Worth Reading

* Dogs get high, too, but ferrets don’t.

* 10 biggest running mistakes

* Does it seem like it takes longer to recover the older you get? Um, it does. Here’s why.

* For the ladies: Jezebel: If You Must Think About your Weight, Here Are 10 Things to Think About  Warning: there are plenty of f-bombs in this article, but this is probably the greatest thing I’ve read in…well, ever. I’m at that stage where I’m pissed off about this situation we’ve all bought into. I’m sick of women’s magazines and fitness magazines and women’s expos that are full of ways for us to fix ourselves — lose weight, fix your hair, get the whitest teeth, cook better….f@#$ you, I’m fine the way I am.  READ THIS. PRINT IT OUT. GET MAD.

Video of the Week

Hmmm….now this treadmill workout could possibly hold my interest:

Ultra funny

For all my ultra-running friends.  (This is a JOKE…though, you have to admit….it’s funny because most of it is true, right?). LOL.

T-Shirt of the Week

Available here for $19.97.

As seen along the streets of Cleveland on Sunday morning:

Funny T-shirt:

Happy calves:

(Yes, most of these are blurry….I was RUNNING!)

Simple works, too:

These people love the Indians:

Two oldies, but goodies:

Truth:

Cute parent signs:

This woman was getting a LOT of laughs and high-fives from the women in the race:

Maybe not the most inspiring sign, but….damn was I glad to see this cardboard “GU” sign:

Beer stop (no, I didn’t stop):

This photo just about says it all. Note the “Runners rock” sign on the sign post near the mailbox:

For me…..one of the greatest signs in Cleveland are those lights from Jacob’s Field (or whatever the proper name is now) up ahead. Once I see that stadium, I know it’s almost over (the half is anyway):

I wonder if I could talk this girl into coming to the PA Grand Canyon Marathon for me:

Another classic…only his mileage was OFF:

And, the best signs on the course (in my biased opinion, of course):

I love his expression….that’s pretty much what it feels like after you run 26.2 miles in 80-degree weather.

What is the weirdest/strangest/most shocking thing you ever saw laying in the road/trail on a run?

A fat raccoon ….. the biggest that I’ve ever seen. I was running on the multi-purpose trail on the bay side @ Presque Isle and it was sitting there just off of the trail, and showed absolutely no fear of a human running so close to him. — Ramon Patron, Jr.

You asked, so…. the weirdest/strangest/most shocking thing I saw was a (presumably) used condom. — Mike Lawrence

A raccoon with a helium balloon tied around it’s waist, earlier this week on Norcross Rd. — Patrick Dwyer

At the Cleveland Marathon, I saw a woman just off the side of the road, peeing standing up. It was just weird. — Dan Cass

A giant man o’war swimming along side while running on seven mile bridge in the Keys. We maintained the same pace for more than a mile. — Paul Bressen

Dead red fox next to sidewalk at PI before ranger station pond, looked healthy, told ranger. Never saw one before. — Tom Twohig

A lynx, right in the middle of the trail a couple miles from the house…beautiful animal! — Michael Morris (who lives in Alaska)

I once found 17 pairs of bras and panties spread along RT 97 between Waterford and Pennbriar. They were obviously tossed out by someone trying to make a point as they were pretty evenly spread out. Also, when laying a hash trail one time, we found a dead guy in a car. — Chuck O. (OK, you win with the dead guy, Chuck!)

I’ve seen plenty of disgusting things, but the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen was a porcupine on U.S. Route 62 in Warren. It was dead, so I spent plenty of time looking at it….and then felt really weird about examining roadkill.

 Worth Reading

*Big Brother Fitbit Flex is watching tracking you. If you’re looking to get a handle on exactly how much exercise you’re getting every day and are considering strapping on a fitness tracker (think those armband things you wear that meausure your activities, calorie burn, sleep, etc.), word has it the new Fitbit Flex is the cream of the current crop.

* Should you eat before a morning workout? Probably.

* Too busy to train for a marathon? Here’s one that anyone…and I do mean anyone…can finish.

