Run, ride, hike or Trikke in the New Year!

Rise! RISE! from the couch on New Year's Day and welcome 2009 as your most active year ever with one of the 11 events listed below! A multitude of options awaits, on foot or on wheels. A rundown of everything I know about that's going on tomorrow, New Year's Day, Jan. 1, follows. Events are free unless otherwise indicated.

Cyclists start a New Year's past on The Spin Cycle's annual Jan. 1 37-miler.

RUN

8th annual Resolution Run, NCSU's Centennial Campus, Raleigh, 9 a.m. Despite its ungodly early hour, the Resolution Run has become popular in its seven-year history, with well over 250 entrants last year. It's considered a fun run, not competitive, and includes a quarter-mile dash for kids. Details: $20, registration begins at 8 a.m.

Carolina Godiva Track Club's New Year's Day Run, Durham, 1 p.m. This foot-friendly run covers 8K on the natural surface trails of Duke Forest. Did I say 8K? The course is actually just short of an 8K (which is 5 miles) -- it's 4.97 miles. Race commences from the Duke School for Children, 3716 Old Erwin Road, Durham. $5.

RIDE

Down East Cycling Club New Year's Day Ride, Jacksonville, 8 a.m. Who would get up on New Year's Day for an 8 a.m. bike ride? The Marines, that's who! They make up a goodly number of the Down East Cycling Club and they'll be welcoming 2009 on a pair of rides: a 25-mile ride or a 38-miler, both of which begin at the Golden Corral (NC 24 at Piney Green Road) in Jacksonville. Both take inland, relatively traffic-free routes to get to Swansboro, where breakfast will be had before the return to Jacksonville. If you're looking for a good, consistent, strong ride — I did a Memorial Day century with the club a few years back and they were great to ride with — this is your ride.

16th annual New Year's Day Ride, Cary, 10 a.m. This began as a sleepy slog through western Wake County among a few friends, a way to shake off the countdown cobwebs from the night before and record some Day One miles. It has grown to a sleepy slog through western Wake County among several hundred friends. It's a 37-miler that advises: "Check your ego at the door and let's have a safe, steady spin." Pace? "Hangover recovery." Details: Just show up at The Spin Cycle, on Kildaire Farm Road just north of Cary Parkway, a little before 10. 460-9373.

Road Dogs 100K, Falls Lake and points north, 10 a.m. Covet your ego and can't check it at the door? Then this 100K (62 miles) ride is for you. Pace is 19-20 mph; the Road Dogs motto: "We only drop our friends." You've been warned.

Western Wake Greenway Ride, Cary, 11 a.m. Prefer not to ride so much in traffic (and not so fast, either) but still want to get some miles in on the bike? Nearly half of this ride is off-road on the White Oak Greenway and the American Tobacco Trail. Details: Meet at the White Oak Church trailhead to the ATT, 1305 White Oak Church Road. Go to the Carolina Tarwheels website and click on "Calendar" for details.

HIKE

First Hike of 2009 @ Lake Crabtree County Park, Triangle Hiking and Outdoors Group, Morrisville, 9 a.m. Join this popular meetup.com group — 2,361 members as of 8:30 this morning — for a hike around Lake Crabtree. Details are evolving; check here for the latest.

Sierra Club hike at Umstead State Park, Raleigh, 12:45 p.m. If you're not into crowds and shy away from the Eno River New Year's Day hike (see below), this more intimate hike is planned by the Capital Group segment of the Sierra Club's state chapter. Details: 954-1442 or e-mail robert747@netzero.net.

Morgan Creek Hike, Triangle Hiking and Outdoors Group, Chapel Hill, 1 p.m. Sponsored by a local meetup.com group, Triangle Hiking and Outdoors Group, this hike is limited to two-legged adults, no dogs or kids, please. The hike departs from the "parking lot right across the street from Merritts Store & Grill," follows Morgan Creek to the N.C. Botanical Garden, then heads back. It's advertised as covering 7 to 8 miles in about 3 hours. You must belong to THOG, which is as easy as going here, and you must sign up in advance, by going here.

Ron Drago's 6th Annual New Year's Day Hike at Umstead State Park, Raleigh, 1:30 p.m.. This hike consists of three loops, all returning to about the same spot, creating a baby bear/momma bear/pappa bear effect. Meet in the parking lot at the far end of the entrance to Umstead off Glenwood Avenue/U.S. 70 between Ebenezer Church Road and I-540. The first loop: a 2.8-mile hike on Sal's Branch Trail. Then, if you choose, you can do a loop on the Oak Rock Trail and finally on the Potts Branch Trail, for a total distance of 5 miles. It's free, bring water and any snackage you require.

Eno River Association New Year's Day Hike, Durham, 2 p.m. This is the granddaddy of New Year's Day hiking events, with 500 people or more showing to hike in the new on this popular local waterway. There's a 2-mile option and a 4- to 5-miler, both of which start at the picnic shelter, both of which end at the shelter, with hot refreshments. It's free, but donations (insert big puppy eyes here) to the Eno River Association and its ongoing effort to preserve land along the Eno are welcome. Hikes are in the Fews Ford Access, which is where Cole Mill Road peters out after traveling north for nearly six miles from Interstate 85.

TRIKKE

American Tobacco Trail New Year's Resolution Ride, Durham, 1 p.m. Own a Trikke? Wondering what the heck a Trikke is? If it's the latter, go here, if it's the former, then haul your three-wheel carving vehicle to the Southpoints Crossing Shopping Center on NC 54 near Fayetteville Road for a ride on the paved portion of the ATT to downtown Durham. Ride leads from over near the Blockbuster.