Want a different view of Bourbon Street? If so, run the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon. It's probably the only race that you can participate in that will allow you to eat a plate of craw dads, wear a funky t-shirt and get your exercise in at the same time.

The New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon starts off with a bang. The race begins at Sugar Bowl Drive, which is normally crowded with people. At this point, the course is flat and easy to maneuver. Novice runners love it! The course later becomes a bit more challenging but not too difficult for the average runner. To add to its plusses, the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon has a lot of great scenery. If you participate in it, you will trek through historic areas such as Audubon Park, the French Quarters and Bourbon Street. These places will allow you to experience the local flavor. A final highlight of this marathon is the "Run for the Children" relay challenge.

The "Run for the Children" relay challenge benefits the local Children's Hospital. It is a new addition to this marathon. What's fun about this relay is that it allows for teams and includes categories like "Corporate Female." The whole office can sign up for this marathon and compete against each other.

If the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon sounds good to you, sign up for it. It's not too late. The race occurs on February 1, 2009.

Come away with me to an island full of lush plants and rolling mountains. Sit with me on the beach and allow the ocean air to blow through your hair and bring you back to a time when you had no cares in the world. You were young, healthy and able to run for hours without ever getting weary. Okay. Now that you are fully relaxed, you can refocus your thoughts and imagine doing one more thing. What? Running the Whidbey Island Marathon.

The Whidbey Island Marathon is one of those runs you can turn into a mini-vacation. It happens in the spring when the weather is warming up, your bank account has finally recuperated from all of that holiday shopping, and you are ready for a break. This marathon offers you a chance to unwind with the entire family and turn a few days into something special.

There are many ways to enjoy the Whidbey Island Marathon. It has a course that trails along a majestic island surrounded by fresh water, a half-marathon, charity clothing drop and awards for participants of all ages. As a result, your five-year-old child and seventy-year-old grandfather have a chance to get rewarded if they finish in the top three of their age category. Oh, don't worry about getting them up to and back from the race; there are shuttle buses for that. The only thing you need to worry about is planning that special family dinner after the marathon is over and enjoying the island scenery.

So, as you can see, the Whidbey Island Marathon is the perfect mini-vacation. Therefore, come March, plan on packing up your sneakers, beach bag and windbreaker. You can use all of them if you participate in the Whidbey Island Marathon. For more information, visit their Web site at www.whidbeyisland.com/race.cfm.

Have you ever been on an action committee? I have. What's my definition of it? An action committee is a group of people who talk, talk and talk some more before they actually do anything. Yet, when they finally do take action, it's big. They change laws, erect buildings and even do fun things like sponsor marathons. For this reason, it's no surprise that the Lahaina Town Action Committee is hosting the next Maui Oceanfront Marathon.

The Maui Oceanfront Marathon has all of the markings of a well-thought-out run. Besides having the usual 26-mile trek, it also has incorporated other smaller courses. There's the 20-miler, half marathon, 5k and kids' run. In other words, the Lahaina Town Action Committee did all it could to inspire locals and tourists to lace up their Nikes and participate in their marathon. Too add to all of this, the committee also made sure the course included a lot of ocean scenery. If you participate in the Maui Oceanfront Marathon, you'll get a chance to see whales, colorful foliage and other things native to the ocean. It'll allow you to experience the great outdoors in a way you can't in many other places. However, if that doesn't turn you on, think about all of the surfers and other people at the beach. This marathon will allow you to meet an eclectic group of people.

Are you ready for a run along the beaches of Maui? If so, you still have time to sign up. The race starts on January 25, 2009. You can make running it one of your New Year's Resolutions. For more info, visit www.mauioceanfrontmarathon.com.

Are you a little bit country? Do you enjoy hearing the twang of a banjo? Can you recite every Jeff Foxworthy joke by heart? Is the constitution the main document you swear by whenever you are in a fierce argument? Okay - some of these things might be stereotypes. People in and around the country differ in many ways. Yet, almost all of the ones in Nashville can agree that the fun run for them is the Country Music Marathon.

The Country Music Marathon is the Grand Ole Opry of the running world. Every year, the creators of this race plan it for late April. It's when the weather is warm, the Tennessee area is beautiful and people are ready for their first spring gathering. In response to this desire, the Country Music Marathon gives them it all. Big musical groups, food vendors and volunteers line up to make this marathon more like a festival. As a result, a diverse crowd shows up for it every year with sneakers in hand. And guess what? Within all of this hubbub, the Country Music Marathon finds a way to raise lots of money for charity. It is estimated that they have turned over a net $148 million to charitable organizations in the last ten years. So, as you can see, the Country Music Marathon is that fun run nobody should miss, especially if they live in the south.

