The Warmup Lap | 3.16.12 - L.A. Marathon, NYC Half Highlight Busy Race Weekend

Happy race weekend, everyone! Is this weekend the unofficial start to marathon season? It sure feels like it.

Saturday is the Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon (formerly Nation's) in Washington, DC (I'll be running in the 1/2 Marathon -- if you see me, say hi!). And then things really get going on Sunday:

• L.A. Marathon
• NYC Half - the field is fast fast fast
• Publix Georgia Marathon - I know we have at least one commenter who's running the 1/2; good luck, Lady Commenter!
• Tobacco Road Marathon -- Stride Nation's own Denny Mayo will be running the 1/2. Earlier this week, he wrote about the uncertainty he's feeling heading into this race.

Are you racing this weekend, be it one of the above marathons or a local St. Patrick's Day 5k? As always, let us know in the comments!

Need a pre-race checklist? We've got you covered.

Oh, and speaking of races, if you are wondering when the Brooklyn Half will go on sale ... Keep wondering!

For two very different runners, the L.A. Marathon fills a need - latimes.com

Eladio Mendoza's predawn run began at 4:45 a.m. as a full moon hung overhead and a rooster just up the street from his Canoga Park apartment was still asleep.

After marathon failure, Ritzenhein aims shorter – USATODAY.com
Dathan Ritzenhein was devastated at not qualifying for the marathon - but not defeated in his quest for a third Olympiad

Jogging for dogs... or how Fido's fighting the flab | Mail Online
Pick up your pooch and give him a cuddle. Can you easily feel his ribs? Has he actually got a waist? Or is it more like a bit of a paunch that slides all too easily into a well-cushioned ribcage?

Sign-ups for Fort Worth Komen race lag after Planned Parenthood flap | The Dallas Morning News
Only 2,100 people have signed up for the April 14 race, down 43 percent from this point last year. If the trend continues, the Fort Worth affiliate would lose out on nearly $360,000 used for screenings, treatment and education.

Since this is what the forecast calls for in DC over the next few days ...

... I figured this would be a helpful link for fellow allergy sufferers:

Spring Allergies: 5 Things You're Doing Wrong | Rodale News
There's no one-size-fits-all fix for spring allergies—but natural remedies can help.