marathons

If you're struggling with dropping those last few pounds, then ditch the diet and race to your dream body — literally! Instead of getting frustrated, sign up for a race and start seeing results. Unlike the gym or diets, entering a race will keep you on track and motivated. It doesn't have to be a marathon, either; there are several beginner-friendly options like triathlons and 5Ks just for women. Between the deadline and a training plan, there are a lot of reasons why a little competition should have you well on your way to your fitness goals.

• There's a deadline: A set date means a set goal. With the race marked on your calendar, there is little room for procrastination or excuses. Because you have to be in shape by a certain day, it offers you all the more reason to create a schedule and visualize your dream body by a specific date.
• There's a plan: When it comes a training, find something that works for you: a friend, group, or program. To start, consider training plans for a sprint triathlon, half marathon, or a marathon. Remember, you don't have to do it alone. Training with a motivating partner is a great way to hold you accountable, and many races have local training clubs leading up to race day (that information can be found on their webpage).
• There's money involved: Races aren't free. On average, entry fees are about $100 — a bargain considering most diet programs. With money on the line, this is all the more reason to follow through and get the most bang for your buck. Aside from your hot body, you'll probably walk away with loads of swag, too — win.
• There's variety: Let's be honest — diets can be bland, and the gym can be routine. Training for a race (especially a triathlon) allows you mix it up. Between strength training at the gym and hitting the pavement outdoors, there are several way to keep it fresh and prevent boredom.
• There's a lot of fun to be had: Signing up for your first competition can be nerve-racking, but ultimately it's fun. Not only will you be training toward your goals, but also, you'll develop friendships and learn a lot about yourself along the way. Don't forget about the postrace parties, either. There's rarely a race without a celebration that doesn't include food or dancing!

It's time to redefine what it means to have a girls' night out — with a run! Forget heading to the movies this Friday night and start training for a half or full marathon. More like a dance party, these races take place in fun locations, require tons of girl power, and are nothing short of bright costumes. Making fun the main priority, there's no doubt this type of competitive spirit will bring you closer to your gals while helping you stay fit too. Check out the 5K, half, and full marathon races we found throughout the country; the hardest part will be deciding if you'd rather be rewarded at the finish line with bling, bubbly, or both!

• ZOOMA Race Series: Consider the ZOOMA series your fit weekend getaway filled with “mocktail” parties, yoga sessions, and a 5K or half marathon run. Awaiting at the finish line will be wine, live music, massages, and tons of girl power!
• Cost: Prices vary by location, but expect the half marathon to be around $120 and 5K, $90.
• Prize: A ZOOMA swag bag and tons of free goodies like massages and wine.
• Training Groups? Yes, find them here.
• Locations: Annapolis, Chicago, Cape Cod, Florida, and Austin.
• Nike Women's Marathon: The largest women's marathon in the world, the Nike series takes place in both Washington DC and San Francisco. The event is filled with a sense of community, stylish gear, and raises awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You can choose to run the half marathon or full in San Francisco; the Washington DC race is a half marathon.
• Cost: Price hasn't been set, but the random draw for the San Francisco race opens June 3, 2013.
• Prize: Ready for this? Each finisher receives an exclusive necklace designed by Tiffany & Co!
• Training Groups? Yes, find them here.
• Locations: San Francisco and Washington DC.

More "mocktails" and marathons after the break!

Going into the Boston Marathon, it seemed that Shalane Flanagan had the weight of the city on her shoulders. The hometown favorite, Shalane’s parents had previously run the historic race, and her sister Maggie was also running it this year. From the get-go, the crowds could be heard chanting Shalane’s name, which made the fourth-place finish that much more disappointing for the American runner.

When it was over, Shalane was visibly upset, holding back tears at the finish line, "Running a marathon is an emotional event; you pour yourself into the preparation and race day . . . I dreamt of a laurel wreath on my head but it didn't happen. But dreams are hard."

It wasn’t until the last moments of the race that Shalane started to realize a win might not be in the cards for her. While the elite women’s pack remained a close crew for most of the race, heading into the city, the front-runners began to make their move. “It [the breakaway] hurt a lot, my legs felt like Jell-O," Shalane said. "I tried to keep my position close but I was suffering . . . sometimes it’s just not your day."

And while this defeat may have been hard to swallow for Shalane, it wasn’t all bad. She ran alongside good friend and training partner Kara Goucher, who together had the distinct feeling of being "the hometown girls." When asked how it was to finally "come home," Shalane said, "These are the kind of moments as athletes that we dream of, I didn't want it to end." Later saying, "There were a few moments when I got chills, little moments that I will treasure forever."

For those still hoping that an American woman will make it into that first-place spot (the last win was in 1985), don't count Shalane out. At the post-race press conference, she said that while she does feel grateful to have fulfilled this lifelong goal, she will be back, "I still hunger for more. That's part of the beauty of sports, it's a work in progress." She's also happy to take on the weight of the city again, "What's hard about [running] Boston is that Bostonians want it as bad as you do. We want that happen, we want it as bad as you do — we want to be the next Joanie [Benoit]."

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia is the men's elite winner of the 2013 Boston Marathon, finishing with a time of 2:10:23. This was only Desisa's second marathon; he previously won Dubai in January. Finishing behind Desisa was Micah Kogo of Kenya, and in third, Gebregziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia.

While Americans Jason Hartmann and Fernando Cabada broke out to lead the pack in the early stages of the race, the latter part of the race was dominated by a pack of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners. The last mile of the course was a neck-and-neck race until Desisa sprinted ahead during the last few blocks. Despite their best efforts, neither Kogo nor Gebremariam were able to close the gap.

