Odds + ends for my running friends

A few interesting nuggets to pass along on this gorgeous fall day:

Some smaller races to consider this weekend, all in the outer reaches of the Charlotte area:

• The Got Monks? 5K and Fun Run takes place on Belmont's tree-lined Brother Paul Trail, which is named for longtime Belmont Abbey College cross country coach Brother Paul Shanley. Course is said to be "challenging but suitable for all abilities," a "dirt path that features gently rolling hills and bending curves." Details here.

• Out further west is the Spencer Mountain 10-Mile & 5K Road Race in Ranlo, just north of Gastonia. According to the race site, "The 10-mile course starts with 4 miles of flat, open road, continues with 3 miles of rolling hills, and concludes with a steep 3-mile climb." If you're up for the challenge, click here.
  

• The Redhawks 5K in Monroe is a very small race that starts and finishes at Monroe Middle School. Details here.

• And don't forget the first of Run For Your Life's Thunder Road Marathon Course Preview Runs (details here). A $10 registration fee gets you a technical T-shirt, a wristband giving you access to the water and Powerade stations along the route, and a large group of other runners to keep you company. If interested, e-mail Dexter Pepperman at dexter@runforyourlife.com.

• One update: The Rumble in the Woods, a brand-new event at Lake Norman State Park that features trail runs of 12.6 miles, 6.6 miles and 5 kilometers, is sold out after hitting the caps for all three races last week.
  

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Marvel at this story about how hard it is to get into the ING New York City Marathon, read a long-winded recap of my recent experience in the NYC race, then head over to the official race Web site and throw your name in the hat for 2010. Online applications for the 2010 ING New York City Marathon are being accepted now through March 5, 2010, with the lottery drawing scheduled for mid-March. (Note: There's a non-refundable processing fee of $11 just to enter the drawing.)

If you're planning to make a run at qualifying for Boston in December, something to be aware of: According to a Washington Times story published Sunday, "Word from the [Boston Athletic Association] is that the race is within 1,800 runners of filling its 25,000-runner limit. Those spots are expected to be filled within three weeks." Meanwhile, a friend of mine said he spoke with someone in the registration office this morning and learned that registration for Boston 2010 is "around five weeks ahead of last year, so they are sure the race will be filled before the end of December." Apparently, if you're planning to try to qualify at Charlotte's Thunder Road Marathon or at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort Marathon, my friend was told "there may be slots available still ... but they were not confident that there would be."

On Oct. 25, 300 Marines competed in a marathon in the Afghan desert to coincide with the Marine Corps Marathon held the same day in Washington, D.C. Reader Vince Esposito reports that his brother-in-law, First Lieutenant Leonard Niedosik (MAG-40, USMC, Camp Leatherneck Afghanistan), finished in 3:27 to place 24th overall. Niedosik, a graduate of Charlotte Catholic High School, is stationed out of the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point; his wife and child live in Charlotte.