In the loopy world of blogs, this is the first post you'll see. For us, it's the last.

From the time this blog launched with several contributors, it has always been in a bit of a gerrymandered space between the sports and health worlds, with some transportation and food thrown in.

We've lost some voices in the year since then, so it's with some relief that those of us still active move to Picture of Health this month. We hope you'll come with us so we won't have to miss you.

It's been fun. Thanks for all the comments!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Here are the top three half-marathon runners for each gender. Full results will be posted at nationalmarathon.com by 3 p.m.

(Note that times are not listed here, since we're not sure whether the times we have right now are gun times or chip times. Those should be available soon.)

Continue reading "Half-marathon top three" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: National Marathon
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The 2011 Suntrust National Marathon has started. Sunrise is at 7:03 today, so runners will be running with a new dawn at their backs for the first several miles of their run, which goes Westward, roughly paralleling the National Mall. 

Continue reading "National Marathon has started" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: National Marathon
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A WTOP article this morning about Metro being a non-option for athletes at tomorrow's National Marathon left me wondering: How frequently does this kind of logjam occur?

(For what it's worth, spectators can still use the system.)

Continue reading "Comparing marathon start times" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Baltimore Running Festival, Marine Corps Marathon, National Marathon, Philadelphia, Running, Traffic, Washington
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When the Suntrust National Marathon starts at 7 a.m. Saturday, Lisa Reichmann will already have been up for about 3 hours.

For the top Maryland woman at last spring's event, that won't be a huge change. "I wake up every morning at 4:15," says Reichmann, a former attorney who's now a full-time parent for three young children.

She will go to pick up a friend at 4:30, then drive southeast from Gaithersburg to the area near RFK stadium, where she'll join more than 15,000 people in the combined marathon, half-marathon and team relay.

Continue reading "2011 National Marathon preview" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Washington, Weekend
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According to marylandweather.com, we can expect temperatures just above freezing for the Suntrust National Marathon on Saturday: As of this morning, the predicted high is 45°, with a potential low for the day of 35°.

I've been running in shorts lately, but that temperature range would definitely be tights/hat/gloves weather for me, especially considering the early 7 a.m. start time.

Continue reading "Forecast for Saturday's marathon in Washington: A bit chilly" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Washington, Weekend
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What I’m doing: I'll be going down to watch the National Marathon on Saturday, then probably doing some makeup mileage on Sunday.

Why: I've never seen this relatively new race -- this will be its sixth year -- and while it's not as big as autumn's Marine Corps Marathon, I respect the ambition that it takes to call yourself the National Anything right out of the gate.

What else I recommend: The Keep Your Colon Rollin 5K gets 10 points just for its name. I know nothing else about this race. I'm also curious about the Great Escape 5K in Cumberland (both links after the jump).

Other options:

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Events, National Marathon, Running, Triathlon, Walking, Washington, Weekly roundups
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I wish I was one of those people who run outdoors year round. Heck, I wish I just ran anywhere year-round. 

But because it's too cold for me in January and February, and I LOATHE the treadmill, I just took more than two months off running, save for a few weekend 6-mile jaunts with friends when the weather was freakishly warm late last month.

On my way home from work this week, I've been pleased to see more and more runners out on the streets. "That reminds me," I thought to myself yesterday, "I really ought to start training."

I've checked the calendar, and sure enough, I've got exactly 10 weeks until my scheduled half marathon. I'm mildly freaking out, and also still having a hard time getting motivated to get my butt outside. Maybe I need a new outfit? Or maybe I just need a hard shove out the door? Signing up for races this summer and fall is getting me excited, but I'm just not quite there yet.

Anyone else gearing up for a spring race? Or looking for inspiration/motivation to get out the door?

By the way, I really admire everyone I know who's running the National Marathon or half marathon in a few weeks. Kudos for training through the winter! And good luck! :)

Posted by Anica Butler at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: General Fitness, National Marathon, Running
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What I’m doing: Checking out the Marine Corps Marathon (as a spectator).

Why: While the Suntrust National Marathon is growing, it's a spring race, and the Marine Corps event is what my running buddies all get excited about.

What else I recommend: I'm very curious about the Fire on the Mountain 50K. If it weren't for family being in town, I would almost be tempted to take a trip to Allegany County.

Other options:

Teach, Learn, Play 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, Miles for Megan 5K and Family Fun Walk, Fire on the Mountain 50K, Seaside 10, Turkey Trot training, KidsPeace 5K run and 1 mile walk , The Calverton School 2nd Annual 5K Halloween Run, Ghost Runners 5k - Walkersville, MD, Big Vanilla 5k for St. Judes, Headless Horseman 5K/1K, Mustang 5K Stampede and Scream & 1 Mile Zombie Walk, Baltimore Crossroads Cross Country Challenge, RASAC Run to Mamma, Pumpkin Pursuit 5K, Kemptown Elementary Fall Festival 5K, Halloweeny Fat Ass Ultra
at Spookhill, Union City Grill Halloween 5K, Field of Screams 5K Run/Walk, Teach Learn Play 5K, Monster Dash, St. Michael's School 5K Fun Run & 1.5 mile Walk

Susie's Cause 5K Run and Family Walk, Middletown High School Field Hockey Team 5K Run / Walk, Seawitch Fall 5k Classic & 1 Mile Walk, Harford Community College Ecology 5K & 1 mile walk

Continue reading "Weekly walking/running roundup" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 3:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Walking, Weekend, Weekly roundups
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Cincinnati will be one of several spring options for runners who were shut out of Boston. (AP Photo)

After Boston filled up in just over 3 hours last week, a lot of people are looking for spring alternatives.

Since I met my wife in Wood County, Ohio -- and since my original home state of Michigan lacks any large spring races of more than 20 miles -- I thought I'd take a shot at Toledo's Glass City Marathon. While a date conflict made that impossible, Ohio thankfully has two other big options in the spring: Cincinnati's Flying Pig takes off in early May, followed by the Cleveland Marathon on the weekend of the 15th. Here are some other prominent spring options around the country:

Continue reading "Other choices for 2011" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: National Marathon, Running, Walking, Weekend
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