Featured Running Video – Great Wall Marathon »

Looking for an interesting and challenging marathon? You might want to check out the Great Wall Marathon in China. The video provided here

Western States Endurance Run Canceled »

If you show some interest in the strange world of ultra running, then you probably spent last week in shock. The Western States Endurance Run from Squaw Valley to Auburn is not just any 100-mile race. It is the 100-mile race.

Marathon Race Report: 490 BC »

The following is excerpted from a document recently discovered during an archaeological dig near Athens. It appears to be a running log with the name Pheidippides scrawled upon it.

Race Shirt Etiquette »

What is the proper etiquette for wearing your race shirt? Can you wear it to race in, or should you wait until after the race is over to don the shirt? These are questions that have been on my mind as I have been fondly gazing

Photo of the Week: Runners, Start Your Watches »

With so many techie gadgets for running, I’m sure this is a common scene at many races. So as you head out are you one of those runners hitting the start on your watch, Garmin or other gadget? I captured this photo during Sunday’s Calgary Police Half Marathon. I was there to run the 5k [...]

Your Running News Roundup: Early Edition! »

We’ve been fortunate to witness some incredible performances in the last eight days. On April 13, Martin Lel won an exceptionally fast London Marathon in 2:05:15, beating his own course record. The first seven men all ran under 2:09.

Running in The Wee Hours »

We all have our preferences for what to do between the hours of 2 and 4 in the morning. This guy’s preference is to get up and run

It’s Boston Marathon Time! »

Congratulations and Best of Luck to everyone who is running the Boston Marathon on Monday April 21. You all have your reasons for running this race. Do any of these resonate?

Spirit of the Marathon Showing TONIGHT in Canada! »

Thanks to Melissa for sharing this with us just moments ago:

The Sound of Silence »

Most of us like running road races, but few of us are aware of all the rules and regulations that guide those events. Most of us don’t even notice when slight rule changes come into effect. There has been one notable exception to that recently, though.

Races Off The Beaten Path »

So you’ve run the Marine Corps Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, the New York Marathon and even the Flying Pig Marathon, but now you’re looking for something a little different. Although running a marathon anywhere is a unique experience in the scope of life’s experiences, some marathons add to the interest

Live From Boston, It’s Patriots’ Day! »

I don’t know how many other Californians take Patriots’ Day off, but I’ll be camped out in front of the television instead of at my desk.

Running is Fun At Any Age »

I want to be just like these people when I grow up. Especially the guy they interview about his 5K time. Watch and you’ll see what I mean

The Most Pointless Marathon Story Ever Written »

Yes, it’s a provocative charge, but what else can you say about a Reuters story by Alastair Himmer headlined, “Tokyo marathon runner solves mystery of sore nipples“?

Don’t Surrender – Conquer!! Snowshoe Racing »

I have been wistfully wishing for spring but chances are if you live where it’s cold you are probably dealing with piles of the white stuff. Don’t fight it – strap on a pair of snowshoes. If you are lucky there will be a snowshoe race somewhere near you. Look here to see a video [...]

Members with Upcoming Races »

Here are some upcoming racers from our calendar.

Thumbs Up for “Spirit of the Marathon” »

You have never seen so many fit and healthy people in a movie theater.

Timing Tag Problems Get Bigger »

It’s a public relations predicament when 15 percent of your marathoners don’t receive an accurate finishing time – or any time at all. But when you discover that perhaps all of your 24,000 marathon finishers have inaccurate times, that’s a nightmare. Preliminary reports from the December 9, 2007, Honolulu Marathon indicated as many as 3,500 [...]

Honolulu Marathon Suffers Chip Slip »

Ah, the joys of technology. It was only a few years ago that most road races still used manual timing for individual runners. The preferred method was to tear off a perforated part of your bib number and hand it to a volunteer as you went through the finish chute, where your time was recorded. [...]

Run Santa, Run! »

What happens in Vegas does not always stay in Vegas. Sometimes it ends up on You Tube. Where else could you see 7,000 Santas take off on a 5K run?

It’s That Time of Year, Again! »

It’s that time of year when it’s dark in the morning and it’s dark in the early evening and it’s cold. It’s that time of year when getting in a good workout means bundling up and facing the possibility of a run made difficult and uncomfortable by the elements. It’s also that time of year [...]

