THE SHOALS LIFE: July 23 / Saturday, 8 a.m. / Handy Fest Da Doo Run Run

One of our favorite events of Handy Week begins early Saturday morning from the Handy museum on College Street near Coffee Hospital. It’s called the Da Do Run Run. It’s a 5K run (3.1 miles) from the Handy birthplace, it winds through the downtown, and along the scenic (and shaded!) historic neighborhoods near the University of North Alabama. The race goes right by our house on Wood Avenue as it turns back for the final mile-and-a-half to the finish. When my husband and sons aren’t in the race, we hand out water to the runners and set up a sprinkler for any who want to cool down under it. For kids of every age there’s a 1-mile fun run/walk afterward. For more information, contact race director Brad Lynch at (256) 324-1595. If you’re new to the Shoals area or soon to relocate, there is a thriving running community here. Check out the Tennessee River Athletic Club (TRAC) web site for all the upcoming races and how you can participate. www.shoalstrac.com