The 5K distance is often considered the "gateway" race. Crossing the finish line after running 3.1 miles can set a racing habit into motion with the quest to conquer longer distances and shave seconds off finishing times. In the stepping stones of races leading up to the bucket-list marathon distance is the 10K. Doubling the mileage from 3.1 to 6.2 can be daunting, but it's important to keep your Read more

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! This week's is an inspiring story about marathoner Desiree Davila, who will be representing the US in the Olympics for her first time. The following is an excerpt; read the entire story here. By Bonnie D. Ford At last January's Olympic trials in Houston, Texas, four top women had distanced themselves from the field: Read more

Fitness fanatics have a tough time separating workouts from life, so why should their wedding be any different? Here are some ways to bring an active lifestyle into your big day. Send out fitness-themed save-the-date cards with you and your partner doing something active, like standing on surfboards with a sign that says, "Water you waiting for? Put this date on your calendar!" Or use a play on Read more

Competing in a race is already a challenge in itself; add to that a bit of travel, and you've got a new set of factors to consider. To find out how to achieve race-day success when traveling across the country — or world — we went straight to the expert, Thom Gilligan, founder of Marathon Tours, a specialized travel agency for runners that provides travel packages to destination marathons. Read more

With the Boston Marathon a few weeks away, race season is just around the corner. And whether you consider yourself new to the running scene or a seasoned vet, it's never too early to start training for one of Summer or Fall's big races. From a 5K and beyond, here are all the tips and training plans you need to make yourself race ready. The Beginning: 5K Running 3.1 miles might seem like a Read more

We may be in the thick of holiday madness, but the New Year is right around the corner and I, for one, am already planning out my race schedule for 2012. Take a little this holiday weekend, and give yourself the gift of fitness by heading into resolution season with a plan. Here are training schedules for many race lengths to help you cross the finish line! The Beginning: 5K Running and racing Read more

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. Sign Up for a Race — Nothing gets you motivated like a deadline. Some favorite races: Skirt Chasers, in which women get a 3-minute head start before the men are let loose; New York's Fun Run and Happy Hour, which features post-race drink specials; and the Zooma Half Marathon & 10K series, which includes post-race Read more

After years of participating in the craziness from the sidelines, I recently signed up for San Francisco's most infamous (and most naked) race: the ING Bay to Breakers 12K. The 7.5-mile race crosses the entire width of San Francisco and draws thousands of participants, from serious runners to those who are decidedly not, and turns the whole city into race fans for a day. I love that my first race Read more

Running your first 5K race is a magical thing! You train, you run, and you realize you like the adrenalin of the race and crossing the finish line is a unique high. Many consider the 5K distance a gateway race; meaning completing this distance leads to other races. If you can run 3.1 miles why not try for 6.2 and compete in a 10K? Why not tackle a triathlon? Since many of you listed running a 5K Read more

Whether you've just started training for your first half marathon and are building up your endurance, or maybe you are a regular marathon runner, step one in running races is choosing the right marathon! Maybe you are looking for a marathon that's closest to where you live, or perhaps you've decided to make it a destination marathon and plan an entire trip out of it? Whatever the case, here are Read more