Marathons Going for the Gold? »

Except for the traffic problems they cause, you would have to say that big city marathons generally receive positive coverage in the press. This shouldn’t be too surprising. Many newspapers and other media outlets sponsor marathons and there is little question that the races spur the local economy. Sure, you get a few nay-sayers from [...]

Turkey Trot »

Did you manage to get out and do a Turkey Trot on Thursday as a pre-emptive strike against gluttony? How about today as a post-prandial attempt at returning to normal? I found this video of a Southern California Turkey Trot that has great shots of all kinds of people out for a great time at [...]

Ryan Shay 5.5 Mile Memorial Run in Your Hometown: Saturday, November 17 »

Most folks out there who are reading this are already familiar with the untimely death of 28-year-old running phenom Ryan Shay at the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City, on Saturday, November 3. Ryan collapsed at mile 5.5 and was pronounced dead at Lenox Hill Hospital shortly thereafter. This news has rocked the [...]

And Now a Word From Our Sponsors »

About a dozen years ago my daughters’ 4-H group decided to hold a children’s foot race as a fund-raiser. After all, one of the H’s in 4-H stands for health, and they had a readymade director in me, the lone runner among our club’s adult leaders. Anyone that’s directed a race knows the difficult task [...]

Special: Triumph and Tragedy: Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials »

Triumph and tragedy collided at today’s Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials in New York City’s Central Park, in which 25-year-old Ryan Hall placed first, while another talented runner, 28-year-old Ryan Shay, collapsed and died. Hall, of Mammoth Lakes, California, broke away from the pack in Mile 17, finishing in 2:09:02. Dathan Ritzenhein, 24, of Eugene, Oregon, [...]

The Long Road – NYC Marathon »

This post is a tribute to all of the members of the RBF who are heading to Staten Island early tomorrow morning to run across the bridge, through Brooklyn and Queens, into Manhatten, over to the Bronx and back to Manhatten to the finish line of the New York City Marathon in Central Park. Our [...]

Nike Women’s Marathon and Half Marathon »

On Sunday I will cut short a weekend of debauchery and beach walking to toe the line at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. I could skip it and just hang out with my bookgroup but I won’t. I will rise at some obscene hour of the morning and hit the road at 5:00 AM to [...]

Chicago Marathon: Runners Share Their Side of the Story »

Thanks everyone for your comments on my Chicago Marathon: Defending… post. It seems a lot of us were thinking the same thing. After posting the article, I started seeing other blog posts written by people who had taken part in, or who were spectators at the Chicago Marathon, and it gave me an idea to [...]

It’s Kona Time! »

Today is the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. For triathletes this is our Boston Marathon, our Superbowl, our World Series, our World Cup. Slightly over 1800 athletes ranging in age from 19 to 78 will set out to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run a marathon. Some are pros, some are age [...]

Haile Gebrselassie Sets New World Marathon Record »

Yes I know, Mark beat me to the headline but really, can you sing the praises of a 2:04:26 marathon finish too often? Not on a site called the Complete Running Network! For this video you need to be able to sing in German, or at least be able to understand it. Since most of [...]

World Marathon Majors: Chance for a World Record? »

The fall round of the World Marathon Majors begins Sunday in Berlin. Haile Gebrselassie will make his third attempt at a world record, having run 2:06:20 two years ago in Amsterdam and 2:05:56 last year in Berlin, both victories. Paul Tergat’s world record of 2:04:55 was also set in Berlin four years ago. To Gebrselassie’s [...]

NOVA’s Boston Marathon Callenge »

We got a great email from NOVA today telling us about their upcoming show, NOVA’s Marathon Challenge. In cooperation with the Boston Athletic Association and Tufts University, NOVA was granted unprecedented access to the Boston Marathon course. In the summer of 2006, we began following 13 hopeful novices as they took the first step toward [...]

In Honor of Our Fearless Leader »

A certain someone is running a certain race this Sunday. Although today’s inspirational video might seem like blatant advertising, it is not. It all makes sense.

The Triathlon Song »

A funny thing happens when you roll the dice and start cross-training by swimming and riding your bike. You realize that you could probably manage a triathlon. You get intrigued. You sign up for a local Tri for Fun and before you know it you’re hooked. This weekend marks the half way point between Ironman [...]

