If you're making the leap into road racing by running in a Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving, you may have a few worries about your first race. What if you come in last? What if you have to walk during the race? These are common fears among first-time road racers; even those runners who already have a few races under their belts get pre-race anxiety. Ease your fears and prep yourself for your race with these tips:

• Common Racing Mistakes to Avoid
• What to Expect for Your First Road Race
• How to Take Water from Hydration Stops
• Road Race Etiquette Tips
• How to Deal With Crowds at Races

It seems like every day another running friend is telling me about a running blog that they started, sending me a link to their blog, or posting updates about it on Facebook or Twitter. They write about anything related to running -- their training, race performances, funny things that happened to them while running, helpful tips for other runners. I know that I get inspired by reading all these blogs, and it's definitely motivational for the runners who are keeping the blogs.

Sharing your running experiences with the world (OK, maybe the entire world isn't reading it, but I'm sure you'll have some kind of audience) helps you feel more committed to your running habit or your training regimen. I've also talked to runners who have said that revisiting old entries in their blogs has helped them realize how far they've progressed or reassured them that they can make it through those times when they're feeling sluggish, lazy, or sore during their training.

If you're ready to join the blogosphere, here are some articles to help you start your own running blog and build your traffic:

• Top 10 Tips for Beginner Bloggers
• Create a Free Blog in Four Easy Steps
• 15 Tips to Increase Your Blog Traffic

Once you have it up and running, share your running blog here.

The U.S. economy may be down, but road race participation numbers are way up.

Some 9.2 million people completed a certified road race in the U.S. in 2008, up from 3.7 million in 1987. Of those, 425,000 completed a marathon (26.2 miles), according to Running USA, a non-profit group that promotes running. That's up from 143,000 marathon runners in 1980. The numbers are expected to be even higher this year, says Running USA's Ryan Lamppa in a recent article. "There is still a pent-up demand for races in the country."

What's behind the growth? Running is a cheap way to exercise, a fast way to lose weight, and an inexpensive way to socialize. Also, running "gives you something to control -- you can't control the stock market or the economy, but you can control your health," says Lamppa.

More:

• Slow Economy Leads to Faster Runners
• How to Save Money on Running
• How to Find a Running Group

After you've spent a long day at work, it can be tough to get motivated to go for a run or hit the gym. But you can try to keep yourself motivated by creating some running inspiration in your cubical, office, or other workspace. Here are some ideas:

Decorate your workspace with running memorabilia.  Post a bib number from a race or hang some of your finishers' medals. Or, put a picture of yourself from your best race on your desk, for a confidence boost.

Post quotes about running. Running quotes are a great way to boost your motivation. You may want to post a new quote every week, depending on what you're training for or how you're feeling that week. 

Get inspired by other runners online. There are tons of online running forums, like the one on this site, where you can exchange information and support with other runners. Of course, just make sure you don't spend all day on your computer talking about running. (I want you to get motivated, but I also want you to keep your job!)

More Running Motivation:

• Tips for Getting Motivated to Run
• Top Excuses to Not Run and How to Beat Them
• How to Keep Your Running Habit