The Hong Kong Marathon is one of Asia's top distance runs. Held in February every year, the Hong Kong Marathon next year is going to be even more popular than normal because it's the 150th anniversary of Standard Chartered Bank being in Hong Kong. Standard Chartered sponsors the event. In 2009, to celebrate this important anniversary, they're increasing the prize money for the full marathon to U.S. $100,000. What this means is runners from all over the world, who might not necessarily run in the HK Marathon, will be running in the race. In fact, it's so popular that entries for all the categories of the marathon (the 10K runs and the half marathon) are already completely full. Entries for the full marathon are also nearing overflow, so if you haven't signed up already and you'll be in Hong Kong in February, now is the time to do it.

Besides the prize money, though, what makes Hong Kong Marathon events so special is the location of the run. The 10K, the half marathon and the full marathon actually begin at different starting lines in Hong Kong, but they all finish in the same place - beautiful Victoria Park at Causeway Bay. Hong Kong has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Just imagine running alongside the causeway and overlooking the water and the skyline. There are also around 45,000 people that participate in the event, and all those people, together with the scenery, really will give you a feeling of being involved in something special.

The Hong Kong Marathon is also part of the Greatest Race on Earth, a competition where competitors don their running shoes in four different marathons worldwide (Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai and Hong Kong) for a total of more than $1 million in prize money.

Food banks are always really important organizations but are even more important in the present economic climate in the U.S. Many people, who normally don't need free food, are going to be heading to food banks all over the country this year just so they're able to feed their families. That's also why this year's 2009 Atlanta Hunger Walk/Run 5K and 10K on March 1, is going to be even more relevant than normal. It benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB), and last year, it raised more than $300,000. That money went to help hundreds of non-profits all over Georgia.

Atlanta's Community Food Bank (ACFB) is one of the nation's largest food banks. Atlanta itself has almost 15% of its population living in poverty (higher than the national average) and many of them need help with basic necessities. The ACFB distributes more than 20 million pounds of food every year to childcare centers, community kitchens, night shelters and to senior citizens. Many of these populations would go to bed hungry every night if it wasn't for the ACFB.

The Atlanta Hunger Walk/Run 5K and 10K isn't just about hunger and poverty relief though, it's also about fun. Thousands of people from all walks of life join together to walk or run one of these races, and in turn, make money for a worthy cause. The route of the run also winds through the city's historic downtown. Along the way, you'll be able to enjoy musicians and other entertainers, who really get into the mood of the occasion. Unlike most other walk/runs, the Atlanta Hunger Walk/Run starts late in the day. The 10K race begins at 1 p.m. with the 5K Fun Run/Walk at 2:30 p.m. As 10ks go, it's actually a pretty short event, as registration starts at noon and everything is finished by 4 p.m.

If you're looking for a fun thing to do on March 1, 2009, head out to Turner Park in Atlanta and sign up for the Atlanta Hunger Walk/Run. It's only a $25 registration fee, and for that, you'll even get a cool t-shirt. And after running the race, you can eat to your heart's content from the many food stalls that will be there, as well as enjoy carnival games and even a space walk, all while helping some of Atlanta's poorest of the poor.

It started with a desire to press out a pair of pants and ended with a lesson on foot care. How? I dropped the portable ironing board I was carrying on my big toe and split it in half. Luckily, my injury didn't require stitches, but as a nurse patched me up, she handed me a booklet on shoes. After reading it, I realized the importance of proper shoe attire especially in regards to running.

Running shoes can greatly affect your ability to perform. Why? A good pair of running shoes can reduce the risk of injury while extending the life of your feet, ankles and shins. So, it's important to know what to look for in a pair. Here's how to do it.

Look for a pair of running shoes at a store or website with a large selection. It will increase your chances of finding a pair that is in your size. Select three pairs of running shoes in your size that fit your taste. Don't worry about brand name or price. Check out the flexibility of the toe in each pair of running shoes. It should be able to bend, which will allow your feet to move freely.

When you put each pair of running shoes on, jump up and down. Which pair of running shoes absorbs the shock of your weight the best? Run up and down the shoe aisle. (Be sure to run on uncarpeted flooring.) Does your heel slip out from the back? Are your toes comfortable?

Elect to buy the pair of running shoes out of the three that marks highest in flexibility, shock absorbance, fit and comfort.

If you follow this process when you purchase a pair of running shoes, you will find the one that is best for you. You will also learn that Adidas, Nike and other popular brands have variations in them that might make your feet hurt. Therefore, you can't just pick a pair of running shoes because it's popular. Plus, you wouldn't want to select one in this way anyhow. After all, you're a runner - not a high school student.

I lived in California for more than five years and must admit it's still my favorite state. For enjoying the great outdoors, you can't beat California. When it comes to 5K and 10K races, California also has some of the best. The Human Race of Silicon Valley in California is a really fun 10K and 5K race, which this year is in its 16th year. I'm a huge charity nut, so one thing I love about the Human Race is that it's all about raising money for nonprofit organizations. Last year, The Human Race raised $400,000 through a pledge system - runners asked people to pledge to pay a certain amount of money for every kilometer they ran. One hundred and fifty nonprofit organizations could do their work just a little bit better because of the generosity of people and the stamina of the runners in The Human Race 5K and 10Ks.