Now, do you see why so many southerners are proud of their region? These folks really know how to host a marathon. It's enough to make a northerner lace up a pair of shoes and make a long trek to Tennessee. For more information on how you can run this race, visit their Website at www.cmmarathon.com.

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.

When was the last time you used the phrase "When pigs fly"? It is a question you have to ask yourself because these three little words can carry a lot of weight. They can help you tell another person that under no circumstances will he get his way. Here's what I mean . . .

Scenario #1
Husband: "Honey, can you spit shine my shoes for me?"
You: "When pigs fly!"

Scenario #2
Boss: "I know it's last minute, but can you work on Christmas day?'
You: "When pigs fly!"

Scenario #3
Kids: "Can I take your new car to the beach?"
You: "When pigs fly!"

Imagine yourself in each of these scenarios. Don't you feel empowered? Well, the emotions swirling through your body now are the same ones I imagine motivated the creator of a certain marathon. It is the Flying Pig Marathon. For over a decade, runners have been participating in this fun run, making it one of Cincinnati, Ohio's most coveted events.

Besides the weird name, the Flying Pig Marathon is unique because it incorporates so many types of runs. There is a wheelchair run, a pump-n-run for weightlifters, a kids' run and a four-person relay. In essence, there is something for everyone who wants to run a race. What is the grand prize? A big medal with a flying pig on it. However, if you don't cross the finish line first, you won't feel bad. The after parties are plentiful and full of people who are just happy that they made it through the event.

So, does the Flying Pig Marathon sound like a race you would want to run? (I bet you're not saying "When pigs fly!") If so, check out their Web site at www.flyingpigmarathon.com. The next race will occur on May 3, 2009, which gives you plenty of time to register. Don't miss out on a fun event. You can make it a part of your next family vacation.

If Dunkin' Donuts was a marathon, what kind would it be? Would it be a plain marathon with no special events and only a milky medal to help you wash it down? Maybe it would be a rich, chocolate race covered with sprinkles of active children, lumpy roads and colorful gifts? Either way, it would be good. You'd want to go back for a taste of it on a regular basis. I think this might be the reason Dunkin' Donuts is sponsoring the Cape Cod Marathon. Their name alone elicits a positive response from most people; it'll be an automatic draw for old and new runners.

The Cape Cod Marathon is held in West Falmouth, MA. For a little over three decades, runners from every corner of the earth have laced up their Adidas in order to tackle it. Although the course is very challenging, the scenery makes up for the difficulty of running this race. Participants get to see some of the most beautiful parts of the area like the Falmouth Inner Harbor, Green Pond and Cranberry Bogs. Outside of this plus, the Cape Cod Marathon also comes equipped with relays, medals, charities and opportunities to volunteer. It is a well-rounded marathon that gives everyone a chance to enjoy the day.

Have you figured out what kind of donut the Cape Cod Marathon is? Okay. You probably weren't even thinking about the question. However, you can keep it in mind and actually find out for yourself by running this marathon. The next race is on October 26th. You can sign up for it now by visiting www.capecodmarathon.com. If you go, don't forget to bring your coffee and milk.

If you live in the USA, the mention of Route 66 can conjure up images of romantic cross-country drives, heading west for fame and fortune. Well, at least it does for me (and I wear a Stetson in my dream too!) I once drove Route 66 from Amarillo, Texas to Santa Monica, California, and boy, did I feel cool when I got there. Nowadays though, much of Route 66 has been swallowed up by other roads, which is kind of sad. That's why, when I heard a friend talk about the 2008 Route 66 Marathon on November 16th, I knew I had to find out more.

The Route 66 Marathon is held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and includes a full marathon, a half marathon, a quarter marathon and a 5K. There's also a kid's marathon, which is a 1.2 mile run for the 6 to 12 year olds. There's also going to be live entertainment along the course with 15 local music bands playing for spectators' and runners' entertainment. (Isn't this becoming a mainstay of many marathons these days?)

The Route 66 Marathon is apparently quite a challenge, especially in the last few miles where a lot of it is uphill. You're already wiped out from having run 20-plus miles, and now they expect you to run up hills? Quit whining! It's good for you! (And a nice little challenge for serious marathon runners.)

The drawback about this race last year apparently was there was no pizza and beer at the finish for the majority of the marathon runners, because the runners in the 5K and 10K races got in earlier and gulped down the lot! This year, they've fixed that problem so there will also be food when you arrive at the finish line. (Ooh and there's a good pasta dinner the night before too.)

