Are you ready for another mountain top experience? For my sake, I hope your answer is "yes." Why? Once again, I have details about another marathon that revolves around a mountain. To me, it's starting to feel like a conspiracy, or that people just LOVE to run over hills and through valleys. Either way, the Lake District Mountain Marathon is par for the course.

The Lake District Mountain Marathon is located in the UK. This marathon has a lot of history. Not only is it a 40-year-old run, it also is known for being treacherous. Yes, this marathon is not for dainty runners. So put your tutus away and throw on a pair of hiking boots or cleats that can do double duty as running shoes. The Lake District Mountain Marathon is full of brush known to scratch one's legs and rough paths designed to create blisters on your feet and hands. In other words, you have to be able to deal with rough terrain, and the great outdoors, in order to run it. Even if you take a compass, areas of this marathon lack visibility, so it may not do you any good. What is the benefit of running this particular race? Surviving it.

Runners who make it through the Lake District Mountain Marathon feel as if they can survive anything. It's a feeling of pride that comes after doing something that 75 percent of the people you know can't or won't do. I believe this is the key motivation for people who decide to face off with the Lake District Mountain Marathon. They want to prove to themselves and the world how strong they are mentally and physically.

Are you interested in running a challenging race? If so, sign up for the next run. It won't be until next year, which will give you plenty of time to practice. Start by going to an abandoned lot full of brush and mire. Then run through it for a couple of hours. It just might be enough to help you get ready for the opening day of the Lake District Mountain Marathon.

Remember how flamboyant American runners were in the 80's? Carl Lewis sported trendy hair, tight shorts and sung in his own music video. Florence Joyner Griffith modeled, wore a Diana Ross weave and had manicured nails so long that they could easily cut a man's throat. No wonder Canadian runner Ben Johnson felt a need to get into trouble. It was probably the only way he could compete against his fellow athletes.

For those of you who don't know, Ben Johnson is Canada's most infamous runner. What did he do wrong? He got caught on numerous occasions using doping substances (steroids) to build up his speed and endurance as a runner. This fact was particularly hurtful after he broke a world record in 1988 only to have it stripped away a few days later. He went from being called "Benfastic" by the Toronto Star to being a national disgrace. Fast forward 10 years, his behavior was still under question for doping and a working relationship with Libyan leader Muammar Al-Gaddafi. Basically, he coached his son, which later led to him being robbed of all of his earnings. Sounds like a lot of trouble, huh? Well Ben Johnson's life has been full of it. Yet, in many ways, he still is a winner.

Ben Johnson is like the little engine that could. No matter what life throws his way (or he causes doing bad stuff), he keeps on trucking. What has he been up to lately? Johnson is now penning his memoirs. That's right! His book, "Seoul to Soul," is a tell-all about his life as a track star. We will get his version of the doping incidents and the use of steroids in the athletic world of running. So let's just say that this man is not down and out for the count. He's not going to fade into obscurity like so many people do who have very public failures. Johnson is going to continue to reach for the stars and flaunt the covers of every Canadian tabloid magazine.

A few years ago, I drove across the country and ended up in Charleston, West Virginia, on my way to my parents' house in North Carolina. I hadn't been to Charleston before and was blown away by the prettiness of the town and the friendliness of the people. If it wasn't for the incredible heat and humidity, I could live in Charleston in a second. Charleston is also the home of the Charleston Distance Run, which at 15 miles in length is the longest run in the state. The event also has a 5K and a 10K run, for those of you who can't imagine running 15 miles.

The Charleston Distance Run has been going on for more than 35 years and is very popular, with more than 1,000 people lacing up their running shoes and joining in. The course starts out through downtown, where you can ogle the gorgeous colonial buildings (I'm so in love with Charleston's buildings!) and see some of Charleston's amazing history. It continues along the waterfront and even into one of the local cemeteries, so watch out for the ghosts!

The course is quite hilly in parts, although most of the hills are at the beginning of the run. Also, like always in Charleston, it'll probably be hot and humid so don't forget to keep hydrated. Keep up a steady pace though and you shouldn't find this run too difficult. The only thing to warn about is to watch traffic around by Pennsylvania Avenue, because it can be busy. There will be staff to help out, but they can't watch every person and every car, so make sure you know what's happening and you'll have no problems.

The Charleston Distance Run coincides with the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, so this really is all weekend kind of an event. The regatta features tons of boats (obviously!), a huge carnival and hot air balloons that take off at night and glow as they rise into the air. And because this all takes place in the south, there's the usual mounds of food and drink, all served up with the typical southern hospitality and smiles. The Charleston Distance Run is going to be my excuse to visit Charleston again soon - not that I really need one, of course.

When I was in middle school, I used to sit next to a girl who had one leg that was shorter than her other. When we both tried out for the basketball team, I didn't think she'd have a chance. Wrong! On the day of the tryouts, she surprised everyone with her dribbling and shooting skills. It was my first lesson in not judging a book by its cover. My second lesson came when I saw the movie about runner Wilma Rudolph.

Wilma Glodean Rudolph was the 20th child of 22. A Tennessee native, she suffered from several illnesses: scarlet fever, pneumonia and polio. These illnesses led to the crippling of one of her legs. Sadly, for the first 9 years of her life, Wilma's days were dim. Yet one day, her circumstances changed. She got a leg brace. What happened next? She turned into one of the world's greatest runners.

After getting a device to strengthen her leg, Wilma Rudolph turned into a runner. By age 12, she was the fastest runner in her school. By age 16, she participated in her first Olympics and won the bronze medal in the 4 x100 meter. By the 1960s, Rudolph was the first woman to receive three gold medals. Shortly afterward she retired. It was the height of her career.

