Odds + ends for my running friends

A few interesting nuggets to pass along on this gorgeous fall day:

Run For Your Life in Dilworth is kicking boys to the curb and hosting a women-only "Diva Night" next Monday, Oct. 5, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Enter to win raffle prizes (including a yoga gift certificate and wine); enjoy pizza from Luigi's (winner of The Observer's 2009 Pizza Tournament); and be pampered by a variety of professionals, from a massage therapist and an acupuncturist to a Mary Kay representative and a Moving Comfort representative (who'll fit guests for sports bras). The store is at 2422 Park Road. For more info or to reserve a spot, call 704-358-0713.

Some of you may recall the piece I did in May on Sue Falco, the colorectal cancer survivor who is trying to establish a Get Your Rear in Gear race in Charlotte (there are already events in several other U.S. cities, including Raleigh). Well, after a few months, she and her race committee have come up with a sponsor and an agreement with Queen City Timing ... but they now need an experienced race director. If you are one (or know of one), please contact her at sue.falco@yahoo.com.

Jason Ackiss, the visually impaired runner who I profiled last week, sent me a brief e-mail Monday following up on his Hit the Brixx experience Saturday: "50:13 was my time, which was an 8:08 average. That last hill got me. I pulled my hamstring over the summer, so only trained for this race about six or seven weeks. We didn’t get hardly any hill workouts in preparation for this, and it showed. All in all, not bad. I am pleased with my results."