The race also has very snazzy T-shirts that are given to all race finishers, and because this is a completely closed race course (no cars to kill ya!), you can also wear headphones while you run.

The entrance fee is $65 to $100 for the marathon, depending on when you register, $45 to $70 for the half marathon, $25 to $40 for the quarter and $15 to $25 for the 5K. For more information, check out the race website at http://www.route66marathon.com.

Runner's World magazine has deemed the Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon the fastest marathon in the UK. Why? The race is located in Scotland, and runners, on average, complete the race with faster running times than the ten most popular races in the area. Of course, this fact brings up a lot of questions. The main one being, "Why do the people in the Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon run so fast?" I think I have a few plausible answers:

Answer #1: The Loch Ness Monster is chasing them throughout the race.

Answer #2: Little leprechauns carry them quickly over the finish line.

Answer #3: The ghost of St. Patty spooks them at the starting line.

Answer #4: They can't wait to drink a pint of ale at the after party.

Answer #5: J.K. Rowling promises to name a character after the winner in the next Harry Potter book.

Answer #6: Britney Spears threatens to become a legal citizen of Edinburgh, Scotland if they slow down.

Answer #7: Brownies have created special shoes for the runners in order to speed up their times.

Answer #8: These kilt-clad runners are more aerodynamic.

These are just a few of the things that I think make runners of the Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon run like the wind. However, there are other less important ones that motivate a few runners. Runners who participate in this race get to associate with athletic manufacturers like Asics, support charities like the Macmillan Cancer Support organization, participate in team relays and trek through a beautiful terrain. These things are what some Scottish folks say make Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon a great race.

If you are interested in running a marathon filled with spirit, fun people and few worthy causes, you should sign up for this race. You can get more details about it at www.edinburgh-marathon.com. This Web site will gives even more reasons to participate in this race.

As a child, I often felt that one of the best aspects of my family life was group activities. Card games. Tag. Hide and go seek. It was activities like these that made me grateful to have enough brothers and sisters to get a game going anywhere. And it didn't end there. I even joined a few walk-a-thons with siblings in order to raise money for charity. You know the old saying, "the family that exercises together, grows old together." (Okay. I just made that up, but it's true.) However, today, life is different.

With the advent of video games and the Internet, families don't necessarily spend a lot of time together anymore. So parents have to look for ways to do it. And guess what? One fun way to do it is to participate in a marathon race. It gives everyone in the family a chance to bond together over one event and also strengthen their hearts. Which family friendly marathon do I recommend? The Portland Marathon.

The Portland Marathon is held in the fall. As a result, the weather is excellent for a race. The main course is a trek through an urban terrain, but as with many northwestern cities doesn't feel nor looks like it. So expect to see a lot of trees and other greenery not prevalent in other urban areas. Also, in order to accommodate the families that attend it, there are smaller courses and a popular t-shirt swap. Then, there are pasta feeds, music and trophies for a variety of age groups. You can even raise money for charity. The Portland Marathon is the place to be for family fun catered for every age.

Good news! If you are interested in participating in The Portland Marathon with your entire family, you still have time to sign up. You can do it at www.portlandmarathon.org. Think of it as a late vacation or a much needed family break to kick off the holidays.

The Bangkok Marathon is one of the most popular distance runs in Asia.

I currently live in Bangkok, Thailand and am also a serious runner. Distance runs (10ks and 5ks) are not as easy to find in Thailand as they are in the US, which is why everyone loves the Standard Chartered Bank Bangkok Marathon so much.

The Bangkok Marathon is held every year in November. In 2008, it will take place on November 23rd. The Bangkok Marathon itself begins at 2 am for those runners who finish in 5-7 hours, as the heat is so intense in Bangkok that many of us fell it's better to run while it's still dark. Even at 2 am, the temperatures can easily top 80 degrees and increase exponentially. So, if you decide to run in it, make sure you are hydrated properly. The second marathon start time is at 3:20 am for those runners who can finish in under 5 hours. All races start and finish in front of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaow, which is one of the most spectacular pieces of architecture in the world.

The marathon also has a quarter marathon (10.55k) and a 5k run, which are very popular with Thai residents and foreigners alike. The quarter marathon begins at 6:45 am, with the 5K (also known as the Fun Run) starting thirty minutes later at 7:15am. These runs are also really fun as the course loops around the Bangkok historic district and through several different ethnic communities, and there are beautiful historical Thai buildings and temples to see. Thais are also very interested in the marathon and the fun run and very proud of their country, so the streets will be packed with spectators cheering you on.

