Outdoor Activities

You don't have to tumble out of an airplane to make good use of a parachute. Running parachutes are gaining popularity with a host of athletes.

By Sara Novak

If you find yourself tiring or cramping quickly when running, it could be the result of poor posture. What is running posture, and how do you know whether yours is correct?

By Craig Haggit

Your running stride -- the way you move your legs and land on your feet -- determines your speed, endurance and risk of injury. What does proper running stride look like, and how can you master it?

By Colleen Cancio

If you're struggling to improve your running performance, you might want to think a little more about surfaces. Although it's easier to go fast on hard surfaces like concrete, soft surfaces actually give you a more vigorous workout.

By Jane McGrath

With all of the swimming, biking and running triathletes do in preparation for the big race, you'd think that that might be enough to get you to the finish line. But strength training is an important part of a triathlete's schedule, especially when endurance is such a big factor.

By Jill Jaracz

If the thought of taking a few extra minutes before and after your workout to help prevent injuries sounds like a stretch -- you're right. Though the experts don't agree on how much stretching really helps, there are some benefits.

By Caitlin Uttley

At the end of the race, will you be able to pull away from the other runners and finish first? To increase your speed, incorporate strides into your training.

By Clint Pumphrey

Running can be brutal on muscles and joints alike. Wouldn't it be so much easier to reap all of the benefits that running offers, while avoiding all of the pain? All you have to do is hit the pool.

By Dave Roos

Athens, Ga., has more to offer than just the Georgia Bulldogs and a rocking local music scene. Over the past two decades, this northeast Georgia city has become a destination for running enthusiasts who take part in the annual Athens Twilight 5K.

By Jennifer Sellers

If you're a veteran marathoner looking to set a personal best -- or a newbie seeking a flat, fast course -- the Berlin Marathon could be the race for you. It's the third-largest marathon in the world -- and the fastest.

By Alison Cooper

The granddaddy of marathon running events, the Boston Marathon has drawn Olympic hopefuls and runners from around the world since its beginning in 1897. The course is ineligible for international record setting, so why do countless athletes compete for a chance to run Boston's punishing hills?

By Jill Jaracz

From its inception in 1977, the Chicago Marathon has held sway as one of the world's largest marathons. Why is the Windy City such a popular race destination, and how can speedsters register to compete for the substantial cash prize?

By Gerlinda Grimes

If the most exercise you've had lately is walking from the sofa to the fridge and clicking through television channels, then you need a plan. But how can couch potatoes get the motivation to go running and even train for a 5K?

By Meredith Bower

Although you probably don't associate Thomas Edison with running, a 5K race is a highlight of a Florida festival held annually in his honor. Why do the race and festivities celebrate the famed inventor's life?

By Thorin Klosowski

Every year, Minneapolis kicks off spring with a 10K run known as the Get in Gear 10K.What's the race like? Are you up for a run in the brisk Minnesota air in late April?

By Stephanie Crawford

Are you a hard-core triathlete who enjoys swimming, cycling and running? Then you've probably heard of the International Triathlon Union (ITU), the world governing body of triathlons and related multi-sports. But what does the ITU entail?

By Marie Willsey

After a series of false starts, the 25-year-old LA Marathon hit its stride this year with a new route called "Stadium to the Sea." Join us as we trace the race's history and find out what makes it unique.

By Kevin P. Allen

How about going for a run to visit the Queen of England? Along with Boston, New York, Chicago and Berlin, the city of London is one of the world's top five marathons and part of the World Marathon Major series.

By Gerlinda Grimes

You might think that a race called the Marine Corps Marathon would be open primarily to runners from the armed forces, but anyone can run. Is this famous marathon as tough as its namesake?

By Nathan Chandler

Imagine hundreds of thousands of runners from every walk of life and every skill level taking part in one 10K race at the same time. That's exactly the idea behind the Nike+ Human Race.

By Debra Ronca

The New York City Marathon is one of the most prestigious races in the world. What factors helped it grow from 127 entrants to nearly 38,000 in a 40-year span?

By Josh Briggs

If you're a marathon runner with an appreciation for stunning locales, then the Marathon de Paris may be for you. But how do you register, and what does the course have to offer?

By Emilie Sennebogen

What event has 55,000 people consuming 34 million calories in just a few hours? Atlanta's Peachtree Road Race, of course! How did this event become the world's largest 10K -- and why is it so popular? Let's find out.

By Josh Briggs

Peak fitness and rock might seem at ends. On the one hand, you have protein shakes and training runs; on the other, all-nighters and beer runs. But to the folks behind the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, running 26.2 miles and partying aren't mutually exclusive activities.

By Julia Layton

This is a unique marathon because many runners discard notions of running a personal best in favor of giving themselves time to stop and photograph the various landmarks along the route. Let's take a tour of this romantic race.

By Kevin P. Allen