Here’s a plan for the long run

Bloomsday came and went. Are you ready to tackle your first-ever marathon?

Using the Web is one way to get prepared and develop a plan so you get the best results and don’t train the wrong way.

Try this site to get a comprehensive view of how you’ll need to prepare: http://www.marathon-training.net. It’s cleanly organized and gives solid information.

Another option is the Tufts University Marathon Challenge — at tuftsmarathonchallenge.com — another well-organized site.

The Tufts marathon site is a section within the much larger site John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition. That full site is http://nutrition.tufts.edu/ research/jhcpan/programs. It has gobs of health-related information.

Speech Accent Archive

Know the difference between a Texas twang and an Oklahoma drawl?

One intriguing online archive has begun posting examples of the world’s diverse dialects and accents.

Developed at George Mason University, the effort is the Speech Accent Archive, at http://accent.gmu.edu/

You can even upload your own accent; Spokane Valley has, like, its own little twang, doesn’t it?

To find samples and compare accents, click on Browse, then choose the atlas/regions choice to find a sample.