Before you head out for your weekend, check out some of this week's best posts from the Cool Running and Active communities:

•     Zoot vs Newton vs Asics Racer?

"My next pair of racing shoes will be from one of the above mentioned names, I think. I just don't know which?"

•     Can u maintain strength levels w free weights and train for a marathon?

”Played football in school and have always enjoyed running and lifting weights. I just ran a half marathon in San Diego on June 1st and I m now preparing to run my first full marathon at the PF Chang's in January.”

•     Sick and in training...please help me!

“I need some advice...  I am scheduled to run my first half-marathon on October 11th. On Sunday I had a fantastic long run (12.25 miles), and I felt great afterwards! I am starting to taper this week and felt totally on track...”

•     Do you bleed for this sport?

”Just found photos from Sunday's half. That's not a cherry flavored sport-drink stain dripping down from the S on my singlet. Pretty gross if you ask me.”

•     Running Challenge..

“This is the opening statement that is on the website that Pearl Izumi has put out there. Their advertising is in my mind awesome. My challenge to you all is that you 1) do not get offended at the statement below, 2) you challenge yourself to always be a runner (to me that is make it a lifestyle and not a hobby), and 3) if all you can do is speed walk that you do that because it is far better then a sedentary life.”

•     Deferring to 2009

“As some of you may recall, I had posted a response about not running pending a cardiologist appointment. That happened 2 Thursdays ago, and last Tuesday I went in for a cardiac catheterization, where the cardiologists inserts a catheter into your femoral artery, injects some dye and gets a better picture of your arteries and heart. Needless to say from the title of the post, news wasn't good.”

Before you head out for your weekend, check out some of this week's best posts from the Cool Running and Active communities:

•     Has anyone raced pregnant?

”I am doing my third sprint tri in July and I will be about 10 weeks pregnant. I have already received the OK from my doctor. I am looking for info from anyone who has raced pregnant - any advice, how did the race go, would you do it again?”

•     Situation

“Lately my shins have been hurting during the first couple of miles of my runs. I don't stop, it ****** me off that they hurt, so I just run through the pain and they eventually stop hurting after 2-3 miles, they're not sored afterwards or anything. Why do you guys think this is?”

•     Why Run?

"I know many on this forum have answered this before. Most of us in many different ways. I just find that if I can go out and enjoy a run under someone else's reasons then I am motivated for at least that run for that person. "

•     Open Water Swim and Jellyfish

”I swim off the coast of Wrightsville Beach, NC and every time I do so I encounter what people refer to around here as sea lice. After some research, I've learned it's actually jellyfish larvae.”

•     ironman entry

"Does anone have any tips on enterig an ironman sanctioned event? It seems pretty confusing--almost like you have to be at one to enter the next year's event.”

•     Nervous about my first 5k

“I have my first ever 5k in 2 weeks. I am VERY new to running. Friends had volunteered me for a relay leg in a marathon. I trained for about a month and finished my 5.2 mile leg in 53 minutes. That was yesterday and now I'm hooked.”