Win a Free Entry to the 13.1® - Los Angeles Half-Marathon!

Looking for a great winter half-marathon to run on the west coast? Well RunnerDude has a great contest for you! Enter now for a chance at a free entry to the 13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles taking place on January 16, 2011.

The 13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles will begin on the Venice Boardwalk  and end at the historic Windward  Circle in Venice for and unforgettable race experience. Amidst ocean views participants will enjoy a Hollywood themed half marathon celebrating the best of Los Angeles.


Both first-timer friendly and perfect for marathoners in training, 13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles will offer a scenic and festive run along a closed course with fully supported aid stations, live entertainment, and medals for all finishers. Participants and spectators are encouraged to wear costumes and enjoy a race “Where the Party Meets the Pavement”. 

13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles will take place on Sunday, January 16, 2001 beginning at 7:13AM on the Venice Boardwalk at Rose Avenue. The walker-friendly course will remail open for 3 hours and 30 minutes, a 16 minute/mile pace. For more information on 13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles visit www.131losangeles.com.

Racers are invited to join the official benefiting charity, Team World Vision to raise funds for clean water projects in Kenya and Malawi while training with local team groups. There is no fundraising minimum and team members will enjoy a Pre-Race Team Dinner, Pep Rally on race morning, and Post-Race Celebration Cookout. For more information on Team World Vision please visit www.worldvision.org.

The race is organized by the US Road Sports & Entertainment Group, a health and wellness company dedicated to the production of world-class endurance events. The mission of US Road Sports is to offer an unparalleled participant sports experience that showcases host communities and endures as a deeply valued local asset through events that are a part of the city’s culture, identity and brand. For each participant, US Road Sports strives to offer events that allow participants of all skill levels the opportunity to improve their physical and mental health and accomplish life-altering goals while having fun. US Road Sports provides sponsors and municipalities highly effective exposure to help maximize their presence and message in the community.

How to Enter:
To enter for a chance to win a free entry to the 13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles taking place on January 16, 2011, email RunnerDude at runnerdudeblog@yahoo.com. Be sure to put "13.1 Marathon® - Los Angeles" in the subject line and include your full name in the subject of the email. You have until midnight on Halloween (October 31st )to enter! Each email will be assigned a number in the order of which it was received. Then, the True Random Number Generator will be used to select the winning number. The winner will be announced on the blog on November 1st.

The contest is now closed and the winner is Julie Reyes! Congrats, Julie!

Must-Have Injury Prevention Tools for Runners!

Over the years, through personal experiences with running-related injuries and learning from the running injuries of others, I've discovered several "tools" that I think should be in every runner's injury-prevention toolkit. Check out the video clip below to see what tools are recommended. If you have other injury-prevention methods, techniques or tools that you'd like to add to the toolkit, please leave a comment. I'd love to see what you have. Always the learner.

Motivation on the Run and a Place for Your Key Too!

Do you have a mantra that keeps you going from day to day or maybe that inspires you on those long runs or tough interval workouts? Mine is "No fear. Persevere!" I know, kind of hokie, but it works for me. For other runners, thinking of an individual may be their inspiration. Maybe they're running in support of a sick friend or loved one. Or, maybe they're running for an absolute stranger as a part of a fundraising group such as Team In Training.

Doesn't really matter the cause, but having a mantra or a person that you're running for can be a great inspiration. Sometimes that inspiration can be even greater on those tough runs than a Gu packet.

A blog reader, put me in contact with a friend of hers (Ryan Bennett) who has created a cool new product that will help you spread the word about a cause or just help keep you inspired and motivated while your training or running that big race.

Ryan has created Heart on My Arm. Ryan says that Heart on My Arm was created to help people stay motivated while training and performing in athletic events and fundraising activities. Our core belief is that the people we love and are inspired by can help us achieve accomplishments we might have once thought impossible.

What is Heart on My Arm? It's a unique arm band with a zippered pocket and a clear plastic sleeve in which you can insert a photo or your running mantra. Or if you're a running group, you could put the logo for your group or your group's mantra. I've also found it useful for training. I stick my pacing chart in the plastic pocket so I can see my pace times on my long runs. The plastic keeps it protected and dry. Here's some other reasons Ryan says Heart on My Arm is unique:

• Capture your motivation in a picture or quote
• Zipper pocket holds your mp3 player, keys and other items
• Ideal for everyday training and use
• lightweight fabric keeps you cool and comfortable
• Throw it in the washer, air dry, and it's good to go
• Two Sizes to fit every arm
• Customized armbands available for groups and teams

The bands come in two sizes (small and large). I tested both. I have a pretty small forearm for a guy and I found the small a little snug. The large size seemed to work better for me.

Heart on My Arm makes a great treat for the runner in the family or for the members of your running group. The inspiration aspects of the band are awesome, but one of the reasons I like the band is a very practical one--it provides a great place to put my car key!

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Be sure to check out Heart on my Arm at their website and tell them that RunnerDude sent you. At the website you can share your story of how you used the arm band to motivate you on your runs.

Happy Running!