This past weekend was the running of the annual Tough Guy race in the English countryside, which touts itself as the "toughest race in the world." It looks pleasant.

Is the 2011 Tour de France cursed? Just one week after a spectator caused the massive pile-up at the beginning of the granddaddy of all bicycle races, a car covering the race for a French TV station sideswiped Juan Antonio Flecha during today's ninth stage.

Today's New York City Marathon is under way, and the winners from the men's and women's events are Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia, in his first competitive marathon, and Edna Kiplagat of Kenya. Chilean miner Edison Pena is running, too! [AP]

Participating in a 5K Turkey Trot benefiting the Red Cross, Palin opted out before the finish line. Her gathered fans were sad. To her credit: those holiday-based 5K hangover runs always sound like better ideas than they actually are. [TP]