Osaka Marathon: Who’s Who »

Heat and humidity will make for stifling conditions in the marathon at the 2007 IAAF World Championships. The men’s marathon will be the first event of the championships on Saturday, August 25, while the women’s marathon will take place on September 2, the final day of the championships. Temperatures at the start will be close [...]

Marathon Spectating: Do’s and Don’t's »

Fall marathon season is approaching, and even if you’re not a marathoner, you can still be a part of the festivities. If you know somebody who is running, you can show your support by being an enthusiastic spectator. It’s actually quite easy to be a spectator. While the runners invest several months preparing for race [...]

Compare and Contrast – Cross Country at it’s best »

Compare and contrast. You have us, the members of the Running Blog Family who don’t step out the door without our GPS devices, stop watches, heart rate monitors, mapped out routes of known length, technical clothing and super high tech running shoes. We find plans, pay coaches, and use scientific methodologies in the pursuit of [...]

It’s Passion That Gets You To the Finish Line »

We all have tough training days when our legs feel like lead and we’re just not in the mood. What would you do if you had no legs? How about no fingers—just a long thumb-like appendage at the end of each deformed arm? I guess you wouldn’t have to complain about your leaden legs any [...]

135 Miles of Hell–the Badwater Ultramarathon »

Next week, from July 23th to July 25th, 90 people—including 18 women—will start a race in Death Valley, Calif., that will end 135 miles later high up on Mt. Whitney. This is the Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon. If you have never rented the movie “Running on the Sun,” I can’t recommend it enough. It is a [...]

A Welcomed Challenge for Oscar Pistorius »

Some of you may already be familiar with Oscar Pistorius and his struggles as a track sprinter to try and qualify for the 2008 Olympics. The 20-year-old already has a remarkable record, with a gold medal in the 200m and world records at the 100m and 400m. But they are while competing as a Paralympian. [...]

Marathon Nutrition: The Third Man’s View »

I’m sure I’m not the only one who enjoyed the two contrasting articles about nutrition by the Blogfather himself, and Steve Runner in the other corner. However, I can’t help but disagree with both of them, which is why I thought I might add my own thoughts to the debate, just to muddle the water [...]

Why Did You Run Your First Marathon? »

Minutes after a friend and I finished our first marathon, he said something to me that I will never forget and sometimes think about. He said “at least we ran this without having to!” I did not understand what he meant so I asked him to explain. He said that some people who decide to [...]

Beat the Doldrums »

In the closing scene of “Finding Nemo,” the “tank gang” from P. Sherman’s dental office finally pull off the escape they’ve dreamt about for years. After Dr. Sherman places them in plastic bags to change the tank water, they roll their bags across the counter to an open window, freefall into the bushes below, then [...]

Of(f) Course, You Are »

Of all the volunteer duties that accompany a road race, one of the toughest has to be course marshal. These are the people who keep runners heading in the right direction and prevent short cuts. They also keep cars and cyclists from colliding with race participants and alert an aid station if someone needs help. [...]

Taking 100 Kids to Bloomsday »

Now that I have your attention, I will explain….ok, where do I start? Well I guess I will begin with “What is Bloomsday?” Bloomsday is a 12 km race that first began on May 1, 1977, and runs through downtown Spokane, Washington. Over 1,000 runners participated in the inaugural Bloomsday Run, which was billed “Run [...]

Runners Who Are Racing This Weekend »

I see that, according to the CRN Race Calendar, there are seven people racing this weekend. That’s including myself. Was that last mention overly narcissistic? Anyway, head on over and wish me them luck! P.S. TRIATHLONS are more than welcome on the calendar.

A View From the Top: Governor’s Bay Bridge 10K »

The Governor’s Bay Bridge 10K Race (Md.) was cancelled for the 4th time in six years last week. This is a race in distress. The race, put on by the Annapolis Striders, is a point-to-point 10K race that leaves at 8 a.m. from sea level at the start of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the [...]

Adventure Racing, Collegiate Style »

This week we bring you something different—Adventure Racing! Adventure Racing has it all—Trail Running, Mountain Biking and Kayaking in this Collegiate Championship. No matter what your discipline, life is an adventure—go race!

