The Carnival of Running #1

Welcome to the opening show of the Carnival of Running! If you’ve never experienced a blog carnival before, you’re in for a real treat. The idea is simple: We collect the best, most amusing blog posts about running each week and put them in one place for your reading pleasure. If you want to contribute, just e-mail a permalink of your favorite blog post of the week to carnival@runningisfunny.com. That’s it! Check back here each Wednesday for a new edition.

Since this all brand-new to you, let me guide you down the midway. I am a student of the philosophy of Usain Bolt, who says, “I like to have fun and help other people to have fun.”

And while 21st Century Mom (nice logo on your new blog, “Mom”) reminds us that running CAN be fun, I think running is funny all the time.

Our carnival has some famous acts, like a cartoonist for the New York Times and ABC-TV Chicago’s John Garcia, the Running News Guy.

Do you want to be amazed and astonished? We have a big top, but not exactly like the tents that Run to Finish visited. Other carnivals have boring animals like elephants and tigers. We have Half-Fast in a gorilla suit, Runner Leana and her bears in the vineyard, Pip’s Squeaks and her taming of the kiwis, while A Marathon of Misadventures will thrill you with a genuine geese bombing run.

What carnival would be complete without games of skill and chance? Try your hand at RW Daily’s photo caption contest. Roll them bones! Running While Pathetic has more amusement park rides.

We don’t have clowns, but we have Dawn on the Run in a toga. We don’t have acrobats, but we have Paranoid and Running performing his acrobatic leaping leg cramps. We don’t have fat ladies, but we have The Life of a Skinny Runner.

Our sideshow is second to none. Who needs stale old sword swallowers when you can have zipper quigley, the Amazing Bee Swallower. Little Miss Runner Pants will astound you as she escapes the death grip of the tightening wetsuit! And don’t miss the incredible skills of The Vegan Ninja Runner

After all that excitement, you’ll want some refreshments. My So-Called Running reminds us, “You will eat spaghetti by the ton and drink so much water that your boss will think you have a UTI.” Or do like Quick, Like a Bunny and down some lasagna for lunch. …miles to go before I sleep… will stick to the pancakes and bacon. Then head over to I’ll Run for Donuts, before a nightcap of pedicures and margaritas (not at the same time) with Runner Girl Knits

We like to keep the grounds clean, so I Signed Up for This?!? will lead you to the restrooms, though See sRod Run says to make sure they have some TP. Run to Win sees a lot of trash from your visit, so be sure to clean up after yourself.

That’s our show for this week, friends. Remember, the Carnival of Running needs submissions from ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages. Send your posts to carnival@runningisfunny.com and we’ll see you right here next Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by!