Olympian Jeff Galloway is conducting free clinics throughout the United States to help both novice and experienced runners make the most of their ability.

Jeff has coached over 250,000 runners to their goals and is the author of more than a dozen books on running. An All-American runner at Wesleyan University, he has developed clinics for NASA astronauts, vice-president Al Gore and a variety of North American corporations. He also served on the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games, designing a heritage program to bring the Olympic excitement and fitness into area schools.

These lively sessions feature plenty of time for individual questions and cover key points that include:

-Maximizing training effect in a minimum of time
-How to train for a marathon/half marathon and not be tired
-How to stay injury free
-How the run-walk-run method allows you to run faster in races
-Fat burning tips
-Nutrition for running
-How to be more motivated

For specific locations and times, visit JeffGalloway.com. Dates and times subject to change.

• Daytona, FL -- April 19
• Sarasota, FL -- April 19
• Tampa, FL -- April 20
• Lakeland, FL -- April 20
• Charlotte, NC -- April 23
• Raleigh, NC -- May 3
• New York, NY -- May 5
• Mahwah, NJ -- May 6
• Springfield, MO -- May 12
• Salt Lake City, UT -- May 14
• Dallas, TX -- June 7
• Temple, TX (Scott & White Half) -- June 8
• Orlando, FL -- June 28
• Sacramento, CA -- July 10
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- July 26
• Pensacola, FL -- August 9
• Los Angeles, CA -- August 16
• Albany, GA -- August 23

• San Jose, California - Thursday, April 24
• Conway, Arkansas - Saturday, May 10, noon-5 p.m., Chamber of Commerce, 900 Oak Street, Conway 72032
• Dallas, Texas - Saturday, June 7
• Austin, Texas - Sunday, June 8
• Orlando, Florida - Saturday, June 28
• Sacramento, California - Thursday, July 10
• Fresno, California - Monday, July 21
• Fargo, North Dakota - Saturday, July 26
• Hawkinsville, Georgia - Saturday, October 11
• Princeton, New Jersey - Sunday, December 7

TCSD (Triathlon Club San Diego) released a preview of their 2008 race apparel:


For those of you coming down from your weekend runner’s high, check out this article posted by Active Expert Charles Stuart Platkin, where researchers have finally demonstrated the existence of an 'endorphin driven runner's high'.

Do you get enough sleep? Check out this study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggesting that Americans aren’t getting their Zzzz’s.

Did your favorite marathon make the list? Check out the Guide to Some of the Best Marathons in North America and let us know.

"You can't keep those women down, you can't get them back in the kitchen." Read the full story to find out which major marathon event director has his foot in his mouth.

Listen to this podcast from Endurance Planet, where USAT Coach Troy Jacobson answers a question about strength training for the marathon, finishing strong in a 70.3, and full Iron-distance event.

And last and certainly not least, ActiveX: ARMaggedon

Hey everyone, Trish and Toby here. This month we've created a guide to our best seasonal articles to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the holidays. No matter what your active passion may be, we've got you covered.

Lifestyle:
With holiday feasts right around the corner and weather that can diminish our motivation to train, it is not uncommon to pack on a few extra pounds this time of year. Active Expert Charles Stuart Platkin’s article, The Diet Detective: Fall Into Healthy Eating Habits, offers valuable tips for maintaining fitness without a compromise in performance at winter races and ensures a return to peak form in the spring.

Endurance:
Have you ever heard the saying, “athletes are made in the off season”? Now's the time to target your weaknesses and build proper technique and habits to lead into a successful racing season. Check out Boost Your Endurance in 7 Simple Steps and get the most from your off-season training.

Team:
Basketball season is upon us and it’s time for fundamental workouts with and without the basketball. Mississippi State basketball coach, Sharon Fanning, shares a 45-minute Workout that will developing confidence, coordination, strength, timing, and stamina on the hardwood.

Action:
Indoor Climbing Gyms Offer Year-round Fun Fitness and a nice break from the treadmill and stationary bike routine. Don’t let the winter elements take you off belay—utilize indoor climbing gyms to build stamina and confidence in a controlled environment. When the weather warms enough to head outdoors, you’ll be in peak condition.

Activities of Interest:
Check out Sacramento Winter Softball Camp by Olympic gold medalists Tairia Flowers and Natasha Watleyto hone your softball skills at the plate and in the field. Focus will be on increasing offensive power, slapping techniques, defensive fundamentals and pitching development. This camp will also feature practice-structure tips and drills along with valuable college recruiting advice from the pros.

Take advantage of The Classic Y-100, one of the last century rides of the year on November 25 in Ormond Beach, Florida. Crank out 100 in this inaugural ride that promises a beautiful route leading north along the Intracoastal waterway through parks and along the Atlantic coast. This event features a great safe route for beginners as well as 65- and 35-mile routes.

