There are a number of funny stories based on the experiences of professional runners or other people with running hobbies. One example is this story, by Baldrunner about his daughter’s stolen race number.

Baldrunner’s daughter and son joined a marathon event in Los Angeles. It was his son’s first time running, and his daughter’s second. In the United States, the registered runners usually get their race packets in a hotel in Downtown Los Angeles the day before the event. When his daughter picked up her race packets, she found out that her designated race number was gone. Another runner had stolen her number; despite the strict policies against running another someone else’s number. His daughter was given a new number and a runner’s chip.

Later on, it was found out that his daughter’s race number was used by an unidentified male runner who went ahead to the marathon. This unidentified runner completed the race in 2 hours, 33 minutes, and 3 seconds with a split time on 10K in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 14 seconds. His pace was 10:40 minutes in the 10K and 11:41 minutes in the half-marathon. The unidentified runner was not registered as a participant in the race and merely used Baldrunner’s daughter’s race number.

In the United States, registration for road marathons is conducted online or through a specified Internet site. Late registration is conducted one day before the event at the selected place where the registered runners get their race packets.

A dislocated kneecap, or patellar subluxation, is a common running injury. Knowledge and understanding of this injury is important for its effective treatment.

Kneecap, or patella, is a triangle-shaped bone that covers the knee. The kneecap is designed to fit in the centre of the groove called trochlea. As the knee turns, the kneecap slides down and up a groove on the end of the femur (the thigh bone). Dislocation occurs when the kneecap slips to one side and around to the outside of the knee. A dislocated kneecap produces acute indications like pain and it can leave patients unable to walk. For the first few hours, muscle spasms and swelling develop. For a 2nd degree sprain, pain is usually average to severe. A dislocated kneecap can damage the knee joint and can lead to constant knee pain.

A dislocated kneecap can be prevented through proper practise when exercising and playing sports. It is also important to maintain the flexibility and strength of the knee. Physical therapy exercises are also recommended to help recover leg and joint strength. Patients can undergo x-rays to examine how the kneecap fits in its groove and to eliminate other potential causes of pain, such as tear in the ligaments of the knee or in cartilage.

Initial remedies for a dislocated kneecap include a cylinder cast or knee immobiliser, and light and dynamic range-of-motion (‘ROM’) exercises. Bracing of the knee can be also applied as a short-term solution

Running is an exercise that anyone can enjoy. It has helpful benefits, like weight loss, improvement in cardiovascular health, and bone and muscle mass development. It has emotional benefits as well. Nevertheless, one of the common injuries that a runner could get is an ankle sprain.

When ligaments are torn or stretched, a sprain can occur and will definitely affect a runner’s performance. Ligaments are the tissues that connect our bones and maintain their position. When running, much stress and pressure is put on our ankles, and they can be easily sprained. Ankle sprains are very common among runners. It happens when jumping or twisting and the ankle gets pulled out of a normal position. Irregularities or objects on the track are common causes of ankle strain for runners.

Sudden pain, stiffness, bruising, swelling, inability to twist the ankle or difficulty walking are signs of a sprain. A sprain could be mild or severe. An injured runner who suffers from a mild sprain could feel mild pain and swelling. A severe sprain, on the other hand, is extremely painful and will definitely disable an injured runner. Only doctors can diagnose the condition of the injured ankle, and they can also give advice about how to treat it. The best way to treat a sprain is the PRICE approach -- Prevent, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Prevent using the injured ankle, take a rest and apply ice for three days to the swelling ligaments to stop the pain.

Some people run to shave off extra pounds; others do it as a hobby. If you are one of the few who want to take running seriously – and even dream of running in a marathon someday – it is important to start by putting together the right gear.

When buying running gear, there are a few staples that you need to consider.
This includes the basic running shoes, shorts, T-shirts, singlets or sleeveless tops, long sleeved shirts, pants or running tights, and jackets. Invest in quality running shoes that are made of durable material. There are lots of shoes on the market which are affordable but strong enough to take road traction. Take time in choosing shoes that are comfortable, rather than focusing on design – after all, your feet won’t be able to do much running in ill-fitting shoes.

There are several types of running shirts, tops, and pants available in specialty stores and it is advisable to get a few outfits for each season of the year. It is recommended that your running outfit is made from moisture-wicking fabric, which will prevent you from feeling uncomfortable when you start to sweat.

Aside from the basic gear, you can also invest in some running gadgets if you’re serious about running. Stopwatches are a must if you want to keep track of your speed at a set distance. If you want to know how far you have run for the day, you can get a pedometer.

Sometimes Justin posts his running goals and achievements on MySpace page. He thought that his story was not good to share because he had more quirks than most. Justin raced a 3.3 mile together with 243 people just this morning, and he ranked 6th place overall and 1st in his age bracket. He was pleased with his time, but he thought that he could have done better.

The story began when Justin decided to join the race at the last minute. Justin was not sure how to get there. So he went to Kinkos shipping and computer shop to look at how to get to the race. He knew it would take 45 minutes to get there and it was the only time he had. On his way to the race, Justin realised he forgot his watch so he headed back home. On his way back, Justin suddenly remembered that he didn't have cash so he called his cousin at 7:45 a.m. to borrow some cash. It was 8:26 a.m. when he arrived at his destination. Justin knew he was very late, but he wanted to join the race badly. He still needed to run down the hill to register. At 8:32 a.m. Justin was at the starting line. The race started at 8:35 a.m. and everything went well during the race. On his way home after the race he passed a school zone. The police charged him for speeding because he was going 38 mph in a 25mph zone.

