Up for a long venture in the woods this Saturday? At a fast pace, a really fast pace?

Looking for a 5K? How about Run the Buck?

Marathon hike leader Rod Broadbelt reports that his schedule of really long monthly hikes — the hikes aren't quite that long; he conducts them monthly — at Umstead State Park is such. (Note: all hikes depart at 8 a.m. from the Umstead parking lot off Harrison Avenue and I-40. )

Saturday: "Wilderness Hike," a 10-mile, mostly off-trail hike. A return by 1:15 p.m.is expected. Cautions Rod: "Wear sturdy footwear and long pants as we will have steep and slippery banks down and up, fallen trees to get over, under or around and maybe some briers."

April 4: Carter-Finley Stadium Hike, 13.5 miles.

May 2: Umstead to Lake Crabtree mountain biking trails and back to Umstead, 14 miles.

June 6: Approximately 12 miles, no off-trail.

Questions? Email Rod at rbroadbelt@nc.rr.com or call 363-6611before 7 p.m.

Shop for girls running, yoga by the seat of your pants

If you dare to Run 'N Plunge on Saturday, a few more things you should be aware of. One, there will be several local celebrities on hand. Mr. Wuf's people confirm that he will be in attendance. Ditto Swoops and Muddy the Mudcat . And, N.C. State football coach Tom O'Brien will be there to judge costumes, and N.C. State Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Tom Stafford will be on hand to offer moral support.

Perhaps of more greater interest to you plungers in the crowd, Special Olympics of North Carolina, beneficiary from the R'nP, tested the water at Lake Raleigh on Monday.

It's 45 degrees.

Lake Raleigh was perfect for kayaking last Saturday — but swimming?

Hour-long class should help make your ride glide.

First ride under the lights is Friday.

Great Ceasar's ghost, is it time again for the Great Backyard Bird Count? Indeed it is. This exercise in citizen science begins today and runs through Sunday. You can get full details here, but basically you stake out your own backyard for a minimum of 15 minutes on one or more of the days in question and record the birds that come your way. You then submit your findings to the GBBC people at the Cornell Lab of Orniuthology and they'll use them to track trends in the bird population. A good activity to do with the kids.

Again, go here for details.

... with you, of course. Hiking: it's the perfect way to express
yourself to that someone special that doesn't involve flowers or a
heart-shaped box of chocolates or dinner at a really expensive
restaurant. Not that this has anything to do with money. But if you are
looking for such an alternative, here are three options all of which
involve getting laced up to show your sweetie a good time.

So you do marathons and triathlons and 24-hour mountain bike rides and think you're pretty tough, eh? But are you this tough?