Athletics: How To Run and Enjoy the Marathon - Chapter 15. Reference Guide: Where to Find Out More About The Marathon

(A Practical Guide To The 26.2-Mile Journey) By James Raia
Web site: www.byjamesraia.com  
E-mail: James@ByJamesRaia.com

Runner's Web Editor's Note:
We will be running one chapter of this book on the Runner's Web each week for the next 15 weeks.

Introduction
How to Run & Enjoy The Marathon, a series of 15 self-help and service-oriented articles about running marathons - the proper shoes to running etiquette - is written by James Raia, a journalist and veteran marathon and ultramarathon runner in Sacramento, Calif. A contributor to many newspapers, news services, magazines and internet sites, Raia began to run long distances in 1983, the same year in which he completed his first marathon, the California International Marathon, in 4 hours, 12 minutes and 30 seconds.
How To Run & Enjoy The Marathon is based on the author's more than 20 years of writing about the sport -- its nuances, its elite athletes and the running masses.
Since he began training for his first marathon, running has become an integral component of the author's lifestyle. Raia has completed nearly than 70 marathons and ultramarathons, including several 50 milers and double marathons. His fastest marathon, 3:07:42, was run in 1990. A two-time finisher of the Boston Marathon, Raia for the past several years has completed many of his marathons in the 3:45 range.
Raia, 48, has traveled to more than a dozen countries on assignment for myriad publications, Runner's World to Modern Maturity, The New York Times to USA Today. He also writes syndicated cycling and running columns, publishes two electronic newsletters, Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times, and is the author of The Tour Within The Tour de France, a travel/sports e-book about the prestigious cycling event. He lives in Sacramento, Calif., with Gretchen Gaither, a teacher and sculptor.

For additional information on his two free newsletters or his other e-book, visit the author's web site, www.byjamesraia.com or contact him via e-mail at RaiaRuns@aol.com.

Table Of Contents
1.Marathon No. 1: It's not all about pain
2. What Marathon? Plentiful choices abound
3. The Basics: Common sense for the masses
4. Marathoning For Dollars: Running is fitness on the cheap
5. Want To Finish: Join the club
6. Fleet Feet: If the shoe fits, wear it
7. Need Motivation? Take a break
8. Now Hear This: Just Say No To Headphones
9. Night Moves: Exercisers Need A Visible Presence
10. Women Marathoners: Running Safe Means Running Smart
11. Running vs. Walking: Marathoners Can Do Both
12. Runner's Creed: Share Thy Space
13. Marathon Time Limits: The race directors' dilemma
14. Marathon No. 1 (Revisited): Don't Forget The Little Things
15. Reference Guide: Where to Find Out More About The Marathon

Chapter 15. Reference Guide: Where to Find Out More About The Marathon

15. Reference Guide: More About The Marathon

American Running Association (ARA), 4405 East West Highway, Suite #405, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel. 800-776-2732; 301-913-9517; E-mail: run@americanrunning.org; web site: www.americanrunning.org.

The ARA provides information and support programs for people interested in running as a practical way of achieving physical fitness. The association offers members running shoe information, literature, discounts on exercise books, software, rehabilitation products and medical advice on exercise-related problems.

New York Road Runners Club, 9 East 89th Street, New York, NY 10128. Tel. 212-423-2292. E-mail: lynns@nyrrc.org; web site: www.NYRRC.org.

The mothership, the largest (32,000 global members) and most varied of the country's running club. Workouts scheduled daily, seminars, group events, a membership magazine, discounts to club events (including the New York City Marathon) and a comprehensive computer network. There's also the organization's headquarters, which serve as a locker facility, gift shop, administrative offices and meeting place for varied organized runs.

Road Runners Club of America, 510 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA. Tel. 703-836-0558. E-mail: office@rrca.org; web site: www.rrca.org.

The Road Runners Club of America is the national association of not-for-profit running clubs dedicated to promoting long distance running as a competitive sport and as healthful exercise. RRCA's mission is to represent and promote the common interest of its member clubs and individual runners through education, leadership, programs and other services, including various brochures and booklets

Runner's World Magazine, 33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, PA 18098. Tel. 610-967-517. E-mail: editor@rodale.com. web site: www.runnersworld.com. .

The monthly magazine is geared toward new runners, diet, exercise with coverage of major events. Regular columnists include Joe Henderson and Hal Higdon, two of the country's most prominent running writers as well as regular nutrition and exercise features for runners of all levels.

The publication's web site is comprehensive, with race results from around the country, links to complementary Rodale publications, myriad training, racing, and expertise forums and a thorough calendar of running events, including national and international marathons.

To read more about running and/or to subscribe to James Raia's free newsletters, Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times, visit his web site: www.byjamesraia.com.

© Copyright 2003, James Raia

Posted with the permission of James Raia.

Subscribe to James Raia's Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times at: www.byjamesraia.com. They're free and spam-free.