look for soft cushioning, moderate weight, and a durable outsole. If you are still building consistency, the Running Week guide on how to build a running base is a good place to anchor the volume.
The Workout Shoe
This is your faster, lighter, more responsive pair. Use it for tempo runs, intervals, marathon-pace work, and progression runs. A carbon-plated shoe often fits here, though it does not have to.
Our review on carbon plate running shoes explains both the benefits and the wear-life trade-offs.
The Race-Day Shoe (Optional Third Pair)
Many serious runners reserve a near-pristine pair for goal races. It is often the same model as the workout shoe, just barely worn so the foam is fresh on race day. You do not strictly need this. Plenty of runners race in the same shoe they workout in, and that is fine.
When to Replace Each Pair
Shoe lifespan is measured in miles, not months. Most daily trainers hold their performance for 300 to 500 miles. Carbon-plated super shoes wear out far faster, often between 150 and 250 miles. Heavier runners and forefoot strikers wear shoes faster than lighter runners or heel strikers.
Watch for these warning signs: a persistent calf or knee niggle that started recently, visible wrinkling along the midsole, or the outsole worn through to foam at the heel or forefoot. The shoe will feel dead before it looks dead.
How to Start a Rotation Without Spending a Fortune
You do not need to buy four shoes at once. Start by purchasing your next pair before the old one fully retires. That alone gives you a two-pair rotation overnight. Look for last season models, end-of-line sales, factory outlet pairs, or alternate colorways that often drop in price.
Track mileage in your GPS watch or training app so you know when each pair crosses 300 miles. That is when the next shoe joins the rotation.
Common Rotation Mistakes
The biggest mistake is rotating between two shoes that are essentially identical. The same geometry in two different colors still loads your body the same way every step.
Another trap is putting a carbon-plated super shoe in the daily-trainer slot. The aggressive geometry was not designed for high-volume easy mileage, and the foam dies fast at that load.
Finally, never wear your dedicated race shoes around town. Foam compression on hard floors and pavement walking still counts toward the shoe lifespan.
The Bottom Line
A shoe rotation is not gear-snob behaviour. It is a quiet, evidence-backed way to spread the mechanical load across different tissues, extend the life of every pair, and keep showing up at the start line uninjured.
Start with two pairs that actually feel different, give each one a job, and add a third when your mileage justifies it.
Link to article: https://tinyurl.com/3h9w9vzn
Quote of the Week
You know you’re a runner
when you have more running
gear in your laundry than
normal clothes.
Caroline Geoghegan
Video of the Week
I Tried Couch to 5K As A Complete Beginner (20:41)
** AORTA provides this informational video to its members as a courtesy and does not endorse any particular product, process, or service.
Ongoing Events
RunGo For Turn-By-Turn Directions!
RunGo provides turn-by-turn navigation allowing you to just enjoy your runs without having to think about looking for street names and when you may have to turn next. Other great features include, audio cues with your running stats, split updates, the ability to share your runs via social media, and create new routes. Another great feature of the app is the ability to work offline. You can create and download your routes ahead of time, before your run so you don’t have to use data during your run.
Race Volunteers Needed!
As a runner, we know your time is valuable. But if you have a couple hours to spare, we could use your help for one of the upcoming AORTA supported or directed races! Assisting at a local race is a fun and rewarding experience. You are surrounded by health conscious individuals that, like you, are motivated fitness enthusiasts and appreciate the effort of volunteers.
Water Stop Volunteers Needed
Water stop signs and coolers are available at the following location: 1536 Professional Parkway, Auburn, AL. (Thank you Adahli Massey!). Coolers and signs can be picked up Monday-Thursday from 8AM-4PM and on Fridays from 8AM-12 noon. Items are in the room next to the back door. If you are unable to pick up supplies on these dates/times, e-mail clemster@aol.com to make alternative arrangements (we deliver!).
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