The Carnival of Running #36

Welcome to the 36th edition of The Carnival of Running!

Training for New York? Here’s a little motivation for you:

Ruth Bendik was watching the 1982 New York City Marathon when her wallet was pickpocketed. Last week, it was found in the hollow of a tree, under five feet of compost.

Who needs a race report when you can read a post-race buffet report?

Want to run a 5k but can’t persuade yourself to devote the time to training? Andy Tarnoff went from the couch to a 5k race in one week. If he had had a heart attack, his story would not have made Running Is Funny.

James Burns, sports editor of the Merced Sun-Star, pens a tribute to runners.

Geoff Edgers of the Boston Globe wrote a column about how you should stop writing and talking about your running. Huh? His readers let him have it.

A non-runner asks us: Why? “I’m very interested in this because you would have to pay me a lot of money to run anywhere in public, let alone wearing almost nothing and flinging various limbs in several different directions. (This is what clubbing is for.)” she writes.

Here is one good answer.

A few days ago, I highlighted Ugo Sansonetti’s 800 meter world record for 90-year-olds. But in my mind his amazing accomplishment still pales in comparison to that of Frank Levine, who ran a 50:10 5k – a world record for 95-year-olds. “I have to watch my weight, watch what I eat, and stay away from young girls because they take away all my energy,” said Levine. Yep, those 70-year-old women will kill you.

Would you get a temporary tattoo with your target marathon split times? I think I’d rather have my emergency contact information, blood type and religion on there.

Here’s a little linky love for Running For My Life, Finny Knits, and Rookie Runner. Check them out. And Christy at Going the Distance makes the Running Is Funny blogroll. Woo-hoo! That’s at least two or three extra hits a week for you.

Two runners were banned from the Edinburgh Marathon for life for switching bib numbers. A man ran with his woman friend’s number and finished in the top ten female runners. Asked why he did it, the man replied, “A hae nae thochtie.”

Things are not looking good for the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.

Andrew Smith ran a marathon in a dog costume, but he’ll have to train harder to approach the world record for costume running.

Whenever I see a promotion for an eco-friendly running shoe I have the same reaction. If the shoe companies made their current shoes last twice as long it would be more eco-friendly than making shoes out of soybeans and rice cakes.

Just one man’s opinion.

That’s all for this week, friends. Stay out of summer’s fiery furnace and submit your posts to carnival@runningisfunny.com. Until next time, run away!