That 5K run you were going to do, the intrepid canoe trip you promised the family, that beach vacation with an invigorating open water swim? They all sounded like great adventures on the cusp of Memorial Day.

Before you take a submissive "Maybe next year ... " attitude, there may still be time to salvage your summer, to save face once the gang reconvenes around the water cooler after Labor Day. Between now and Sept. 1, over the next 12 days, there's time for redemption.

Granted, if your goal was to lose 20 pounds over the summer, we can't help you. But if you vowed to have an active adventure or challenge, then you have no excuse: There's plenty of time.

You may have to drive some (all are easily doable in a day). But that's a small price to pay for redemption.

1. Run a race.

May was a trying month, with everyone talking about training for the Komen Run or how they did in the Great Raleigh Road Race. Be part of the conversation next time around by hopping in the car NOW and driving to Morehead City for today's final race in the Carteret County Parks & Recreation 2008 Beach Run Series (www.ccparksrec.com, 252-808-3749). Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., the race at 6:30. 10K and 5K options, and it's only $2 to run. Need more time to train? (Like today and Friday?) There's the EWE 5K Race Saturday in High Point (www.ywcahp.com/FundRace.htm, 336-882-4126) benefiting various programs at the High Point YWCA. $20, registration begins at 7 a.m.

2. Try a triathlon

Seasoned triathletes are no doubt thinking, "Ha! Try finding an event that's not full in the next 12 days." And understandably so; many triathlons fill within hours of registration opening. For some reason, though, there's room left for gals at Sunday's "Ramblin' Rose Women Only Sprint" triathlon in Winston-Salem. Check online for availability (www.endurancemag.com/ramblinrose).

Challenges include a 250-yard pool swim, a nine-mile bike ride and a two-mile run. The on-site registration fee is $75 (plus a $10 fee for non-registrants to USA Triathlon) The fun begins at 8 a.m.

For all: the eighth annual City of Lenoir Triathlon begins 8 a.m. Aug. 30 at the Lenoir Aquatic & Fitness Center (www.ci.lenoir.nc.us, 828-757-2196). Events include a 500-meter swim, a 20K bike course and a 5K run. The fee is $65, plus $10 for non-registrants to USAT.

3. Make a difference

Lots of people do spend a week at the beach. Lots of people -- including lots of the beach people -- also spend a week on a public service project, be it building a school in Honduras or doing a Habitat for Humanity project in the southern Appalachians.

Those could be hard to schedule over the next 12 days; in fact, you'd be hard-pressed to squeeze in an American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation, though there are openings for a project in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, Aug. 24-31 (www.americanhiking.org, 800-972-8608).

There are several local outdoors projects where you can still pitch in. Every Saturday, Triangle Rails to Trails does a workday on the American Tobacco Trail (www.triangletrails.org/VOLUNTEERS.HTM, 919-545-9104).

Once a month, the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail gather to extend the reach of the 900-plus-mile MST along Falls Lake. This month's workday is Saturday (www.ncmst.org, jdbrewer@bellsouth.net, 919-868-6274), starting at 9 a.m. at the end of Santee Road off N.C. 98 in Durham County.

If you're a mountain biker, the Triangle Off-Road Cyclists need trail-building help at the Briar Chapel development south of Chapel Hill. Meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Shop Quick Exxon on U.S. 15/501 between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro (www.torc-nc.org/calendar.shtml, 919-619-1335).

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