For some people, running is a solitary endeavour, but having a buddy would be of great help. Studies reveal that those who are exercising are more likely to stick with it if they have a partner or if they belong to a group.

Running with a buddy may help a person take on this project seriously. There are several advantages to doing it with a friend, like you spent a good time together. Firstly, you can conduct a conversation with your buddy, which makes the time pass by so quickly, that you have no time to ponder about family or work-related concerns. Secondly, when you are feeling tired, your buddy can give you the motivation to continue. Finally, in case you get injured, your buddy can offer help.

When selecting a running partner, consider first one’s abilities. A beginner should not pick an expert marathon runner. Choosing someone who is more experienced could give you more motivation to improve but there is a danger of overstraining yourself. There are also Web sites that can provide guidance in searching for a running partner if one does not know anyone who can be a good companion. The job of the running buddy is to encourage the other person to meet the desired distance that the latter is aiming for. During tough times, the buddy will be there to praise one’s effort, but not to criticise the outcome.

The idea of a running buddy is not only limited to choosing a person, it also includes a pet.

People run for different reasons. There are some who run plainly for the enjoyment of running, but there are others who run because they realise that there are many benefits, like improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, improved bone health, better coordination, improved mood and relaxing yourself.

Those who are expecting to lose some pounds find running to be one of the most efficient forms of exercise to help them attain their ideal body weight. Running is a brilliant form of exercise for losing weight because it needs a great deal of energy. This energy demand means that the body burns a lot of calories while running. Better cardiovascular health is another benefit of running. It also helps maintain the right blood pressure and helps the arteries to maintain their elasticity. Running is also helpful for slowing the aging process.

Those who run consistently are less likely to feel bone and muscle loss when they grow old, compared to those who do not run at all. Their bones grow stronger as a result of running, which is actually a physical demand. Moreover, enhanced body coordination is a benefit of running, particularly from trail running, which is usually done on hiking trails.

Aside from physical benefits, running has also several psychological benefits. Most runners report being more contented and feeling less stressed than those individuals who do not run or exercise at all. This means that a person who regularly runs is not only working out to enhance his or her physical appearance but also the overall performance of the body.

Running is one of the most effective forms of muscular exercise, and it is also a part of the routine and training regimen for many athletes. Running is of great importance to athletes, especially when you consider that running events are sometimes the most awaited spectacle in many competitions.

Many events have their own rules and applications in terms of running. There are short races, such as the 100m, 200m, and 400m races, which are considered less strenuous than other events. There are also middle distant and long distance races that require competitors to struggle to win in a 300m, 800m, and 1500m, or 5,000m to 10,000m run, respectively.

Long distance races are far longer than middle races and sprints and they require a greater amount of endurance. Long distance races cover distances between 5,000m and 10,000m. They also cover runs lasting around 20 to 40 minutes. Runners in this race must have better aerobic conditioning and should be capable of endurance and stamina.

Another type of race is the Marathon, which consists of groups of runners that compete in a very long race. Marathons run for four hours and runners should have techniques to maintain their endurance, and sprinting knowledge must be utilised in the attempt to win. This race involve extensive training: up to 40 miles a week should be run by a trainee in preparation for this event.

Running techniques and strategies are always overshadowed by concerns for athletes and runners, but if you can enhance yours, it can create a big difference to your performance.

Many individual runners aspire to run fast, while other individuals have other purposes, like sports or personal reasons. There are different techniques and strategies in order to attain speed in running. Many individuals that have expertise in running or well-experienced athletes have their own effective way and ideas to enhance their running speed rates.

The main mantra can help as a guide to keeping running form more effective. Stretching exercises, such as Reach Out, Toe up Knee, Up Claw Back, and a Heel up can be effective. Self-focus, concentration, proper diet, and more comprehensive forms of running exercises are also the key for every runner, although there are some coaches that can provide inputs and ideas to help runners achieve their goals. It is also important to lose weight.

Some drills can be performed in order to attain the form and correct procedures for good technique. Tis can be very strenuous and requires adequate enthusiasm to attain an effective speed over competitors. Using the right procedures considerably reduces running injury risks, changes poor running habits, improves stamina, and improves running performance.

Running is an exercise that requires the exertion of more speed than jogging. Running is also known as sprinting. There are things to avoid during a running session in order to improve your speed and agility.

First, avoid running while wearing the wrong type of shoes. The proper and most advisable shoes for running are running shoes or cross-training shoes. Also avoid wearing the wrong type of clothing. In order to feel comfortable, wear clothing with specialised fabric such as dry-fit, sweat-guard and coolmax. Some beginning runners mistakenly run too early and too fast, thinking that it is beneficial for their running ability. Some runners wrongly stride further and land on their heels to improve their speed, but this sometimes causes injuries such as ankle sprains and fractures. Another element to avoid is bad posture. While running, you need have proper posture and lean a bit forward. Bad posture may cause discomfort and even injuries. Running may make you sweat more than usual. Avoid running on an empty stomach. Eat a light meal one to two hours before you run. Much of the fluid in your body will be expended, so it is advisable to take in lots of fluids. Some runners underestimate their water needs, sometimes resulting in dehydration. Overtraining should also be avoided during a running session. Remember that you expend a lot of energy, so you need to take a rest about once a week for your body to recover and for your muscles to be toned.