Running clubs are local organizations that you can join to gain the support of fellow runners as a way to motivate, inspire, invigorate and improve your performance on the road.  But for all the great benefits that joining a running club will give you, there’s something else you should consider in deciding whether or not you should join such an organization.  When you join a running club you are not doing it only for yourself but as an opportunity to help others improve as runners: you are signing up to encourage others, to prove by your participation that running is a worthy effort, and to help others who are members of that club to run faster and farther, over and above what they might have otherwise thought they were capable of.  In today’s episode I’ll list some of the great running clubs that are out there.

Thank you to everyone who responded to my “Twitter Tweet” for running clubs!

Show Links:
http://theextramilepodcast.com
http://www.runnersroundtable.com
http://www.rrca.org
http://www.teamcrossworld.com/running
http://runmdra.org
www.kiltedrunner.blogspot.com
www.wanderersrunningclub.org
www.portlandfit.com
www.hughesvillerunningclub.com
http://bobrunner.blogspot.com
http://www.arunnerscircle.com
www.elementsoferin337.blogspot.com
www.thesaa.ca
www.e-venti.ca
http://www.lifetimefitness.com
http://www.jsrc.org/
www.runnersandwalkers.com
http://www.trailrunnersclub.com/
www.guelphvictors.ca
http://www.guelphrunning.ca/
http://www.redhairedgirl.com
http://www.runracine.com/
www.runningramblings.com
http://mcrrc.org
http://gvltrackclub.clubexpress.com/
http://www.fitnesssports.com/November_races/LivHistFarms/lhf_index.html
Fdip Blog of the Week: http://run350.blogspot.com
The song “Some Christmas Huggin and Kissin’” was by Geoff Smith
http://thegeoffsmith.com

When you are out there, running a race, and you find yourself (point A) behind another runner (point B) whom you are working to catch up to…there is a relative velocity between the two of you that is much smaller than you can imagine…and today, I want to help you imagine it…because once you’ve come to realize how small that difference is, then you’ll be better able to summon the energy required to exceed that speed and close the gap between you and that runner ahead of you to the point where you’ll beat him or her to the finish.  When you consider the difference, you’ll gain the confidence to catch up.

Show Links:
http://theextramilepodcast.com
http://www.runningpodcasts.org
http://www.runnersroundtable.com
http://www.tribballin.blogspot.com
http://www.teamworldvisionozarks.org
www.fleetfeetstlouis.com 
http://www.fleetfeetstlouis.com/flyer/main.htm#book
http://www.homesforourtroops.org
http://www.zachermedia.com/marathon
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13638.html
http://whatstheharm.net
Fdip Blog of the Week: http://royinireland.blogspot.com
The song “You Can’t Catch Me” by Cottrell Gant
http://www.cottrellgantt.com

So what is the point of giving gifts to each other during the holiday?  It is to express our feelings of appreciation, care and fondness for one another…and the best way to do that, with respect to gift giving, is to make the gift a personal reflection of what you know the person you’re giving to would appreciate.

Runners appreciate the little things; a good book on our favorite subjects, or something simple like a pair of gloves, socks or a water bottle…items which help to protect and comfort us during our daily runs…these are things that will be appreciated every day and serve as reminders that you, as the gift giver, really understood and cared enough to give something related to our passion for this sport and the importance we give to the gift of running.

Show Links:
http://www.roadid.com
http://www.roadrunnersports.com
http://www.runningpodcasts.org
http://audiblepodcast.com/phedi
http://www.runarmagh.com
http://www.trithemango.com
http://www.coopamerica.org
Fdip Blog of the Week: http://www.runcast.tv
The song “The Gift You Always Wanted at the Bay” was by Jon Caspi
http://www.joncaspi.com

Our core is our center; it is where our arms, legs and head meet to create the human body we inhabit and control.  It is where, just a few inches or centimeters above, resides the all important heart, pumping oxygen rich blood to all of our extremities.  In an anthropological sense, the heart is the focused center of our emotional and mental character….it is the mystical source of our kindness, charity, and love.  In this same way, our core…the very central characteristic of who and what we are is sometimes associated with our human identity.

To excel physically you must have a strong and powerful core, to excel as a human being you have to have a resilient and resolute center.  Work on that part of yourself, both physically and emotionally and there will be nothing you cannot accomplish.  Focus on developing your core and you’ll discover the power within yourself to run long and far and then you’ll find the strength to go on.

Show Links:
http://amilewith.me.uk
http://runningfromthereaper.com
http://www.catiefunrun.org
Fdip Blog of the Week: http://runningismental.blogspot.com
The song “The Strength” was by the Brothers Falloon http://www.brothersfalloon.com