AORTA News: September 29th, 2025
Upcoming Local Races
5K Walk & Run
- When: Saturday, October 04, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Where: Kiesel Park
- Fee: $20
- Description:
Join the Korean American Youth Leadership Program students for a 5K Walk & Run benefiting the BigHouse Foundation, supporting foster and adoptive families. All proceeds go to charity, run, walk, or donate to make a difference!
Zombie 5K by Southern Prep Academy
- When: Saturday, October 25, 2025
- Time: 4:45 PM
- Where: Camp Hill, AL
- Fee: $30
- Description: Get ready for chills and thrills on Saturday, October 25, 2025! This unique race takes you through fields, wooded trails, ponds, and winding paths - complete with scare actors lurking along the way to keep you moving fast (don’t worry, they won’t touch you!). The fun doesn’t stop at the finish line - your entry includes access to Southern Prep’s fall festival with a haunted trail, hayrides, games, food trucks, inflatables, vendors, and live entertainment. Whether you’re a runner, walker, or Halloween fan, this spooky 5K is the perfect way to kick off your Halloween weekend.
Walk to End Alzheimer's
- When: Sunday, October 26, 2025
- Time: 3:00 PM
- Where: Campus Green, Auburn University
- Description: Looking for an easy and fun way to make a difference for LIFE? Join Women's Hope Medical Clinic & Hope Adoptions as a runner or fundraising walker for our upcoming Walk For Life + 5K! By getting sponsors to support your walk, you can help reach our fundraising goal and play a significant role in cultivating a culture of life.
Beat Bama Food Drive 5K
- When: Sunday, November 02, 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM (1-Mile), 2:30 PM (5K)
- Where: Cater Lawn, Auburn University
- Fee: $40 (5K), $20 (1-Mile)
- Description: The Beat Bama Run Fest is a charity color run benefiting the Food Bank of East Alabama. It offers a 5K race and a one-mile fun run for participants of varying fitness levels, encouraging community involvement by collecting non-perishable food donations. Pre-registration is encouraged to save on fees, and the event includes water stops, refreshments, and children's entertainment, making it a well-rounded experience focused on fitness, community engagement, and philanthropy for participants of all ages.
Walk For Life + 5K
- When: Saturday, November 08, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM (1-Mile), 8:30 AM (5K)
- Where: Opelika Sportsplex
- Fee: $30 (5K), $10 (1M), $0 for 12 & Under (1M)
- Description: Looking for an easy and fun way to make a difference for LIFE? Join Women's Hope Medical Clinic & Hope Adoptions as a runner or fundraising walker for our upcoming Walk For Life + 5K! By getting sponsors to support your walk, you can help reach our fundraising goal and play a significant role in cultivating a culture of life.
Unity Wellness Center AIDS Day Run/Walk
- When: Saturday, November 15, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM (1-Mile), 8:30 PM (5K)
- Where: Town Creek Park, Auburn, AL
- Fee: $5 (1-Mile), $5 (5K) (t-shirt optional fee)
- Description: Join us for the 8th 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), and veterans can run for free (see website for details). 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.
Have Gently Worn Running Shoes?
Are your running shoes past their useful running life? Most are normally good for 300 to 500 miles but can still have a lot of “sole” left in them! If yours are ready for retirement, bring your gently used running shoes to Love2Run, our local running partner store, where they’ll collect them for a fantastic organization called “Sneakers4Good”, a social enterprise that ships them to developing nations for micro-entrepreneurs.
When you bring them, please check for the following:
1) Gently worn means they are clean in usable condition and have no holes.
2) Soles are intact and not too worn, cracked, or breaking apart.
3) Laces intact, in good condition, not frayed, and tied together.
Weekly Whimsy
6 Running Myths That Could Be Slowing You Down
Martin Fritz Huber, New York Times
** Summary of article **
Running is a simple sport, but it’s surrounded by debates and conflicting advice. As runners gain experience, finding trustworthy information can be tricky. For example, trends in shoe design have swung from minimalist “barefoot” shoes in the early 2010s to today’s highly cushioned models. Many assume that more cushioning prevents injury, but research shows that’s not necessarily true — and highlights how misconceptions in the sport can spread easily.
1. Distance runners don’t need to lift weights
Running alone isn’t enough. Strength training improves muscle and tendon health, reduces injury risk, and boosts performance.
2. You don’t need to eat after a run
Even if you’re not hungry post-run, your body still needs fuel. Skipping recovery meals or snacks can slow healing and adaptation.
3. Lactic acid causes muscle soreness
Lactic acid isn’t to blame. Post-run soreness comes from microscopic muscle damage, not lactate buildup.
4. Energy gels always upset your stomach
Digestive issues often come from dehydration or lack of practice. With gradual training, your stomach adapts to gels and fuel more efficiently.
5. Rest is always best for injuries
Full rest can delay healing for some injuries. Light, targeted movement (under guidance) often helps recovery by improving blood flow.
6. “Real” runners go hard every day
Elite runners balance hard and easy days. Consistent recovery is essential for adaptation and long-term progress.
Takeaway: Runners thrive by combining smart strength work, intentional recovery nutrition, informed injury management, and balanced training — not by following oversimplified myths.
Link to Archived Article: https://archive.ph/Obvaz
Quote of the Week
Believe you can do it
and your body
will find a way to
make it happen.
Anonymous
Video of the Week
How I Took 2 Hours Off My Marathon Time (8:52)
In just over three years, Anya Culling improved her marathon PB by 2 hours. She went from never running a marathon to representing England on the world stage. In this video she tells that story and gives some practical tips to improve your marathon time!
** 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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