Run On is our newest blog in the LA Observed family. Sara Catania, whose work I knew from the LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Times and her occasional blog, emailed to suggest she chronicle her training regimen to run in next year's L.A. Marathon. The hook is that she is not a runner — "have never run an inch in my life (except under duress)" — and she's doing "this most insane thing" in part as an AIDS benefit. And for other reasons, as she writes in her first LAO post:

Having turned 40 this year it would be nice to have something to show for it. “I ran a marathon” works for me. I'm also pushing hard to finish a book, which has engendered in me a new respect for marathons of all sorts. One might argue that running a marathon is yet another distraction from completing that daunting task. But the idea is that I will tether my training to my book progress -- each week I will cover more ground in both realms.

I'm sure there will be many opportunities for conflict along the way. Already I'm annoyed that fully half of the money I'm raising goes to administrative costs (I learned this after asking lots of questions at an orientation meeting). And then there's the running shoes scam-- I've been scared by the AIDS marathon fundraising people into buying $120 running shoes because I was told that if I didn't my feet would really hurt. But I bought the shoes and in my pitiful first attempts to “run” my feet still hurt! Would they hurt that much more if the shoes cost $100? And even more if they cost $50?

Catania's book is a memoir-ish examination of urban renewal on Chicago’s South Side. She also teaches journalism at USC Annenberg and will, I'm certain, tell you more about her life as the weeks go on. Here's her bio.

Also new around LA Observed:

• When the economy is failing you want a sharp business mind to make sense of things. Mark Lacter, one of L.A's most experienced business journalists, is doing a great job every day at LA Biz Observed.
• The Rosh Hashanah tradition of Tashlikh at Echo Park Lake with Jenny Burman and her daughter.
• In this siege of earthquake weather, Adrienne Crew asks: are you prepared?
• Since it's still legal to drive with a dog in your lap, David Rensin wants to teach Windsor to text for him.
• Every freelancer should be upset that Susan Paterno spent two years in court with Wendy McCaw, TJ Sullivan says.
• Deanne Stillman ties the Broadway opening of "Equus" to the slaughter of mustangs across the West.
• Mayor Villaraigosa's plan for low and middle income housing, as observed by Bill Boyarsky.
• It's been awhile since Veronique drove her old Plymouth.
• Denise Hamilton was thrilled to learn that some kind soul put a German production of "The Black Rider" on YouTube.

Plus quick takes on local sports with Phil Wallace at SoCal Sports Observed.