(by Paul Marmaro) Training with my two brothers on a recent cruise inspired me to contemplate how others might maintain the fitness routines and healthy lifestyles

To stretch or not to stretch? That's a question millions of runners ask themselves daily, but results from a USA Track & Field-sponsored clinical trial involving close to 3,000 runners confirm there is no difference in the risk of injury for those who stretched before running and those who did not.

Most marathon training programs include increasing mileage, tempo runs, mile repeats and long runs that build up to 20-milers. When it comes to long runs that prepare runners for marathons, it seems that everyone talks about “getting in their 20-milers.” Often I hear something such as, “I’m not really ready as I only got in two 20-milers.” But with all of the variables in marathon training including total mileage base, marathon experience, track speed, and mental strength, is the inclusion of one or many 20-milers a necessity or a myth?