The Human Race in Silicon Valley has four fun runs - a 10K and 5k run, a 5K pledge run and, the most fun of all, a 5K Dog Walk. It's such a relaxed environment, too. You can bring your kids, strollers, skateboards, rollerblades and even scooters, so you don't actually have to run the course if you don't want to. And don't worry about wiping out if you hit a dog, because dogs have their own race course (with their owners too, of course)!

Another fun thing about The Human Race of Silicon Valley is the number of teams that sign up. In past years there have been Vietnamese youth teams walking, Santa Clara employee groups, animal rights teams, wheelchair teams, music and art association teams and tons more. If you think you can get a team together for The Human Race, do it. It is more fun, and you'll end up motivating each other to finish. Plus, at the end you'll get pizza. Now that's enough incentive for me.

This year's The Human Race is on Sunday May 9 with runs starting between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. The races are run in Mountain View, California, and entrance fees are between $10 and $35, depending on age. Children under 12 are free if they walk or run with a paying adult, so a family of four can do the whole run for the price of two adult registrations.

Isn't it funny that the only time certain cities ever make the national news is when something goes wrong? Birmingham, Alabama, appears to be one of them. The only time you hear about it is when there is a scandal. Yet, this city has evolved throughout the years. It's now an integrated, prosperous area that hosts a fun marathon.

The Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Marathon is held in Birmingham during February. Just like the vehicle it's named after, the Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Marathon is a class act. Besides being well organized, it features a few crowd pleasers like a kids' marathon, relay and half marathon. To add to this, the goody bag for participating runners is well stocked with desirable items. What is the catch? The only challenge you'll have with this race is its course.

The course of the Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Marathon is held in all of the usual places. It's strewn across the downtown area giving you a chance to see the highlights of the city. The only problem is that it's really hilly. So, if you aren't used to running up and down hills, you will struggle throughout this marathon. However, don't despair. Just buy a cushy pair of Nikes and stop by several of the drinking stations. These two things will help you finish this marathon. After it's all over, stop off to a local restaurant for a traditional southern meal and visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

So, does the Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Marathon sound right for you? If your answer is yes, register. You still have time. Just visit their official website at www.mercedesmarathon.com for more information.

After having a few episodes of crippling pain that knocked me to my knees, I was diagnosed with gallstones. I was in my late 20's, relatively healthy and active. Yet, after having my surgery, it took me around six months to fully recuperate and feel like my old self. For this reason, I was surprised to find out that the only American female to hold the record for the 800 to 10,000 meter race, Mary Slaney, had over 18 surgeries during her career.

Mary Slaney, a slight brunette, was a popular athlete in the 1980s. From a kidney infection to chronic foot pain, she experienced a lot of ailments throughout her running career. Many of them led to surgery, which ended up causing her down time. For many people, these ailments coupled with surgeries would have caused them to hang up their Adidas. However, Slaney learned to take each episode with stride and continue on. This attitude earned her great success. Here's a laundry list of her accomplishments:

Records Held
American Record: 800 m - 1:56.90 (August 16, 1985 - )
American Record: 1,500 m - 3:57.12 (July 26, 1983 - )
American Record: 1 mi. - 4:16.71 (August 21, 1985 - )
American Record: 3,000 m - 8:25.83 (September 7, 1985 - )
American Record: 5,000 m - 15:06.53 (June 1, 1985 - )
American Record: 10,000 m - 31:35.30 (July 16, 1982 - )

Championships
1988 Olympics: 1,500 m (8th)
1988 Olympics: 3,000 m (10th)
1983 World Outdoors: 1,500 m (1st)
1983 World Outdoors: 3,000 m (1st)

Because of her long-suffering and undying fortitude, Mary Slaney was able to compete in races well into her late 30's. Today, she is retired. However, her legacy lives on. She was the little engine that could and did, regardless of the pain in her body.

Are you willing to bet on yourself? This question is one I've asked myself throughout the years. It started when I was age 10 and decided to jump across a wide, slippery ditch. Call me crazy, but a part of me just knew I could make it to the other side even though I'd never jumped it before. Guess what? I made it! It was an exhilarating feeling that led me to push myself to do other challenging things in life. Of course, all of them didn't work out perfectly, but the fact that I was able to take risks helped me learn to trust myself. It is a feeling that I've had to rely on in order to make some of the most important transitions in life that would normally seem out of reach for me. For this reason, I was really happy to hear about a renowned runner who'd done the same: Mensen Ernst.

Mensen Ernst was a Norwegian marathon runner who was popular in the 1800s. Considered to be one of the world's first professional athletes, he traveled the world betting against himself. From Europe to Africa, he ran to beat his own times. What was his most spectacular feat? Ernst ran from Paris to Moscow in 14 days. It was unheard of in his day and set a precedence for future runners.

In 1843, Mensen Ernst died on a quest to find the source of the Nile River. However, his passing wasn't sorrowful. For most of his life, Ernst had bet on himself and it led him on an exciting lifelong adventure. As a result, his life became a testimony to anyone who wanted to achieve great things. He showed the world that if you bet on yourself, you win. Use this lesson for yourself and make the upcoming year your best one. Believe in your abilities to make the necessary changes in your life to be happy and win in 2009.