As sure as the return of red robins herald spring, the resurgence of Carolina blue pennants, along with matching suitcases and garment bags strewn hastily about the sidewalks of campus, tell that most of the long days of summer are now behind us. Parking spaces disappear quicker, as do the hours of sunlight.

As days descend toward that cataclysmic clash with the Autumnal Equinox, the story is the same every fall for the physically active: More to do ... less time to do it.

In an attempt to help local recreation enthusiasts get ahead of the curve, here then are a few of the local activity options for the fall calendars.


9/3 is key
Youth basketball signups for all Carrboro residents will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 8:30 a.m., according to Carrboro recreation supervisor Charles Harrington, with sign-ups for all other Orange County Residents beginning at 8:30 a.m. the following day.

Drop-in volleyball at Culbreth starts Sept. 2, Harrington said, and it continues 7-10 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. It costs just $3 per person. Anyone under 16 has to be accompanied by an adult.

Harrington encouraged those interested to visit the "Recreation" link at the Carrboro Web site for a complete list of programs, including an annual favorite on Sept. 7 -- the free NFL Punt, Pass & Kick Competition.

"We'll be taking registrations up through Sept. 5," Harrington said.

The venerable skills competition allows both male and female participants 8 to 15 years old (as of Dec. 31) to showcase their football talents, with scores based on distance and accuracy. The top finishers of each age group will advance to a section competition, and the top five scorers there will advance to the championship held at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers.


Hoop dreams
Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation athletics supervisor Bernard Leach noted his agency's basketball sign-ups have begun. Registration information will be available at traditional locations and at the CHP&R Web site. The first two weeks of registration are for Orange County residents only.

Additionally, though youth football has begun, Leach insisted that there's still room on one team.

"We could still use players in our 11-12 age group," he said.


Runners-up
Registration for the fall's top major multi-sport event --- the ladies-only Ramblin' Rose Triathlon -- already had reached capacity. But many other options remain open for local runners.

The 2008 Run for the Kids will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, beginning at 9 a.m. on the UNC cross-country course, coordinated by the UNC track-and-field team. The event includes a 5K and one-mile Family Fun Run on the trails off Old Mason Farm Road (next to Finley golf course) in Chapel Hill. Registration, information and course maps are online at www.childrensfundnc.org/funrun/chapelhill.html. Information also can be found in person Sept. 5 at Fleet Feet Sports in Carrboro. Entry fees are $25, but kids 12 and under can participate free in the one-mile run or walk with a registered adult.

Orange Chapel United Methodist Church is holding its first Run to the Cross 5K road race and one-mile fun run, also on Sept. 6, at 8 a.m. The race site is at the church, located at 1634 Clover Garden Road, located between N.C. 54 and the Old Greensboro Road in southwestern Chapel Hill.

Next up in Chapel Hill is the second event in Cardinal Track Club's Tour de Carrboro race series, the Carrboro 10K on Saturday, Oct. 4. The race begins at McDougle Middle School and provides the opportunity to run through the tree-lined neighborhoods of Carrboro. For more information, visit the Cardinal Web site at www.cardinaltrack.com. There will be events for children requiring no pre-registration.

Later in October, it's the beloved Pumpkin Trail Run on Oct. 25. The 4K trail run rolls through the Carolina North property just north of Horace Williams Airport. Registration and further information is available at the Pumpkin Run Web site: http://pumpkin.runningland.com.

The Gallop and Gorge caps another year of Tour de Carrboro racing on Nov. 27, Thanksgiving morning, at 8 a.m., starting at the Fleet Feet store at Carrboro Mall. The five-miler has been a Thanksgiving tradition for the local running community and their extended families for well over a decade.

The local race schedule comes to a close for the fall with the Southern Village 5K and Family Fun Run on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. (See www.sv5k.com for information.)


Take your mark...
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Pacers Youth Running Club will start its fall cross-country program on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The cross-country program will be led this fall by Meredith Bolon, who will be ably assisted by numerous familiar names and longtime volunteers. The Pacers fall program offers running for boys and girls aged 7-18 with an emphasis on participation and fun. Tuesday and Thursday one-hour practices will begin at 4:30 p.m.

In addition to training for local road and trail races, seasonal highlights traditionally include fun events like scavenger hunt runs and a camping-training excursion to Stone Mountain. Advanced training will be geared toward runners preparing for USA Track and Field Junior Olympic competitions in November.

Online registration for the Fall Girls on the Run program begins Monday, Aug. 25 at 9 a.m. and ends on Friday, Sept. 5 at 5 p.m.


The Y's move
Basketball registration at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA begins Sept. 22 for members, with open registration beginning on Oct. 6. The deadline will be Nov. 10, or sooner if registration limits are reached.

Registration for the YMCA swim team began this week for YMCA members, and open registration begins Aug. 26. The swim team will begin practicing in September.

The YMCA's Pittsboro branch facility celebrates its third anniversary on Friday, Aug. 24. Its new Woods Charter School After School Program costs $11 per day for members, $12 per day for others. For information, contact Bruce Murray or Jennifer Sipe at 545-9622.


Make hay while ...
So, put away the pencils, and point and click your schedule into place for the fall, now, while the time is right and daylight persists. Don't let the sun go down on your autumn plans.