* The real cause of muscle cramps (it’s not what you might think) and how to avoid them. (I can vouch for this…learned it the hard way)

Video of the Week

Leave it to SNL to do the best parody commercials ever. This New Balance commercial is hysterical:

T-shirt of the Week

In honor of tonight’s final episode of The Office, the classic Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race For the Cure race T-shirt:

Available here for $16.95.

Worth Reading

* Do you feel like you’re faster in the dark? Here’s why.

* A Penn State Behrend alumna shares her 2013 Boston Marathon story.

* New York Times: A Moment from the Boston Marathon. Through audio, stories & photos, this interactive feature highlights as many people as the NYT could track down from one famous finish line photo.  Stunning piece of modern journalism.

* Just can’t lose that extra weight? Maybe it’s all in your head: 10 psychological hurdles keeping you from losing weight and how to overcome them.

Fun stuff

* Test your Running IQ (Um….I failed)

* 10 ‘Healthy’ foods that are actually bad for you — a hilarious take by The Onion on the classic fitness magazine story.

T-shirt of the Week

Available here in various styles for $20+

Worth Reading

* 12 most annoying types you encounter at the gym. Snicker.  These 12 types of people are why I QUIT the gym and bought a whole crapload of weights and DVDs and workout in my own basement where I don’t have to deal with The Abdominator, The Fishermen, or those Herculass bitches.

* Planning a big-city vacation? Here, according to Outside Magazine, are the best cities for runners. I can vouch for Minneapolis.

What’s the coolest city you’ve ever run in? (post a comment or email me and I’ll include your answer in a Friday Q&A blog post!).

* Running & reading — my two favorite things in life (and, according to Will Smith, they key to life) — are being combined in a unique high school program that features Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher’s Run the Edge book (a worthy read, friends) and culminates with a 5K for students, teachers, staff, and the community.

* What it’s like to direct the Boston Marathon. A first-person account from the race director.

Video of the Week

Run with Ryan Hall. This is awesome, especially when Ryan shows up:

T-shirt of the Week

If you’re going to ride a $4K bike, ride it in style:

Available here for $79.99

Worth checking out

* 14 Things Every New Runner Should Know

* Water stop rules

* Why you can’t lose weight (pretty solid stuff here)

* Pondering a switch to minimalist running? Some things to consider.

Just for fun

T-shirt of the Week

Available here for $25

What’s the best or most memorable spectator sign you have seen at a race?

* “My mother’s faster than your dad.” — Mike Vieyra

* “At the Richmond Marathon, little kid was holding a sign that said ‘This is the worst parade ever!’” — Tom Grant

* “Run like you stole something,” — Amy Cronk

* “‘Hurry Up Mom! Daddy didn’t give up breakfast and we’re hungry!’ Full disclosure- this one was designed and held by my own children.” — Rhonda Berlin

* “‘Run like you stole something’ …that one gave me a chuckle” — Amy Davis

* “‘It could be worse, you could be giving birth!’ When I saw that I was like yeah that probably hurts worse ill keep going.” — Jessie Zahner

* “The sign read: ‘Tracy! Don’t poop!’” — Tracy Jenks

* “At the Forget the PR25K, going up this gigantic hill, there was a sign half way up that said ‘Big ass hill, don’t hate the race director.’ Finally got to the top & there’s another gigantic hill with another sign saying, “Oops another big ass hill.” — Linda Young

* “It’s OK! You aren’t last!” — Lisa Shade

* “Way to go James Monroe!” — Eloise Hawking

* “The WORST race sign in a marathon is ‘Almost there.”” — Dan Cass

Here are a couple of my favorites from last year’s Cleveland marathon.

This guy below made me laugh out loud at the 12th mile:

And, this sign is awesome because of the girl holding it:

AND….some fun ones I found on the Internets at this whole blog dedicated to race signs:

Worth checking out

* Tips for a successful first marathon (some good tips here)

* Did you wear too many layers? Here’s how to carry your jacket without looking like a superhero.

* Check out this new concept for a key/cash running wristband that even a guy would wear. I actually want one of these.

* The Runner. A profile of 101-year-old marathoner Fauja Singh by ESPN Magazine.

* Jim Lang from Big White Trailer race timing, reminds us that the Bemus Point triple crown series starts this weekend.

Yep, pretty much.

Video of the Week

Stupid, but entertaining:

T-Shirt of the Week

Available here for $30.