Rita Jeptoo of Kenya is the 2013 Boston Marathon winner of the women's elite race; Jeptoo, 32, finished with a time of 2:26:25. Jeptoo had a previous win at Boston in 2006. Following behind Jeptoo was Meseret Hailu from Ethiopia with a time of 2:26:58. Last year's winner, Sharon Cherop, finished in third place with a time of 2:27:01.

The race started off conservatively, staying steady until the end. It became clear that the elite pack was running a tactical race, opting for a secure win over a personal best. Yolanda Caballero of Colombia broke away from the chase pack early on, however, maintaining a strong lead during the first half of the course. By the time the elite runners had reached the grueling Newton Hills, Caballero had fallen back into the chase pack, where Ana Dulce Félix of Portugal headed into the lead. Félix maintained her lead until the last few miles of the course, but with six miles left to go, the chase pack set their sights on the finish, and Jeptoo, Hailu, and Cherop began pulling ahead to victory. American favorite Shalane Flanagan stayed with the chase pack for almost all of the race but fell behind to fourth place, finishing with a time of 2:27:08; her teammate Kara Goucher finished sixth.

This Monday marks the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. The historic race is one of the most respected of its kind and also happens to be the oldest-running marathon to date. Often seen as a bucket-list item for runners — you do have to earn your spot, after all — Boston continues to attract high-profile, elite runners to its course.

This year is no exception: Americans Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher will be part of the elite women's pack vying against one another for a first-place win. Both of these women will face tough competition from defending champion Sharon Cherop of Kenya; Aselefech Mergia Medessa of Ethiopia, whose personal best of 2:19:31 puts her in the top 10 of all time; and the 2012 World Half-Marathon champion, Meseret Hailu Debele, also of Ethiopia.

Both Shalane and Kara were part of the US women's marathon team for the London Olympic Games, finishing 10th and 11th, respectively. While both women have trained for the marathon together, Kara may have a leg up on experience, having finished third and fifth previously in Boston. For Shalane, who grew up in Massachusetts, the race is wrought with sentiment. Both Shalane's parents have run Boston, and her sister will be amongst the 28K runners participating this year. This will be Shalane's first time running Boston.

If you are as curious as we are to see how Shalane and Kara fare, as well as the rest of the elite pack, be sure to follow us on Twitter. We'll be live tweeting from the Boston Marathon and providing frequent updates on how all the elite runners are doing.

Deciding whether to run a marathon can be a journey in itself, but it's when you actually sign up for a race that the real planning starts. And while your training plan should be at the front of your mind, don't forget that what you eat during those months is equally as important, says running coach and nutritionist Matt Fitzgerald. While you may think that you can eat anything you want since you are burning so many calories during training, not paying attention to diet can cause you to feel more sluggish, have cramps, or show up at the start line above your ideal racing weight, Matt warns.

Matt's book The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition: A Cutting-Edge Plan to Fuel Your Body Beyond the Wall ($18) as well as his training and nutrition plans he developed with PEAR Sports are meant for runners who are trying to improve their race times or to just avoid hitting the wall during the race. We spoke to Matt to get his top nutrition rules to follow when training for a marathon in order to stay energized throughout the entire 26.2 miles; here are a few of his important tips below.

Think carbs: Since they feed our muscles, you'll need to be thinking about carbs as soon as you sign up for that long-distance race. "The more you exercise the more carbs you burn and the more carbs you need. There's mountains of research that show if you have a high-carb diet that goes along with an intensive exercise program you're able to absorb that training better." Plan your carb intake carefully, but don't rely on junk food; your ramped-up running routine is not an excuse to have pizza delivery on speed dial. You should be getting carb intake from "high-quality" whole foods like fruits and vegetables, he recommends, in order to stay energized and avoid weight gain while you train.

Know what doesn't work: Everyone is different when it comes to pre-running foods, so what works for one person may be the worst food another runner could eat. "I can eat a turkey dinner and then go on a run and I'm fine, but there are some people who have to be super careful and they have to figure out for themselves what works and what doesn't," Matt says. His general rule for his clients is to not eat anything three to four hours before a long run, if possible, until they figure out what snacks work for them.

Keep reading for more tips on your diet when training for a marathon.

When it comes to marathon training, nothing can be more daunting than that weekly long run. In the midst of marathon training myself, I asked running coach and Sports Club/LA trainer Ben Hwa for his best advice for tackling a long run; here are his tips to keep in mind the next time you're gearing up for that 18-miler.

1. Go easy: "The purpose of the long run is obviously to run long! Don't try to race yourself and attempt to figure out what you can possibly run for the race distance. Build endurance and learn what running (or being on your feet for that matter) for the duration feels like," Ben says. Don't worry about your pace; you can focus on that when you do your interval and tempo runs during the week.
2. Eat more: Marathon training takes up a lot of your time as well as a lot of your energy, so make sure you have enough fuel to get you through those long runs. "Eat a lot," Ben advises. "If you're going to be exercising for a few hours, it's imperative to have enough energy stores to make the distance. If your stomach can handle it, it's much better to be in a calorie excess than deficit."
3. Have fun: Fitting in a long run every week can start to feel like a chore, but it shouldn't. Focus on making it fun instead of trying to hit a certain time, Ben says. "[It's] hard enough just to finish the darn thing. Don't make it even more difficult by trying to run it as fast as possible."