The prizes in the Bangkok Marathon are also very nice. In male and female overall categories, the winner will receive an award of 300,000 baht (currently around $9,375). Second to tenth place winners in the male and female categories will also receive cash awards as well as medals and certificates. In the 10.55k and the 5K, any runner that completes the course under a certain period of time will also get a medal and a certificate. The marathon itself is usually dominated by runners from Kenya, but it would be nice to see a Thai win it this year.

You can register for the Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon online at http://www.bkkmarathon.com. Fees vary from around $5 for Thai residents (includes Westerners who live in Thailand), to $65 for registrations by non-Thai residents. There is no registration allowed on the day of the marathon so, if you want to run in it, make sure you register by the deadline of November 22nd. The Bangkok Marathon really is a fabulous thing to see though so, whether you run it, do the 10K or the 5K or just go out to watch, you'll still have a really fun time.

Wearing new clothes, new shoes or eating new foods on race day is a no-no.

New is usually good. But, on a day when you have a race, new isn't good. On a race day, new can be run-destroying, disastrous and downright dangerous.

When buying new shoes, you should break them in for at least a week before you wear them on a long run. When I buy new running shoes, I don't actually wear them for running until they're broken in. Instead, I wear them an hour a day just walking around the house. After a week of doing this, they're broken in enough that I can safely wear them on a short run without getting huge blisters. If I'm planning on wearing new shoes for a race, I break them in, then wear them for at least another week running short distances before I even think about wearing them for a race. On race day, you want to be wearing shoes that are already broken in to the shape of your foot and that you're completely sure are comfortable. Even experienced running shoe buyers sometimes get a pair of shoes that take a couple of weeks to feel right, so the last thing you want to do is find out they're not comfortable in the middle of a big race.

Same goes for running clothes. New clothes can sometimes chafe or scratch. If you're running in a big race and especially if it's a hot day, wearing new running clothes could give you a nasty surprise after a few miles. I always wash them first before wearing them and use a fabric softener. Then I wear them on a short run so I can be sure they fit and that they're lightweight enough. Running bras especially can be a pain and I've had more than my fair share of chafe marks from a bra that was too constrictive or that didn't wick away moisture correctly.

As far as new foods go, even healthy foods can give you stomach ache. You don't want to eat a new healthy snack on race day then find, half way through the race, you're doubled over with stomach cramps because it's just not sitting well. Any new foods, either test out a few days before a race or after it. For race day, stick with foods you know give you energy and that your body doesn't interact badly with.

New York City is known for its fashion, food and skyline, but which activity draws celebrities like Puff Daddy out into the streets?

When Oprah Winfrey ran the Marine Corp Marathon in 1994, she not only inspired thousands of people to lose weight and raise millions of dollars for charity. Though she didn't realize it at the time, she was inspiring Puff Daddy, who years later publicly challenged her winning time of 4:29:20 - and beat it running in the New York City Marathon. Oh yeah, he also raised a little more than $2 million for charity. This public challenge let everyone see that these two celebs weren't so different after all. It also flashed a spotlight on the New York City Marathon, which has been growing in popularity ever since its origins in 1970 due to a great course and wonderful charities.

Here is a quick description of the New York City Marathon:

The New York City Marathon takes you through five key boroughs (Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan) giving each runner a view of what makes this city great: diversity. You will see a variety of people, buildings and sideline events. Where's the finish line? At Tavern on the Green in the world-famous Central Park.

The New York City Marathon allows its runners to sponsor a lot of great charities including The New York Road Runner Foundation Team for Kids (children funds), The New York Road Runners Champion's Circle (athletic funds), Fred's Team (cancer fund) and Charity Partners (your charity of choice). All of these charities give participants and spectators a chance to open their hearts in a big way and promote great causes.

So, are you ready to take a run on the wild side? If so, get more details at www.nycmarathon.org.

Did you know that the word "marathon" has its roots in ancient Greece? According to historians, during a Greek war, a soldier named Pheidippides ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in order to deliver a special message. "Nikki!" was the word he yelled out upon arrival, which translates into the modern term "victory." Yet, unfortunately, as soon as this word leapt from his lips, he fell to the ground and died giving new, literal meaning to the phrase "my job is killing me."

The good news is that Pheidippides boss didn't let his effort go unrecognized.

Like any great boss, the ruling government made sure that Pheidippides' name went down in history. Pheidippides' run from the town of Marathon to the city of Athens was acknowledged as the original marathon course. Then, some time later, a historic run was made from the bridge of Marathon to the Athens Olympic Stadium in his name. Yet, the biggest honor to Pheidippides is that marathons are still being ran today with a few noteworthy ones that standout in history as the best. Katherine Swtizer ran one such marathon.

