I wasn’t gifted with athletic prowess, and so don’t participate in sports in which other people depend on my abilities to win. As a child, I was the last one picked for every team and I usually came as a booby prize for the team who got the best player so things would be evened out a bit.

I don’t jog or take part in aerobic exercise due to another kind of booby prize. (As Dolly Parton says when asked if she runs, “Are you kidding? I’d black both my eyes!”)

But I’m a walker. One of the best things about the location of my house in Tryon is it’s within walking distance to town.

The first night Paul and I walked home from a movie at the Tryon Theatre, I was amazed at how quiet it was. There were no cars and no other pedestrians – just the music of insects and a stillness I’d never experienced in all my years in Los Angeles except on a movie studio back lot late at night walking to my car. It was eerie, and I half expected Boo Radley to pop out from behind a tree.

Since that night, I’ve grown to love how quiet Tryon’s streets are at night, and I’m not scared of Boo anymore. Paul and I still walk to town – to the movie and to restaurants, to the post office and the bank, even to the dentist. And we love walking our dogs all over the residential streets as well.

But even though I walk a fair amount, I balked when someone asked if I was going to participate in the Ache Around the Lake. It sounded intimidating. And painful.

The Ache Around the Lake is a fundraiser for St. Luke’s Hospital that challenges runners and walkers to an 8K race that winds around Lake Lanier. This will be the ninth year for the event, and it takes place on Sept. 20. I’d imagine it’s quite beautiful touring the lake on foot, but I don’t think I’d care much about the scenery doubled over in pain and feeling my childhood inadequacy all over again.

But guess what – the event planners have thought of everything, and found a way for people like me and Dolly Parton to enjoy a day of outdoor fun and the reward of helping raise money for the St. Luke’s Foundation. They also have an Ouch Around the Lake. Yes, it still sounds somewhat painful, but it’s a mere 2 miles instead of the 5 the Ache encompasses.

This sounds like something I could actually do.

I found the Ache Around the Lake’s website and Facebook page, and started reading up on it. Kids, grandmas, and even babies in strollers and dogs are welcome! Registration fees vary slightly, depending on when you register, and there’s a smaller team rate per person. (No, I won’t be on a team, but I’ve adjusted to that since grade school.)

You can register online or show up before 7:30 a.m. on Ache Day at the Tryon Antique Mall parking lot across from the entrance to Lake Lanier. The first 200 registrants get a cool t-shirt, and the race’s winners will go home with handmade pottery from Spartanburg potter, Christine McMakin. There will also be goody bag goodies (without the bag because organizers are going green) when you register at the Antique Mall parking lot. The last shuttle pick up to take participants to the starting point is 7:40 a.m.

The race starts promptly at 8 a.m., and there are two paths to take—one for the Aches and one for the Ouches. Follow signs marked on the road.

At the very least, we’ll all have a fun morning running or walking around beautiful Lake Lanier, and we’ll be joining an impressive list of generous sponsors who are donating to the St. Luke’s Foundation. We might wind up with some aches and ouches, but I guarantee they’ll be worth it.

Hey, if I can do it, so can you. Let’s go, team Tryon!

– Susan McNabb