Folks in Southern California have already begun to register for the 2008 Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon on January 20. This was Toby’s first half marathon back in 2006 and he recommends it for runners of all abilities because of the fast course and beautiful ocean view.

See your training bear fruit at the oldest Ironman-distance triathlon held in the continental United States. Check out one of five 2008 Vineman events: Ironman 70.3, full Vineman, sprint tri at sundown, women's half or Aquabike during this weekend-long triathlon celebration.

Today, August 8th, begins the one-year countdown to the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing, China. Spending more money than any other host city ever, Beijing's venues are nearly ready for competition, with several staging test events in the next six months. To say that China is excited to show itself off to the world would be an understatement.

Fans of the Olympics should also be excited to learn that NBC will broadcast over 3,600 hours of coverage. The majority of it will be available via live streaming video online, a first for American viewers. This amount of coverage is more than the total of all previous Summer Games combined. Prime-time coverage will feature live swimming, gymnastics and beach volleyball.

Check out www.amazingawaits.org for a pretty inspirational video of Olympic highlights.

Ultra-marathon man Dean Karnazes continues to explore the boundaries of human endurance this week with back-to-back events. Today in New York City, Karnazes is running on a treadmill located on a platform attached to the Reuters building above Times Square. The 44-year old from the Bay Area is attempting to break the world record for a 24-hour distance run on a treadmill, currently set at 153.76 miles. This challenge is benefiting the organization Athletes for a Cure, which is dedicated to finding a cure for prostate cancer.

By 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, Karnazes will be back on the west coast, at the starting-line of the 34th annual Western States 100 Endurance Run. The WS100, dubbed the ?ultimate challenge,? begins at an elevation of 6,200 feet in Squaw Valley and ascends 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4.5 miles. Runners continue west, along trails originally used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850s, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet to the finish line in Auburn, California. The 2006 winner, Graham Cooper, crossed the finish line in 18 hours, 17 minutes, 28 seconds, while Karnazes, finished 15th overall with a time of 21 hours, 38 minutes, 34 seconds. It will be interesting to see if Karnazes? performance this year will be influenced by the 24-hour distance run.

This epic undertaking is just another day in the life of Karnazes, who completed a remarkable 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states this past year along with entering and completing a 200-mile relay race alone. Karnazes is an advocate of healthy and active living and has inspired many people, including myself, with his endearing persona and ability to encourage others to strive towards one?s personal best. Go Team Dean!

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Congratulations, the hardest part is over. Eighteen weeks of training and now only 26.2 miles separate you from your goal. Take a look at this pre-marathon checklist to make sure you don't start celebrating early.

• Avoid any unusual foods -- eat the training meals that you?ve found work well before long runs. Be sure to eat more than 12 hours before the race.

• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Your water bottle should never leave your side the day before a marathon.

• Stay off your feet, rest and relax. Try some light stretching.

• Use visualization during the day while relaxing. Envision yourself on the course. Think positively about all the work you've put into your training.

• Lay out all your clothing and gear for the race. Essential items are:

• Race number
• Running outfit, shoes and socks.
• Wristwatch - For timing/pacing in event
• Your race fuels
• Body glide or Vaseline to prevent chaffing

• Plan and prepare what you?ll eat for breakfast.

• Set your alarm clock and double check it. Make sure you have ample time to warm up properly.Sleep. Two nights before your race is the most important night of rest. The night before tends to be less restful, so don?t worry about it.

I am proud to announce that I have begun week 15 of my 18-week training program for the . I have covered roughly 400 miles of road, beach and trails, including My First Ultramarathon in the past three months. In order to maximize the benefits of my training, I have begun what the endurance world refers to as "tapering." Tapering is simply a reduction in training volume so the body can rebuild to peak strength. During this period, muscles have the chance to repair, glycogen energy stores replenish, the body re-hydrates, and joint and tendon inflammation subside.

Experts have debated over the exact number of days needed for a successful taper, but it is certain that the focus shifts from quantity to quality during this three to four-week process. Incorporating speed work, like the Fartlek Method, followed by a light day will help maintain confidence and prevent a common side effect, discussed by Active Expert, Gale Bernhardt in her article, "The Taper Blues." The blues can easily discourage an athlete who has become accustomed to high-energy expenditure during training because he or she will have more energy and feel stronger than ever before. It is imperative not to act on these feelings which may sacrifice months of hard work. Also, it is quite common for an athlete to overlook the fact that they are burning fewer calories; therefore they most adjust their nutrition plan accordingly.

Stay positive during this stage of rest, and use your extra time and energy to practice visualization techniques and review race-course and race-day details. Most importantly, remember why you are doing this in the first place and consider how far you have come and how you have grown as a person over the past three months.