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Runners can choose to run a marathon, a relay marathon or a 5K road race through town. The 5K, which is the event I'll be choosing, starts and ends at Stroudsburg High School. All participants receive a shirt and a goodie bag. Registration is $20 until April 23 when it becomes $25. Most importantly, all proceeds go to the American Red Cross of Monroe County.

I finished 160^th place last year with just over a 9-minute mile pace.  I vow to crack the top 75 this year.  In truth, it doesn't matter where any of us finish. This 5K is all about friends and family, exercise and a good cause. I hope to see you there.

When the New York Times puts on a travel show, anybody who's anybody makes it a point to go. The PMVB was there.  Along with Skytop Lodge, we occupied a corner booth with a giant rock wall.  The tie-in:  The Adventure Center at Skytop Lodge.

The name is fitting, as participants will find all manners of adventure and outdoor fun at the center.  There is paintball, geocaching, rock climbing and more of the activities that make the Pocono Mountains a first-class outdoor recreation spot. Their rock wall is a good 30-foot, and several paths to the top will challenge even the most experienced climbers with difficult overhangs and tricky handholds. 

Skytop offers a rare combination of world-class facilities with tons of recreation on site.  When you go, visit The Adventure Center and test your outdoor skills!

As quickly as they came, the Olympics are rounding third and heading for home.  But just because the Games end doesn't mean your Olympic experience has to stop this weekend, too.  We still have at least a solid month of snow left.  If you haven't already, it's time to get out and experience the best of the Winter Games here in the Pocono Mountains.  As we all know, the athletes in Vancouver participate in a plethora of unique sports and activities.  But that's not what the Olympics are all about.  Above all else, the Games are about one thing and one thing only - competition.

I never snowboard alone, because it's just more fun to go with a friend.  And what results are races, competitions, and other "dares" that make the experience memorable.  Sometimes it's simply a race based on speed, similar to a Snowboard-Cross competition.  Sometimes we hit the terrain park and our jumps and grinds more closely resemble the X-Games.  But it all comes down to that desire within us to compete.  It really doesn't matter who wins or loses, it's the act of competing that gets the blood pumping.  And that, is what the Olympic Experience is all about.

One of the best ways to keep the races interesting is to switch the venue.  My buddies and I are lucky in that we have several choices around us that offer events throughout the season.  For instance, Blue Mountain will be holding another NASTAR race this Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  NASTAR races are aimed to let recreational ski and snowboards compete via a handicapping system.  For the terrain park rider, Camelback is holding a Gaper Rail-Jam on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.  Prizes are awarded for best trick, best costume and other quirky qualifications.  Or, you can practice up for Shawnee Mountain's Rail Jam on March 7.  Overall talent will be judged with awards consisting of the latest and greatest gear.

You have to ask yourself only one question:  Are you ready to compete?  If the answer is yes, the choices are plentiful.  Here's to wishing you a safe ride and a good buddy to eat your dust.

The 15^th was also my birthday and a very good friend invited me to go snowmobiling with him.  What a gift it turned out to be!  We went to Hickory Run State Park and found only four other snowmobilers all day long.  The trails were beautiful.  Many of them winded through old, tall forest.  Others went over, under and across bridges.  And on every single trail, the evidence of recent deer and turkey activity was obvious.  The hunter in me was loving it.  

There are 21 miles of designated trails in the park.  Boulder Field Trail guided us to the legendary national landmark, where we snapped some pics and took a moment to catch our breath.  Then, it was back down Stage Trail until another one offered up some new terrain.  We rode them all by the day's end.  And I can honestly say that every single trail was beautiful.  Some challenged our technical abilities; others opened up and let us hammer down on the throttle.   But every one was memorable and scenic.  Every.  Single.  One.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the temperature was a very tolerable 33 degrees and the trails were all but vacant.  The woods were ours.  When it came time to go, I left the park with one thought on my mind, "Happy Birthday to me."

I'll have eight options to choose from -  Alpine Mountain, Big Boulder, Blue Mountain, Camelback Mountain Resort, Jack Frost, Shawnee Mountain, Ski Big Bear and Tanglwood.  There are half pipes, terrain parks, downhill sections and various other challenges to slide down a hill on a snowboard.  With this week's deposit of snow, I know I'll be greeted by fresh powder and a solid base.  It should mark the best conditions the ski resorts have seen all winter. I would expect thousands will take advantage.

While living out your Olympic fantasies in the Pocono Mountains, stay up-to-date by texting "Olympics" to 639710 and receiving the latest Olympic news and standings, courtesy of NBC and the Pocono Mountains.

To me, skiing and snowboarding are sort of the main event for the Winter Olympics.  The time has come for me to test my skills.  Could I be an Olympic snowboarder?  No.  But that doesn't mean I can't have one heck of a time trying.  What's your favorite Olympic event?

Here's one more thing we can chalk up to the economy - innovative ideas.  As Sports Marketing Manager, the year 2009 brought some new leads across my desk.  The sports industry saw a growing number of obscure sports emerge from the woodwork and take center stage as traditional sporting events became expensive and outdated.  Sports groups began thinking outside the box, and the results were most definitely obscure. 

