Those who know Liane Harsh of Inner Banks Outfitters may be surprised to know she’s turning 50 years old on Aug. 27. She regularly hits the Beaufort County roads for long bicycle excursions and spends mornings on the Pamlico River doing paddleboarding or kayaking.

She says her vision is one of the only reminders of her age. She attributes her excellent health to her active lifestyle, which is exactly why she plans on spending her birthday doing a “50 for 50.”

It’s not unlike many other days for Harsh. Next Saturday, she and her friends will be biking 50 miles from Washington out to Bath and back. Harsh has friends making the trek from as far as Charlotte to take part in the festivities. Vail Stewart Rumley is also trying to assemble 50 folks to take over the river for SUP yoga.

“I really believe in physical activity. Yeah, we’re going to celebrate my birthday, but we’re going to do stuff that’s good for us,” Harsh said. “It’s how I live my life. It’s perfect.”

The idea is something that was attempted last year for a friend’s 50th birthday. Harsh said they only rode 25 miles, but that she wants to go the full 50 this time around.

“We’re trying to make it a tradition for anyone who turns 50,” Harsh said. “People look forward to it. When you ride a road bike 50 miles, it’s far but it isn’t ridiculous. We just came back from a mountain ride and we rode 74 miles one day and 56 the next.”

After the bicycle ride, Harsh and her friends will return to Inner Banks Outfitters for a small get-together.

“The party is going to be right here in my world,” she said.

Harsh said that any cyclists, paddleboarders or yoga enthusiasts interested in taking part in the celebration can call Inner Banks Outfitters at 252-975-3006.

Rumley has spearheaded organizing the yoga event. She has recently teamed up with Inner Banks Outfitters by working as an instructor for paddleboard yoga on Saturday mornings.

“Vail is an amazing instructor,” Harsh said. “She’s a new addition to our team. It’s great to have her on board. She has a good presence, plus she’s an amazing yoga instructor. I feel like she deserves some credit.”

The “50 for 50” festivities begin with yoga next Saturday morning at 8 a.m. before the group of cyclists hit the roads for the 50-mile adventure.