The month of November is here and

it's another busy one for runners with many marathons and half marathons on the race schedule. And Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots are more popular than ever. What better way to start out the day than by running in a road race with friends and family. Wherever you run this month, have a great time! 

If you're looking for a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot or a race to run this weekend, you can find it in the Running Journal race calendar. Click here to find a race now.  

The November issue features articles by Pete Rea on how including hill workouts in our training can help to build strength and speed. Traci Harris shares her story of participating in an overnight team relay, and Lena Hollmann discusses the various reasons why we run. All this, stories from our readers, race results, and our comprehensive race calendar.    

If you are not currently a subscriber to Running Journal, see the special offer at the end of this newsletter and subscribe today!

Fifteen-year-old Alana Hadley of Charlotte, NC, won the Queens Royals Challenge 5K at McAlpine Greenway Park in Charlotte Oct. 12. She bested a field of 217 mostly collegiate athletes. She took over the lead at 800 meters and led the rest of the way, winning in 17:16.74. She was named USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week. Alana is a high school sophomore.

What if you couldn't run?What would you miss? Dink Taylor, owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Huntsville, AL, had bleeding on his brain and was prevented from running. Read his column on the home page of our website at www.running.net.

The Little Rock Marathon was founded in 2003 by the City of Little Rock to provide an international running event and raise money for Little Rock Parks and Recreation. The race has donated over $400,000 to Parks and Recreation while building a local running community and industry.  Economic impact has reached over 4 million dollars race weekend. To learn more about the March 3, 2013 marathon and related races, go to www.littlerockmarathon.com.

The Berlin Marathon closed registrations in three and a half hours, reaching its limit of 40,000. Last year it took six weeks. The event will be run Sept. 29, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.

The largest 15K in America will be held March 9 in Jacksonville, FL, and registration for that Gate River Run, which is limited to 20,000 runners, is open. It's the USA 15K championship and a 5K, one mile run, and Diaper Dash are also included, plus a three-day running expo.

Info: www.gate-riverrun.com. 

Alafia River State Park at Lithia, FL, is the place for the 9^th Annual X-Country Marathon, 30K, Half-Marathon & 5K on Nov. 18. Promoted as the largest trail run in the Southeast with wide grassy and dirt paths.

Info: http://www.tamparaces.com/X-Country/index.htm.

Wade's Big Adventure is an event to put on your "adventure list" to run sometime. Too late for this year's run, which was to be held Oct. 28, but if adventure is your thing, listen to the description by Eric Flanders of Fleet Feet Sports in Memphis, TN (fleetfeetmemphis.com). "Wade Lewis started this grassroots race through the wilderness alongside the Wolf River years ago, and part of the adventure is in the unpredictable course. While Wade and his pals may claim to set the path, the course director is truly Mother Nature. The trail can be bone-dry and dusty or hip deep in water and mud. The path can be completely clear trail or have some unexpected tree jumps. The only certainty is that the distance is exactly about 8 or 18 miles - it's up to you! Leave your whole morning open for Wade's, though - the best part is hanging around afterward for burgers on the grill, licking your wounds, and chilling with your new trail runnin' friends!"

Running encouragement is an important reason to be a member of a running club. Sukie Nau, president of Miami Runners Club, said, "Running can be an intensely solitary experience and that's one of the main things that many people love about it. It's an opportunity to get away from the usual distractions and just be with your thoughts. But if that's how you always run, you're missing out on one of the greatest aspects of running - the social side. Most people find that the miles pass a lot quicker when they've got a friend by their side. The best way to stay motivated is to make your running interesting and enjoyable. One of the best ways is to run with a training partner." (Note: Running Journal has a list of southern running clubs on our website. Just click on "Resources" at the top of our home page and you'll find a list of running clubs. Click on any club to obtain info on how to join. Our website is www.running.net.)

Personalized race bibs are available to runners who register by Nov. 16 for the 31^st Ole Man River Half Marathon and 5K in New Orleans Dec. 15. Half marathon goes through City Park, along Bayou St. John and the shores of Lake Ponchartrain. www.runnotc.org/races/2012/olemanriver.html.

The Charlottesville Track Club in Virginia has a five-month training program for next year's Charlottesville 10 Miler to be held in March. Six program levels are offered. The program is just $15 for non-members, $10 for club members and there have been over 4,500 past participants. Goal is to guide each program participant to a safe and successful completion of the area's oldest running event and to encourage an exercise lifestyle. Runners meet each Saturday at 8 a.m. at the U-Hall parking lot near the University of Virginia's Lannigan Track.  

The program began Oct. 27. Weekly attendance is optional. Runners may register at any Saturday group run. Get info and registration training form at http://charlottesvilletrackclub.org.

Don't forget to send information on your race for the print and online Running Journal Race Calender, plus this Racing South Newsletter. It's easy to list your event. Click here to submit your race details to our race calendar today.