Katherine Switzer is a modern day Pheidippides. Although female, she has acted as a soldier in the efforts to show women as capable athletes. And what was one of her most memorable feats? Being the first "official" female to run the Boston Marathon.

The year was 1967. Jimi Hendrix had burned his guitar for the first time at London's Astoria Theatre. Elvis was in love for the first time with a woman named Priscilla Presley. And, a 20-year-old Katherine Switzer had officially signed up to run in the Boston Marathon. Because, in the past, only men had "officially" signed up to run this race, Boston Athletic Association (BAA) officials didn't believe she was woman. Apparently, they just thought she was a man with a funny name. So, it wasn't until 3 miles into the Boston Marathon race when the media and a BAA official, Jock Semple, saw her running with a number that all hell broke loose.

Jock Semple, acting of sound mind, jumped off the BAA truck and tried to rip the number off of Katherine's shirt while yelling, "Get the hell out of my race and give me that number." Thankfully, a nimble and swift Katherine was able to avoid most of his grasp and only lose a corner of her number. Then, a shoulder block later (administered by her boyfriend) the upset BAA official was knocked back and away from Katherine. It was not without
consequence though. Semple was determined to get Katherine in trouble. And he did.

Katherine got into so much trouble that the media glared down on the all male Boston Marathon and they were forced to change their rules. A few years later, women could officially enter and guess who helped sign them up? Yes. Jock Semple. See what happens gals when you (and a burly boyfriend) offer up a little friendly persuasion.

Today, Katherine Switzer is public speaker that advocates for female athletes. It was a role she hadn't planned for initially. However, just like Pheidippides, fate took over and now her name is honored everywhere. Also, women can now officially participate in one of the
most popular marathons in America making Switzer's 1967 run in the Boston Marathon one of the best marathons ever.

Sources:
http://www.katherineswitzer.com/
http://www.athensmarathon.com/marathon/history.html

Thailand is known for many things. Temples, elephants, tuk-tuks, food and also as being hotter than H E double hockey sticks. But, it's not normally known for 10K races. That's why many people will be amazed to hear there are lots of them there. One of the newly popular 10K races is connected to the Laguna Phuket International Marathon, and is held in June every year. It was begun in 2005, to help attract people back to Phuket after the Asian tsunami, which killed almost 10,000 people in Thailand. I ran it in 2007, and was surprised how many runners were there - almost 1,000, from all over the world.

One of the interesting things about the Laguna Phuket 10K (and the 5K) is that the organizers encourage all their entrants to run the race and to raise money for their favorite charity. Now, in Thailand, donating to charities is not really popular (Thais normally give to their temple instead), so this was an innovative thing for the organizers to try. It seemed to be successful though, as I talked to a lot of people who were running to raise money for children's groups, animal groups, the elephant sanctuary and a bunch of other places.

What's really cool about this year's race is that runners are being encouraged to not worry about their finishing times but, instead, only to think about having a good time. One of the runners, Hajime Nishi, from Japan, runs with the philosophy "Slow is beautiful" and this year he's encouraging people to sign up for the 10K, the 5K and the Marathon just to have fun and, oh, take pictures along the way.

If you've ever been to Phuket, you'll understand why this is such a 'Thai' philosophy. Thai people live their lives with a saying "Mai bpen rai", which means 'never mind, relax, have fun, be happy'. Thai people are not really great competitors because they'll often end up helping each other instead of trying to beat each other, but this is what makes them one of the kindest people I've ever come across.

This year, the Laguna Phuket 10K (it's actually a 10.5 K race) will be on June 15, 2008. It's a flat race, so it's great for beginning runners and kids, and it loops around Laguna Phuket and comes back to where it started from. You'll also get some beautiful views, especially on the road near the ocean. Phuket has gorgeous blue water and with the palm trees and sparkling blue skies it's truly lovely.

Like all 10K races, they'll have aid stations with electrolyte drinks and fruit, and very friendly Thai volunteers to help with any problems. The 10K race starts at 6:30am and will finish around 10am. Prizes will be awarded for this, the 5K and the Marathon at 11am. Before the prize ceremony they also have an interesting Thai dance exhibition.

So, if you're in Thailand and want to run a cool, fun 10K, the Laguna Phuket 10K could be for you. At a $35 entry fee, it's a bit steep, especially for locals, but the scenery is so pretty and the people so nice...it's definitely worth it, I think.