Thinking of a Running a Marathon? Think Again »

This is an article that provides advice for when is the right time in your running career for running a marathon, in addition to providing suggestions for how to approach training form marathons both mentally and physically.

Have Shoes (and Money), Marathoners Will Travel »

The travel industry is catching on that runners are good for business. A republished Detroit-based newspaper article about half- and full-marathoners traveling the world to get in a new run included some interesting statistics: “Marathon tourism is on the rise, coinciding with the huge increase in the number of people who now run—29.2 million in [...]

How To Recognize a Marathoner »

From the Official User Gallery of the 2007 Flora London Marathon. Enjoy! (Thanks to Pamalamadingdong for the tip!)

12 Tips to a Terrific Taper »

Springtime is here, and with it come a multitude of spring marathons. If you’re closing in on an upcoming marathon, your actions during the final two weeks before the race are crucial to your performance. From that point on, it’s all about the taper. Tapering is a period of “active rest” when your body recovers [...]

Photo of the Week: Boston 2007 »

Congratulations to these two Running Blog Family 111th Boston Marathon champs, the incomparable Running Chick With the Orange Hat, and her trusty companion, the unstoppable amazing hip. (jeff, and Dianna, mile 7-ish; photo courtesy Renée Dekona.) According to a story in the April 17 edition of The New York Times, This was the most dismal [...]

The Race Registration Conundrum »

This upcoming Sunday I’m joining 5,000 other runners in the La Jolla Half Marathon, a scenic and challenging seaside course that everyone must finish in under three hours. Some will likely be running with someone else’s number because they didn’t register for their own before the popular race sold out. How do I know? For [...]

An Insider’s Guide to the Boston Marathon »

For most marathoners, making it to the starting line in Hopkinton, Mass., is the completion of a long journey filled with endless miles of training and months of anticipation. But once you make it there, you still have a race to run, and a very difficult and entirely unique one at that. The Boston course [...]

Ethical Running »

It’s not often that ethical dilemmas occur during road races (at least those that don’t involve Rosie Ruiz), but two recent incidents got me thinking about how much responsibility each of us has to watch out for our fellow runners. In a 10K race recently, one of my teammates was up front the entire race, [...]

Opinion: Guts & Glory »

There’s a perception among recreational runners that one of the main things that separates us from the elites is the ability of those at the top of our sport to tough it out, to endure more pain than we can. The thinking goes that folks like Paula Radcliffe, Meb Keflezighi, Martin Lel and Deena Kastor [...]

In It for the Long Haul »

Apologies to those of you in the colder climates for last week’s “Spring has sprung” comment. I know some of you had to run in 30°F weather or slog your way through slush. It is warming up, though and it’s time to really start working on those training plans for the summer’s big events, little [...]

Planning a Trail Race: Part Five »

(Read parts one, two, three and four of this series.) Summary and Lessons Learned We covered many aspects of planning a trail race in the first four parts of this series. It is almost certain that some things were missed. The lesson there is that something will most certainly get missed along the way while [...]

There’s No Easy Way Out »

If you want to train for a marathon there is but one way to do it—train! It doesn’t matter if you are going for a sub-six-hour finish or a Boston Qualifier; you still have to train and it’s hard work and it can hurt but when you get to the end of that long, hard [...]

Planning a Trail Race: Part Four »

(Read parts one, two and three of this series.) Race Logistics Lots of different things make up the logistics on race day. Course markings. Make sure people won’t get lost on your course becuase if they do you may be responsible. Mark your course clearly the day before the race. Typical trail markings might be [...]

Planning a Trail Race: Part Three »

(Read parts one and two of this five-part series.) Advertising & Sponsors Before I begin part 3 I do need to remind you of the time committment in planning a race. As you can tell by the sporadic updates to this 5 part series, I have been busy. Planning a trail races takes A LOT [...]

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance »

I’m a great believer in high mileage. While we all are, as they say, an experiment of one, and no two runners react the same to a certain type of training, a few principles do apply to all of us, and we can always learn from other’s experience. I’ve been a runner for nearly three [...]

A Good Old Home Town Marathon »

f you’ve ever run a marathon what you probably experienced was a start that required separating people into corrals by time to make sure the start was staggered. You probably had to shuffle along for many yards and were probably passed and then passed others for a couple of miles. The water stations stretched for [...]

