People get bored very easily. That is a fact that is about as certain as death and taxes. Think about the high school kid who falls asleep during a forty-minute lecture on the Italian Renaissance or the security guard who drifts off during the graveyard shift. When a person experiences something that spans a long period of time and offers no alterations or adjustments, there exists no possible way for a legitimate focus to occur. As a result, body and mind change course, looking to either rest from exhaustion or re-stimulate itself with something else.

Training for triathlon is no different. While following a detailed, structured workout schedule will give you the format to stay consistent, doing the same routine day after day will result in two situations: a serious loss of mental motivation and a seemingly unbreakable physical plateau.

Mentally, when you continually change your patterns, the brain stays sharp, as it constantly has a new goal to reach. You provide the stimulus your brain requires to keep your body moving in a manner that permits progress. For example, using a swim workout based on stroke count one day, always working to lengthen the body's reach to reduce the number of strokes it takes to cover a given distance, and the next day swimming against the clock, a place where strokes are less important and time rules, provides you with a different set of challenges. Your brain avoids the patternization that generates boredom and fatigue.

Likewise, physically, if you can repeatedly alter your goals, you can keep your body from reaching those plateaus that stunt growth. Confusing the muscles, making them work similar groups in a variety of ways, dodges the monotony of identical workouts. For example, running an endless string of treadmill workouts will never produce the long-range results you need. Instead, get outside and hit the trails or do a track workout. Try plyometrics or Kenpo. Mix in multiple variations that will strengthen the muscles while keeping them fresh and stimulated.

Overall, you will be a happier triathlete if you mix it up. Failing to do so will not only hurt your performance, but also it will take away the pure joy associated with the sport. Keep yourself mentally and physically excited and vary those workouts as much as possible.

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.

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.

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.

I grew up in the Yorkshire Dales, one of the most beautiful areas of England. The Yorkshire Dales are famous for many things but especially for the Three Peaks Race. The Three Peaks Race is one of the longest, long-distance road races in the UK, going over three mountains - Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent - for more than 24 miles. In early 2009, the 55th Annual Three Peaks Race will occur, and people from all over the world will descend on the small villages of Yorkshire to participate in the race.

The race begins at Horton-in Ribblesdale. I remember going with my Dad one year when I was a little kid to see the runners set off. Thousands of runners were lined up in colorful running shorts and vests, and when they set off, it was like a herd of cattle running down the street. Apparently, the first Three Peaks race attracted only six runners. Now, it attracts a few thousand (there is a sign up ceiling of 600 though, so if you want to run in it, get your registration in early).

In Three Peaks Race history, the race is always run on a Sunday. Although in 2008, it was on a Saturday for the first time, so it will be interesting to see if they stick with the very successful Saturday race or move it back to a Sunday in 2009.

The men's record for completion of the race is 2 hours, 46 minutes and 3 seconds, which is pretty amazing for a race that is run in some areas more than 2,500 feet above sea level. Talk about thin air!

Interestingly, in 2001, the Three Peaks Race was actually cancelled because of foot-and-mouth disease among the cattle on the Yorkshire fells. Luckily, the local authorities managed to get this disease under control and hopefully it won't happen again.

Most of the runners in the Three Peaks Race are men. It's an incredibly grueling fell (mountain) race, which seems to put off a lot of women. You're running uphill for a lot of the race, over fields, mud and hills littered with rocks and, in some places, with steep drop-offs down to a nasty death below. If you love a difficult challenge though, you'll love the Three Peaks Race. You'll feel like you died when you've finished it, but a few beers in the pub afterwards will soon revive you!

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.

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?

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.

I'm a huge kid advocate, having worked at tons of children's nonprofits in my professional fundraising career. So, when I saw a notice advertising the Run Wild For A Child 10K and 5K runs/walks in San Francisco, it really grabbed my attention.

The Run Wild For A Child 10K/5K runs are not only very fun runs; they're also a cool time to donate toys! The runs benefit the San Francisco Firefighters' toy drive. On race day, there will be drop offs to donate a new toy or a book for SF area disadvantaged kids, and proceeds from the race go to the toy drive. The toy drive distributes more than 200,000 toys every year to over 40,000 kids. They also help out kids all year long who are displaced because of fires, floods, earthquakes or any other natural disaster.

