Remember when "The Secret" came out? For those of you who don't know, it was a book promoted about Oprah that encouraged people to use their thoughts and words to improve their life. Of course, it was a hit worldwide. Why? Intrinsically, everyone knows that how they think affects everything. This fact is especially true when it comes to running a marathon.

When you train for a marathon, your mind has to be just as strong as your body. If you don't believe me, check out the Zappos' blogs that talk about record-breaking runners. All of the great runners learn to overcome either personal or physical weaknesses in order to win. It's a part of life that no one can by pass. As a result, before your next marathon, you have to prep your mind.

You can prep your mind to help you run a marathon in two ways. One, you must visualize success. Two, you must tell yourself and others you can do run the full race. Start this process a few months prior to the actual marathon. Here's how to do it:

Imagine Success
Sit daily for a few minutes in a quiet place. See yourself running the course of the marathon and then see yourself crossing the finish yourself. Imagine yourself overcoming every obstacle that could get in your way like an aching knee, heat or weariness. Then imagine how you feel after accomplishing it.

Think and Talk like a Winner
When you talk about the marathon, let everyone and yourself know you will finish the course in record time. Think positively about it. Know that you can do it because of, or in spite of, past history. This type of mentality will keep you energized about the race.

So, are you ready to run the next marathon? I know your answer is "yes." Prep your mind and you'll be ready for the marathon.

If you like running, love adventure and enjoy the added bonus of getting wet, then the Springmaid Splash in Spruce Pine, NC, could definitely be for you. The Springmaid Splash is only a 10K race, but it's billed as an Xtreme Challenge, and there's a good reason why. You'll run through meadows and up hills, through rivers (several times!), along soft sand (gives those calves a workout!), and over rocks. At the end of it, you'll be pretty wet and completely exhausted but will have had an amazingly fun time. Plus, their logo is a dripping wet running shoe, so that has to tell you something, right?

The Springmaid Splash is named after Springmaid Mountain, which features prominently in the race. The 10K is known to runners as one of the toughest races out there, but it's also walk-able. So, if you really want to experience it but don't want to half kill yourself in the process, walking is perfectly acceptable, too.

There are actually two races - the 10K race and a 5K - both of which are run near the Springmaid Mountain Retreat, which is simply gorgeous. Picture rolling green hills, blue sky peaked with white clouds and fields dotted with curious horses and log cabins (where you can even stay if you like), and you'll think this place truly is heaven. There are also quite a few quaint bed and breakfasts, some hotels, cottages and cabins, so your accommodation options are endless.

You'll also see a lot of spectators at this race, especially around the river crossing areas, because it's great fun to see people getting wet (and cooled off!). They'll cheer you along too, even though they'll be secretly hoping you'll be soaked through by the time you get to the other side.

The Springmaid Splash is run every August, and registration is usually $25 for both the races, which includes a t-shirt, a goodie bag, refreshments, awards and even entry into some very cool door prizes. Oh, and they don't charge you for the couple of quick showers you'll get on your way across the river. Good value for your buck, I'd say.

A lot of people buy running shoes based on style and color and also even coolness factor. If a famous sports personality is photographed wearing Nike running shoes or Madonna wears Reeboks, all of a sudden, thousands of people rush out to buy the same pair of running shoes. If black running shoes are suddenly en vogue, every other person on the street is wearing a pair. But is that smart? Should you really be choosing which running shoes to buy based on how cute they look, what color they are or who's been photographed wearing them?

Overall, none of these factors are important. If you're a person who likes to be in style and wants to always be on the cutting edge, sure, maybe style is important to you. But it's not important to your feet. In fact, it can cause your feet more harm than good. Buying a pair of red running shoes might brighten up your day and make you feel happy when you look down at your rapidly moving feet and see a blur of rosy prettiness, but it doesn't make you run faster. And, seriously, who cares what Madonna or Victoria Beckham is wearing. Some women might think buying the same running shoes is going to make them look like Madonna. Seriously, it's not going to happen. Get over it.

What matters when you buy a pair of running shoes is actually simplicity itself - do they fit correctly and are they comfortable? Nothing is more important than buying a pair of running shoes that fit correctly. Badly fitting running shoes can damage your feet, rub holes in your toes and heels and cause you to lose interest in running quickly, because you get so sick of being in pain all the time. Badly fitting running shoes can also cause permanent injury to your feet if you wear them for any length of time. An ill-fitting pair of running shoes can easily cause you to end up with shin splints, damaged knees or even tendonitis.

So, the next time you buy a new pair of running shoes, ignore the coolness or style factor and instead concentrate on correct fit and comfort. After all, you're going to be running miles and miles in those shoes - so your feet might as well feel good while you're doing it.

I've been a runner for a long time and although I love running, I know I'm a "bad runner." Why, you ask? Because when I buy a pair of running shoes, I tend to break them in until they're comfortable and then I run in them until there's more foot than shoe, because they have so many holes in them. Now, that might be frugal, but it's certainly not healthy - at least not for my precious feet. Lately though, I've been trying to force myself to be careful with my running shoes and replace them much more often. Surprisingly though, it's not just me that doesn't switch out running shoes, a lot of my friends who are runners don't either. So, if you're a "bad runner" like me and my friends, when is the best time to replace your running shoes?

First of all, keep an eye on the soles of your running shoes. If they're looking worn down and particularly if they're lopsided (one side of the sole worn down much more than the other), they need to be replaced. Running in shoes with uneven soles can cause you to run awkwardly and can actually cause injuries if you're not careful.

The second thing is to make sure you keep a careful count of how much mileage you run. Some runners can get away with replacing shoes every six months if they're only running a couple of times a week. For those who run more often or run further distances, you may have to replace your running shoes as often as every six to eight weeks. The rule of thumb is usually about 500 to 700 miles is a good distance to replace your shoes. So, if you're running four or five times a week, 10 miles at a time, you're going to need new shoes after only two and a half to three months - and even sooner if you're training for a marathon.

Plus, honestly, if you wear the same running shoes all the time, you're also likely to have some stinky problems. So, it's probably best to have two or three pairs and rotate them. That way they get time to dry out after a run, and it'll take a bit longer to wear out one pair of shoes.

Do you have sole? No. I am not talking about the kind that gives you rhythm. I mean do you have enough sole on the bottom of your running shoes? If you don't, you are headed for an injury.

Because your body absorbs a force about three times its weight when you run, you need to cushion each step. The extra cushion reduces your chances of pulling a muscle or breaking a bone. How do you do it? You do it by purchasing a running shoe with an adequate outer, inner and middle sole.

Yes. Running shoes are created with three soles. The outsole is the bottom one that touches the ground. The midsole is the cushiony pad just above the outsole. And the insole is the removable sole that your foot rests on. All of these soles play a special role in protecting your feet. All together, they should be at least an inch. If not, your foot won't be adequately protected when you run. The best way to find a shoe that fits this bill is to bring a ruler with you when you go shopping at the store.

You can keep a mini ruler in your pocket or purse as you shop. Pull it out in order to check the height of the entire soles of potential new running shoes. Also, don't bypass any running shoe with extra gel or shock absorption in it. They will give you a little more support. Most of them are truly equal in their benefit. Therefore, don't worry about paying more for one with a fancy name or design.

So again - I ask - do you have sole? Check out the shoes you run in every day. They will help you answer this question honestly.