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.

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.

In April 2009, the largest 10K in Minnesota and one of the largest in the U.S. will take place in Minneapolis. Get in Gear is in its 32nd year, and this year the event is even adding a half marathon to the 10K, 5K and 2K races to make it just that bit more exciting. Get in Gear in 2009 will be run on April 25th with the 2K Fun Run setting off at 8:15 a.m. in Minnehaha Park in downtown Minneapolis. The half marathon starts at 9 a.m. (with a three hour limit) and the 10K and 5K start at 9:30 and 9:50 a.m., so you don’t even have to get up too early.

Get in Gear is billed as the annual rite of spring, but it’s actually been known to be really cold (they even had snow last year on race day!). So if you’re gonna run it, make sure you’ve got running clothes ready for both spring and winter, because, in Minnesota, it can go either way. Don’t worry though, even if it’s freezing, enough folks from Minneapolis will come out to cheer you on, even if they do have to wear gloves and drink hot chocolate.

Get in Gear is great because all of the proceeds from the race go to local food shelters to help the hungry, and in this economic climate, that’s even more of a necessity. The goal is to raise $50,000 in 2009, which will buy a lot of loaves of bread, boxes of rice and packs of spaghetti.

Speaking of food, the day before race day, don’t forget to go and pick up your race packet (including your race number and computer chip). If you’re coming from out of town, you can pick them up before the race on race day, but you’ll need to allow extra time. I said “speaking of food” because the packet usually includes tons of goodies such as snacks, healthy chips and last year even a box of Minute Rice too. You’ll also get a nice 100-percent cotton t-shirt just for participating in the race.

Get in Gear is a lot of fun. The race is popular, the course isn’t too difficult and after the race there are boatloads of food available at many food stalls in the park from noon to 8 p.m. There’s also a Vendor’s Village with tons of stalls to browse. Don’t forget, you can also volunteer if you don’t want to run. Just give the Get in Gear organizers a buzz at (612) 722-9004.

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.

California is often associated with cutting-edge technology, alternative lifestyles and glamour. As a result, it is the go-to state for up-and-coming cultural trends. Yet, what most people don’t know unless they live there is that the uppermost part of California is nothing but farmlands. Yes, that’s right! Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can drive 30 minutes north and step onto fields of vegetation. For this reason, it comes as no surprise that a northern California race – the Cowtown Marathon – was named after a four-legged farm animal.

The Cowtown Marathon is hosted by California’s state capitol, Sacramento. It is normally held at the end of the year when temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees. Besides live music, this marathon also has lots of give-a-ways, prizes, charities and food. Basically, the Cowtown Marathon has all of the amenities of a well-rounded race. Yet, these things aren’t the best part of it. What sets it apart from other marathons? The course. It is really easy.

Yep, you won’t have to buy a special pair of Filas or Nikes to run the Cowtown Marathon. The course is flat, fast and scenic. Therefore, all you folks who’ve never ran a marathon before should make this your first one. This run will give you the courage to tackle bigger and more difficult races like the Boston Marathon.

So, are you ready to face off with a cow? (Okay, it won’t really be a face off, just a friendly meeting.) Then, consider running the Cowtown Marathon next year. It happens just before the holidays. And who knows? You might even run into the Terminator. It’ll give you a chance to say the three words he’s so used to hearing – “I’ll be back!”

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 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.