Well, well, well…this almost NEVER happens in the warm season around here, but there’s not much going on (race-wise) this weekend. The only event I can find is in Spartansburg on Monday, Sept. 5. It’s the Spartansburg Fair 5K Race. More info on that here.

Newsletter stuffing moved to Tuesday

September ERC newsletter stuffing will be on Tuesday,Sept. 6 at the Plymouth Tavern in the loft area — this is a change in date from the usual (first Monday of the month) to avoid Labor Day. As always, newsletter stuffing starts at 7 p.m., belly stuffing starts after the newsletter job is done (ERC buys wings, pretzels, soda and beer).

Erie Marathon price goes up tomorrow

If you register TODAY you will save on your Erie Marathon race registration fee. Today it is $60 (marathon), $48 (1/2 marathon) and $13 (5K). Prices go up tomorrow and they go up again on the day before and day of the race (which is Sept. 18, by the way). More marathon info here.

Beat Beethoven

The Erie Philharmonic puts on a fun 5K in which you’re racing to beat the Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. It works like this: Volunteers line the course with their boom boxes and car radios turned to Jet Radio 1400 so racers can hear the Symphony from start to finish. Cross the finish line before the final note (about 30 minutes and 17 seconds) and you get a ticket to the phil. Info and application here.

Race for Recovery 15K coming up

The Race for Recovery 14th annual Run Around Erie 15 is scheduled for Sept. 25 at PISP Rotary Pavilion and includes three distance choices: a 15K, a 5K and a 1-mile. Application can be found here. Early registration deadline is Sept. 20. Register by then to be guaranteed a shirt.

Her Times women’s 5K early deadline approaching, too

If you’re planning to participate in the Her Times women’s 5K on Sat., Oct. 1 — and what woman runner wouldn’t when you get such great goodies as a reuable shopping back, a water bottle from Flab to Fab and a styling WOMENS-cut t-shirt — you ought to send in your application or apply online. Beat the Sept. 16 deadline to save a few bucks — $5 to be exact. Prices go up from $15 to $20 after 9/16 and kids race fee goes from $0 to $5 each after 9/16. Registration form here. Online registration here.

So far, we’ve got 300 women and 70 kids preregistered for the Her Times race this weekend.We expect nearly 100 more to register late and/or day-of-race.

The T-shirts have arrived & they are cute! A nice periwinkle color — a bluish-purple, really. Same style as last year.

Don’t forget that we have packet pickup here at the newspaper, 205 W. 12th St., tomorrow from noon to 1:30 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Please note: These are the only times you can pick up on Friday...I will be out running around the rest of the day and I am the only one who can get the race packets (the office girls don’t know what to do…nor do they have time to do it).

The weather forecast looks good, so far (knock on wood) with temps near 50 degrees and only a small chance of rain. Remember that if you are walking, you’ll want to dress warmly, but if you’re running, you’ll want to be cold at the start line because you will heat up fast!

If you aren’t signed up…you can still participate. Just come to packet pickup tomorrow or sign up the morning of the race between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. at the Rotary Pavilion. It’s $20 for day-of-race/late entry.

OK…off to buy oranges and pretzels and coffee and pins and….oh…I’ve got a lot to do before race day!