The Carnival of Running #51

Welcome to the 51st edition of The Carnival of Running!

Just a neat little animated short, sponsored by Nike but not a commercial:

Remember Berlino the Bear, the rather clumsy and self-promoting mascot of the track World Championships? In a worldwide journalistic coup, the Guardian reveals his secret identity.

Speaking of animals running into things, 14-yer-old Emma Ashby was hit by a deer during a cross-country race, resulting in a broken collarbone… for her, I mean. Running is fawny. It beats running across a mountain lion. At the Polar Circle Marathon, an armed ranger is on hand in case of polar bears.

Darren Baker didn’t encounter any wildlife during his ultra through the Amazon, but he did spend two days in a coma due to hyponatremia.

Running is a treacherous pastime. You could head out for a 10k race and suddenly find yourself in the midst of your first marathon.

If you’ve ever wondered about the business end of a major marathon, RichmondBizSense.com has some details. Also, the Naperville Running Company in Illinois was named the Running Specialty Store of the Year at the Running Event trade show. The 50 Best Running Stores in America were named, but I’ve been all over the InterTubes and I can’t find a list of this year’s winners.

Brooks has a Facebook app for runners. Try it out and let me know how it is. I exceed the age limit for Facebook and Twitter.

The New York Times examines what gets us outside to run in the cold weather. But if you’re out there with all those other runners, should you get a flu shot?

Here are another couple of questions: Can you improve your performance by training less? and Is there really such a thing as a second wind?

Lionel Shriver describes what it’s like to run late at night.

Jeff Bliss reminds us that your experiences while out running can be a pisser.

This week’s linky love goes out to Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics – sites for people who just can’t stop running.

That’s all for this week, friends. Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse! Submit your posts to carnival@runningisfunny.com. Until next time, run away!