How obscure?  I was in talks with the American Cornhole Organization last year.  (Yes, that's their real name.)  It's like horseshoes but with bean bags stuffed with corn.  I also worked with the US Beard Team Nationals, an event which encourages weird facial hair and is managed by a charismatic "Doctor" of the mustache.  Then came the US Lawn Mower Racing Association, National Beer Pong League and scores of others. 

Of course, these groups got started because camaraderie and competition will always trump cash in the sporting world.  You could see most of these sports being played at NASCAR tailgates, backyard barbeques and any social events involving beer and men.  Most obscure sports organization's tab about history goes like this, "A bunch of guys decided to make it official one day in a bar."  Not eloquent, but real.  And the followers came by the hundreds.  Here was a sport that was fun, addicting, and cheap.  Nowadays, at tradeshows across the country, we see these organizations manning booths between such stalwarts as AAU and Bassmasters.  Their meteoric rise has been quite impressive, to say the least. 

And for now, obscure sports have their spot.  As Wall Street crumbled, the wild and weird world of wacky sports rose to the challenge and decision makers throughout the US took notice.  Expect these groups to stick around because, if nothing else, they are sure are fun to watch.

Promised Land State Park has a name that, if nothing else, makes us wonder what the park is all about.  It was allegedly given its title after early settlers were told they would find a "promised land" in the area.  In fact, many bought land based on the claims of its wondrous and magical attributes.  While it may not be the Eighth Wonder of the World, Promised Land State Park has a rich history and a lot to offer.

Much of the land was clear cut several times before eventually being acquired by the Commonwealth in 1902.  Three years later, the park opened to the public, cementing its spot in history as the fourth state park in Pennsylvania.  In 1986 and 1987, Bear Wallow Cabins and Whittaker Lodge became listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Like many longstanding parks in the country, Promised Land has seen its share of natural disasters.  Decades ago, hurricanes Connie and Diane dumped 20 inches of rain on the notoriously boggy soil of the park.  But as only the great ones can do, Promised Land bounced back.  A true sign of fruitful land, this park often has too many animals.  Bear and whitetail deer are so numerous that sometimes management initiatives are needed to curb the total population. 

Winter visitors to the park can enjoy hiking, ice fishing, orienteering, hunting and cross-country skiing.  Interested in snowmobiling? Promised Land offers more than 23 miles of snowmobile trails!  Those looking to ice skate should contact the park office for conditions.  Basically, anything you can do outside, you can do in this park.  

 In 1999, a pair of bald eagles began nesting at the 173-acre Lower Lake.  An estimated 11 fledglings have been produced since that first pair.  Perhaps these eagles are clinging to the "promised land" they've known for over a decade.  Visit the park this winter and you'll see why its name is well-deserved.

There are summer sports, spring sports, fall sports and winter sports.  Then, there are sports that can be played year-round, in any weather.  Paintball is a year-round sport, so we are lucky to have Skirmish Paintball in our backyard.

Skirmish realized long ago that distinct and unique fields make all the difference in a paintball experience.  With field names like "The Metalands," Black Hawk Down" and "Pentagon," you know you're getting a one-of-a-kind experience at Skirmish.   Their Invasion of Normandy and Stalingrad scenario games have become nearly world famous over the last couple of years.  These games attract thousands of players from all over the country.  And their Tippman Castle is unmatched.  On February 6, they will be holding their 3-Man Tippman Castle Winter Tournament.  Check out their Calendar of Events  for upcoming tournaments you won't want to miss.

Here's the kicker - If you post a positive blog about your experience at Skirmish, they'll send you a free pass to come and play anytime you want!  In essence, they're rewarding you for enjoying your experience at their fields.  If you haven't played paintball at Skirmish yet - how do I put this lightly - what the heck are you waiting for!

The five of us pulled our tubes up to the loading dock, where we handed the employee our loop and sat down in the tube.  A not-so-violent jolt started us up the slope.  It was like an escalator to fun.  The suspense was building as we heard the joyous screams of others flying past us.  Then, it was our turn.  We raced down the icy shoot at speeds that seemed to be 50 mph but were probably half that at most. 

This was my first snowtubing experience of 2010.  It was at Fernwood's Winter Fun Center and it was a blast. The perfect family activity - we took along a younger brother to share in the fun.  There are very limited risks, provided you stay in your tube.  You'd expect more while plummeting down a sheet of ice on nothing but rubber and air.  Another PMVB staffer hit Shawnee Mountain's snowtubing runs on the same weekend.  He reported a similar response... pure fun. 

All of our ski mountains and a number of our resorts offer snowtubing.  So no matter where you live, there are professionally groomed snowtubing trails nearby.  Take the family out or grab a friend and find out why I'm still grinning from my experience. 

Beginners will find enticingly low prices on learning packages at many of our resorts. Shawnee Mountain is offering 100 Learn to Ski or Snowboard packages for only $15 each. Ski Big Bear is cutting 20% off the regular price of a single lesson with the purchase of a book of five private lessons. Blue Mountain is offering a package that includes one free ski or snowboard rental, one lesson and unlimited use of their practice hills. And these are just a few ways our mountains are embracing the Learn a Snow Sport program.

There's never been a better time to learn to ski or snowboard. The weather is right and the prices are lower than ever. Learn how to ski or ride so you can teach the next generation and help keep the snow sport tradition alive in the Pocono Mountains.