The Joy of Running

I really feel like I am part of some secret society when I talk about running. I was sixteen when I went for my first real jog on a whim. It was twenty minutes of bliss and I have never looked back since. I am not a race runner, I never ran competitively except maybe for the odd high school phys. ed. requirement. There is something innately personal about running, and I don't do it to work out even though it is one of running's token benefits.

For me, running is a kinaesthetic meditative experience. I tend to think, over-think, and then enter into what I like to call: übermetacoginition overload. Running really helps me wipe away the brain clutter on my occipital lobe. It might not even be what is really going on, I am no expert, but it does feel that way for me. Autumn and spring are optimal seasons for running, and I am pretty hardcore. I do run and bike as much as I can during the winter months.

The following are great sites I found for runners (beginners, novices, experts).
If you know of any good running websites, please please PLEASE leave a comment on my contact page. Good information, just like books, need to be passed around. There is already enough web clutter already ;)

Run.com
A great site for runners looking to get inspired by other people's runs. You can add in the runs you do and it is very user friendly. It is especially useful for people who travel because you can browse running routes by country.
http://www.run.com/city.asp?dest=Montreal+QC

Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training 
I know this program looks a little extreme, but his program is easy to understand and you can modify it to fit your needs.
http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/index.htm

I personally have a hard times with retail stores but Lululemon wins me over everytime. The Vancouver based company has blogs, bios, and information not only for runners but for yogis, and swimmers.

http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/the-abcs-of-running/?icid=wwwhpfall