The Run Wild For A Child 10K/5K runs are held every year on Thanksgiving weekend. The runs start at JFK Drive and ends at Golden Gate Park. What could be more perfect than running early in the morning in beautiful Golden Gate Park and overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge? I mean, come on, you'd have to be a philistine not to think that was gorgeous.

But the coolest thing for me about this race is you can dress up as your favorite toy for the "Favorite Childhood Toy" costume competition. If I was running this year, I'd dress up as Winnie the Pooh (okay, maybe not - might be a bit too hot and heavy a costume to run in,) or as someone with superpowers like Wonder Woman. (That would help win the race, right?)

The race will be held this year on November 30, 2008, and starts at 8:30 a.m. You have two choices of entrance fee; either a straight $30 entrance fee, which will put you in the race, or a $50 fee with 20 bucks of that going directly to the toy drive. Come on, it's almost Christmas. Fork over your 50 bucks and help some kids have a nice Christmas. Christmas is for kids and these 10k/5k runs will help some of them have a great holiday.

The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run in England is near and dear to my heart because I originally come from the British county of Yorkshire. The run also benefits cancer research in the UK, and as my uncle died of lung cancer, I like to support cancer research wherever I can.

Yorkshire is famous for its people and its scenery. Yorkshire people are a bit dour, serious and abrupt, yet, when you get to know them, you realize they are some of the kindness people in the world. Yorkshire people just don't believe in wasting time on niceties or being evasive if they can be honest. What you see is what you get in Yorkshire, and that, for me, has always been where I feel comfortable. Yorkshire scenery is bleak and cold and very bare, but beautiful in its honesty - just like Yorkshire people.

The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run is run by Yorkshire people. They're upfront and direct with the stereotypical Yorkshire honesty. But they also organize a great race and they'll make darn sure you have a good time running in it too. It does rain a lot in Yorkshire though, so make sure you wear running shoes with good grip, just in case.

The Great Yorkshire Run is a 10K race that starts in downtown Sheffield. Thousands of runners attend, but the race is usually run by Kenyan runners. Last year, however, in both men's and women's standings the Aussies did really well, and the Brits weren't far behind.

The BUPA Great Yorkshire Run is also part of the Great North Run series of races. The Great North Run itself is the world's most popular half-marathon road race, where almost 50,000 runners participate every year. The Great Yorkshire Run will be held this year on September 7th, 2008 and all runners will receive medals for completing the race. It's only the second time this race has ever been run, so get in on the ground floor and you can say you were one of the first to run in it. The run also has 2K and 3K races for kids, which means there's something for everyone in the family. And don't forget; get to know some Yorkshire folks while you're there. You won't be sorry.

You've gotta love a race that's called the Vulcan Run. Even if you're not a Star Trek fan, you must admit, it's kinda cool to be running in a race called the Vulcan Run. And if you are a Star Trek fan, well, even better. Put on your Nikes, power up your Vulcan strength, attach your Spock ears, and you're ready to run the 2008 Vulcan Run.

The Vulcan Run is actually a 10K race that's held in Birmingham, Alabama every November. It's been ongoing since 1975, when it was organized to celebrate the Bicentennial. Nowadays, it's mostly won by Kenyan runners every year but, even if you're not up to their league (not really able to muster much of that Vulcan power!), it's still fun to run in a race with so many top class runners.

This year's Vulcan Run will be on November 1st. In 2006, Runner's World listed it as one of their top six favorite races and, with more than 2,000 runners expected to enter, it's still small enough to not feel lost in the crowd but big enough to have a lot of excitement and challenge.

An additional added bonus to running this race is, if you're in the Birmingham area, the Birmingham Track Club organizes a 'Couch to 10K in 10 weeks' program for beginning runners. For $49, you get individual coaching, information about diet, exercise, training and clothing, and 3 or 4 group runs every week. You'll learn some great tips, meet some fellow runners, and end up in great shape for the 10k race.

The Vulcan Run also has a 1 mile Fun Run, so if you have any kiddies or out of shape relatives or friends, they can still join you on the day with no excuses.

The race starts at 8am on November 1st. You can register at the Trak Shack (see how, if you squint, it looks a bit like 'Star Trek'?) in Homewood, Alabama or online at http://www.active.com. So, sign up for the Vulcan Run. It could be your chance to boldly go where many men have gone before (come on, I had to say it, right?)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://vulcanrun.com