Wilma Rudolph's life truly exemplifies a book that started off sorrowful but ended with joy. I guess you can never look at a person's circumstances and say what they will do in life - not even your own.

Remember all of those old movies centered on the Mojave Desert? Man gets lost in hot Mojave Desert. Vacationing family's car breaks down in a Mojave Desert storm. Five men searching for lost treasure out in the Mojave Desert succumb to the burning sun - only one rises to victory. These story lines are what put the Mojave Desert on the map. Yet they are also the ones that make people leery about visiting it. For this reason, I was surprised to find out that a marathon was focused around the Mojave.

The Valley of Fire Marathon is set in the Mojave Desert. And guess what? Unlike what we've seen in the movies, the temperatures are mild. They range from the mid- to high-60s during the day and drop into the 40s at night. So weather isn't an issue for this marathon. You can wear your regular shorts, tank and shoes with a little SPF on your nose. What is an issue is all of the fun you'll have running it. People come from all around to tackle the Valley of Fire Marathon. They do it because of the pre-run spaghetti dinner, challenging trek and prizes. It's these things that make people forget that the Mojave Desert has a reputation for sucking the life out of people.

So, are you ready for a run in the desert? If so, you should sign up for the Valley of Fire Marathon at www.valleyoffiremarathon.com. You still have time to register. The next upcoming race is on November 22, 2008 - just a few days prior to Thanksgiving. Bring your camera to the event. It'll give you something to talk about with the relatives over your turkey dinner.

You could say I'm a Peacenik because I love peace and all symbols of peace. What better symbol of peace than the *UNA Run for Peace 5K and 10K runs*? These events are awesome. Of course, the UNA Run for Peace is in Berkeley, California. It almost has to be, as Berkeley is known nationwide as a place where its citizens believe peace solves most problems.

This year's UNA Run for Peace was the 10th Annual race. Every year, bay area groups are chosen to be beneficiaries of the race. If you enter the race, you choose which group you want to support and make a 'Pledge for Peace.' All the money you raise on race day will be donated to the group you support. This year, groups included the ACLU, California Peace Action, Bears for UNICEF, the nuclear disarmament group Tri-Valley CARES and Western States Legal Foundation, to name just a few. The goal in 2008 was to raise $20,000 for area groups.

It's actually a really small race. You won't feel lost. It starts at Cesar Chavez Park and goes around Berkeley Marina, which is beautiful! While you're running, you can also see the Golden Gate Bridge. How much cooler could it be?

If you like a challenge and want to raise a lot of money, aim to be their top fundraiser. In 2008, the top fundraisers received free entry into the race and free dinner at a very nice San Francisco restaurant. If you're not too bothered about free race entry, the cost is usually $18 online and $25 the day of the race. There is also food, drink and music after the race to look forward to.

For more information about next year's race, visit the UNA Race for Peace Web site at http://www.run4peace.org/index.html. It's one of the most important causes on the planet. How could you possibly miss it?

The Sunburst Races in South Bend, Indiana have something for all the family - a marathon, a half marathon, a 10K, a 5K and a family walk - seriously, they have everything. More than 2,000 runners and walkers participate in all of the races, so they have everybody, too!

The Sunburst Races are held every year. In 2009, it will be their 26th year. They start every year's events with the Friday Night Family Walk. Like it says, it's a walk for the whole family (baby strollers and baby joggers welcome), and everybody who participates gets a Family Walk t-shirt. This is one of the few walks left in the country that still allows headphones, but organizers caution participants to be careful as they really don't want to scrape you up off the street later! (BTW, headphones are not allowed on the marathon or half marathon.)

On Saturday, the more serious events begin. The marathon starts at the College Football Hall of Fame (Notre Dame, of course) and is run on a pretty flat course with only one half-mile incline and a couple of minor hills.

The half marathon follows the marathon's first three miles but then veers off into Keller Park, finishing the race back on the marathon's course and on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. And participants in both races get cool t-shirts. The 5K, 10K and the fitness walk all start between 7:15 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Sunburst does a great job with services too. There are tons of water stations, Gatorade fluid replacement stations, energy gel is available on the course, and they even hand out bananas for that all-important potassium. But the best bit of all: there is massage therapy provided at the finish line by massage therapy students from Davenport University. I'd throw on my running shoes and run in any marathon if I had massage therapy to look forward to at the end of it.

The Sunburst Races also has awesome finish line food (last year provided by Meijer supermarkets,) and there was everything!

I really like the Sunburst Races. Indiana is one of the prettiest American states, I think, with its rolling hills, green fields and clear blue skies. When these races start early in the morning, you really feel like you're running in nature, so it's worth running one just so you can feel that. Right?

Do love you a good mystery? Me too. For years, I've had an affair with detective shows. It started off with Columbo and is continuing on through Monk. (There's something about a dark-haired, flawed man who's smarter than the average Joe that I find appealing.) When I heard about the Mystery Mountain Marathon, I was intrigued. I thought this marathon must involve runners solving a crime or answering a question, but I was wrong. The only mystery in this marathon has to do with its course.

The course of Mystery Mountain Marathon is not for the faint of heart. The course includes technical trails, extended climbs, bears and narrow footing. If you've never run a marathon, don't start with this one. Only seasoned runners should tackle it and only with special gear like gloves, in case they fall or have to grab on to something. What isn't a mystery about this marathon? This marathon includes the usual prizes, charities and diverse runners. (You know, the stuff we love.) In this respect, it's like every other fun run.

Does Mystery Mountain Marathon sound like it's for you? If so, you still have a chance to participate in it. The Mystery Mountain Marathon happens on November 2.