Planning a Trail Race: Part Two »

(Read parts one and three of this series.) In part one of this series we looked at the basics to getting started as a new race director. By now you should have your race date, distance, location, size and name. Those things alone aren’t going to get you very far. Very early on you should [...]

New York City Marathon Recap »

Unbelievable might be the best way to describe the women’s and men’s races at the New York Marathon on Sunday. Unbelievable for both the outcomes, which were relatively surprising, but also for the incredulity with which the pre-race favourites reacted to the tactics of the eventual winners. Pacer Luminita Talpos’ breakaway rabbiting set the tone [...]

‘Digital’ Marathons »

The New York Times published stories all last week about running in general and the ING NYC marathon in particular. If you have even a passing interest in this distance, you might want to check out some of the coverage. One article that caught my eye—in the Style section, no less—debates all the gadgets many [...]

Race Preview: The New York City Marathon »

The New York City Marathon, the fifth and final major marathon of the year, takes place this Sunday, November 5. Paul Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala, the participants in last year’s exciting sprint finish in which Tergat prevailed, both return. They headline a very impressive field, second only to the London Marathon this year, that also [...]

Racing: Solo or Shared? »

A few months ago, while discussing my race strategy with my coach, he asked me if I intended to have a friend run the last six miles of the marathon with me. Without hesitating, I responded, “Yes, of course!” He went on to ask me if I was sure I didn’t want to reach the [...]

What Is Your Ultimate Marathon Destination? »

For many people — especially long time runners — the history of the Boston Marathon is irresistable. For others, it’s the Big Apple-y-ness of the New York Marathon that’s compelling. For me, what we have in North America is fine and dandy but there’s so much more to consider. Take Rome for example! I’m of [...]

Handling Feelings of Inadequacy »

Today we’re pleased to bring you an article by Jack from Running With Jack. Do you have something to say too? Send us your article! ————— When is the last time you approached a race feeling totally unprepared or inadequate? Feelings of inadequacy could perhaps be defined in a variety of ways. For our purposes, [...]

Smokey and the Bandit »

I’ve never qualified for Boston. I’m not sure I will ever qualify for Boston. Does that mean I can’t run Boston? Nope. I could bandit run it. If you’ve never heard this term, it refers to the person who runs in the race without registering. They don’t pay a fee, they don’t get a chip, [...]

You Always Remember Your First »

Marathon season is upon us, and many runners are about to attempt 26.2 miles for the first time. In light of that auspicious moment, I’d like to share the last-minute words of advice I’ve been known to pass along to runner-friends as they embark on their first marathon quest. Support. Invite friends and family to [...]

Video: Toronto Waterfront Marathon »

On Sunday, September 24th, we posted two articles related to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon: Man Runs Sub-Three Hour Marathon While Juggling 75 Year-Old Ed Whitlock Runs Marathon in an Amazing 3 Hours 8 Minutes Turns out one of CRNs very own writers ran the half marathon in Toronto that same day. Adeel finished in one [...]

Less is More »

Choose your battles wisely. It’s timeless advice that applies to nearly every aspect of life. Whether it’s within the context of a romantic relationship, a dysfunctional work environment, or a childrearing strategy, the idea of emphasizing certain objectives and letting lesser concerns slide tends to optimize your long-term satisfaction in any situation. This philosophy applies [...]

Essential Race Day Jargon for the Beginning Runner »

We are all newbies at one time. For those of you who prefer to be more discreet about your newbie status at your first race, it may be helpful to learn a few phrases/terms that you might overhear: “I placed second in my age-group!” Age group (AG): In addition to placing first, second and third [...]

It’s Not Supposed to Be Easy »

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got came from Olympian Steve Scott. He was talking to a group of us warming up before a long run and asked about our time goals for an upcoming marathon. “How many of you just want to finish?” he asked. About 50 hands shot up. Then [...]

Planning a Trail Race: Part One »

(Read parts one, two and three of this series.) You’ve been bit by the “race director bug” but the problem is you don’t know where to begin. We’ll take a look at the process from the eyes of this first time race director (me), and we’re going to start, of course, from the beginning. Putting [...]