National Running Day 2010

Today, June 2, is National Running Day.

I don't run, but I have lots of friends that do. Are you doing anything for National Running Day?

The mission of National Running Day is to designate one national day to promote running as a healthy, easy, and accessible form of exercise.

The initiative of National Running Day strives to strengthen, encourage, educate, and inspire people of all ages to participate in an easy outdoor activity that will help them become more healthy individuals.

So if you're into running and doing something to celebrate the day, let us know with a comment!

Giveaway

Ok, who doesn't like free stuff?

I know I sure do. Whether it's samples at Costco or those one use ponchos at sporting events, free stuff is great.

Well, if you're a runner (or even if you're not) I'd like to direct you're attention to the blog My Running Buddies.

The site is ran (haha, it's funny because its about running) by my sister and she's doing a great job with it.

Anyway, on to the free stuff. She's giving away a $20 gift card to Footlocker.

And it's really simple to enter. Just go to her blog and leave a comment about the best excuse that you use for not working out.

I know that Brandon's reason is because Jersey Shore is on. But what's yours?

Oh, and please mention that you saw this on Just South of North.

You know you're at Bloomsday in Spokane when...

1. The Doomsday Hill Buzzard asks you to move your stuff because you're "in the Buzzard zone." I believe that is a first for me unless I've just missed other subtle signs of displeasure by large fowl in Cheney.

2. Somebody yells "Red Sox suck!" and yes, they're wearing Washington State Cougar gear. I don't know why, but people from WSU do not like the Sox and I can't quite put my finger on it. That being said, I also noticed a lot of Yankee hats today.

3. The mascots are dancing in front of the elite runners. It's an accident waiting to happen and fur is going to fly.

4. Somebody makes a swine flu joke.

5. Somebody who went to UW flashes a Westside gang signal. I was unaware doctors and trust fund babies did such things.

6. Somebody from WSU mobs the Cougar mascot, Butch, leaving him crying and telling police where the bad man touched him.

7. My ginger skin sunburns... mind you it was overcast and rainy to begin with.

8. Somebody says "Hey! There's a lot of people here!" Thanks Dan Fouts.

9. There are people running in "I like pie" t-shirts.

10. There's one stroller person that's waaaay ahead of the other strollers in like the Runners bracket and he's weaving in and out of traffic making "Fast and Furious" powerslides to get by people, pushing over slow pokes, occasionally side grinding it on the sidewalk... and this all with his 2-year old in the front seat.

Runners take over Lilac City

Today marks the 33rd running of Lilac Bloomsday Run through the streets of Spokane, Washington.

Over 50,000 participants are registered to participate in the 12 kilometer (7.46 miles) race.

Just South of North's very own Brandon Hansen will be down in the chaos of it all today. He's actually down there right now.

I heard from him a little while ago and he said the weather was, "butt cold." We'll have to see how that forecast affects the participants.

Here's the course the runners and walkers will be taking through Spokane.

Check back later today for more updates from the race and Brandon's thoughts on the whole event.

Naked pole vaulter runs through the streets

I found this on Comcast Sports. Someone, give him clothes!

A French pole vaulting champion ran naked with his pole through the streets of Paris and posted the video on the Internet, hoping to draw attention to his quest for a new sponsorship deal.

Romain Mesnil, who won a silver medal at the 2007 Athletics World Championships in Osaka, was sponsored by Nike but says his contract expired last year and was not renewed.

"It was probably for budgetary and strategic reasons. It's the crisis," he wrote on his Web site.

Many athletes have reported difficulties obtaining corporate sponsorship as companies cut costs because of the global economic downturn.

In his video, Mesnil runs with his pole as if preparing for a vault at tourist spots like Montmartre and the Pont des Arts across the River Seine. A black square has been added to the footage to cover his groin area.

The video has succeeded in drawing attention to Mesnil's plight, at least in France. It was broadcast on prime-time state television news bulletins.

Here's the video: