As of today, I have finished many half-marathons and trail half-marathons, climbed mountains and ran a marathon, and I'm currently training for another marathon and various obstacle races. What made this possible? CrossFit.

Before you click away, hear me out. I'm not going to try to sell everyone on CrossFit because it doesn't work for everyone. I am going to share why it works for me. In the three years I've been combining running with CrossFit, I have not had one injury. My previous injury was a severe case of ITBS, or illiotibial band syndrome, which led to hip problems. I went from crying tears of relief over three miles to more tears crossing a finish line at 26.2 miles. So what is so magical about CrossFit?

1. CrossFit is serious cross-training. CrossFit is based around improving 10 basic physical skills: cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy. Participants work to improve these skills through weight-lifting, gymnastics and metabolic conditioning. Good trainers spend a great deal of time each week making sure the workouts for the next week are balanced in all of these things. Looking through that list of 10 skills, which ones do not improve running?

2. CrossFit incorporates functional flexibility. The age-old question: Should I stretch before or after running? That has nothing to do with CrossFit's flexibility training, which is actually mobility training. The iron-rod backbone of all CrossFit is functional fitness, and that includes skill work designed to improve range of motion for functional behaviors. In my own experience, this has been crucial to my running success. Oh, and to answer the question, I do not advise static stretching before a run. Stretching ligaments, tendons and muscles before loading them with repetitive weight-bearing impact movement is not a good idea. Dynamic stretching is a better option. Again, this is just my personal experience.

3. CrossFit demands mental stamina. This is what allowed me to finish a marathon without hitting a huge wall. Yes, most CrossFit workouts are less than 30 minutes. Include 3 to 4 CrossFit workouts a week, and the mental discipline has nowhere to go but up. All runners know that mental stamina can be the difference between a DNF and a triumphant finish.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is backing President Barack Obama's call for Congress to approve military action in Syria, Politico reports.

“Secretary Clinton supports the President's effort to enlist the Congress in pursuing a strong and targeted response to the Assad regime’s horrific use of chemical weapons,” a Clinton aide told Politico.

On Saturday, Obama announced he feels action in Syria is warranted but said he had decided to ask Congress to support a strike punishing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime for the alleged use of chemical weapons.

Clinton isn't the only one backing Obama's moves on Syria. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) both said Tuesday they would back the president's call to use military force against Syria.

Nicole Richie is apparently bored, so she decided to turn her passion for rap music into a hobby. The star of "Candidly Nicole" hit the studio with upcoming rapper Ebone to record a verse about what it's like to get your hair done. Some might say she's just as good as Macklemore! Watch the clip, which is unfortunately subtitled when Ebone speaks, despite the fact that he's not only conversing in English, but also educating Nicole.

This little girl and baby gorilla friendship is just too adorable, especially since the two new besties are just about the same size.

Watch her mimic the gorilla's movements, making him -- (we're assuming it's a he) -- so happy that he asks for a kiss.

We don’t know much about this video of a baby gorilla and young girl making friends at a zoo, but we do know it’s adorable.

The two are mimicking each other’s movements, a sign of empathy. They even share a kiss through the glass.

it was uploaded on Aug 20 by Petsami, though we aren’t sure if it was uploaded elsewhere first.

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Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared that the collective figures minted by the movie on Thursday and Friday in India amounted to Rs39.87 crore nett.

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer Chennai Express is chugging on with immense steam at the box office. The film recorded an opening day collection of Rs33.12 crore, say trade experts, and it is expected to do well across national and international quarters over the weekend.

Heavy promotions for the Rohit Shetty directorial, coupled with a release on an auspicious occasion like Eid-ul-Fitr Friday, seem to have paid off. Even before the release, the buzz for the movie was strong, giving it a collection of Rs. 6.75 crore in the home country from paid previews on Thursday itself.

"We've received an overwhelming response from all quarters and the film is being loved by everyone," Gaurav Verma, director — India theatrical distribution, Studios, Disney UTV.

"Though Chennai Express is playing in highest number of screens for any film, we still ran out of capacity in most locations due to this huge demand at the box office and the film is on its way to create new benchmarks," added Verma.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared that the collective figures minted by the movie on Thursday and Friday in India amounted to Rs39.87 crore nett.

Said to have been made at a budget of Rs. 70 crore, Chennai Express had a grand release in over 3,500 screens in the country and 700 screens abroad.

The advance bookings for the film were strong, said Girish Wankhede of Cinemax chain.

"It's doing very well. On Thursday, there were 80 to 90 percent occupancy of seats. Advance booking was strong for this weekend. It will do very well in coming weeks also," Wankhede said.

Down south also, the movie has received a good response.

Trade analyst Trinath shared: "This is probably the best ever opening for a SRK film in the state. Even though people voiced about the stereotyping in Chennai Express, none had any issues with it and embraced it with a smile."

In the film, Shah Rukh plays a north Indian, who falls in love with a Tamil girl, essayed by his Om Shanti Om co-star Deepika.

The number of shows were doubled in Chennai for Chennai Express as Tamil movie Thalaivaa didn't release there.

"Since Thalaivaa didn't release, the number of shows for Chennai Express were doubled (on Friday). We had about 95 percent occupancy for the paid previews and most shows over the weekend are booked," a multiplex representative in Chennai, said.

Mumbai-based trade analyst Komal Nahta didn't find the film as entertaining as Shetty's previous films like the Golmaal series, but he didn't deny that the movie indeed got a "fantastic start" in India.

Internationally too, the film is said to be doing well.

In the Gulf region, it released Thursday and minted $435,000, with 28 screens yet to report. But it is estimated to cross $550,000 by the time all screens report, said a source.

In Singapore, two screens are yet to report, but it made $95,359 on Thursday.

Chennai Express, an action comedy, had only night show previews in Britain Thursday, numbers are 142,220 pounds with three sites yet to report.

In Australia, the paid previews Thursday amounted to $34,314, while in New Zealand, the figures came to $6,431.

Adarsh shared on Twitter that the movie took a "huge start in US-Canada", earning $2,60,000 (Rs.15, 776,020.00 approximately) out of Thursday night preview shows.

Officials at UTV Motion Pictures, which has co-produced the potboiler with Shah Rukh's Red Chillies Entertainment, are happy.

Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar was the biggest mover as he broke into the top-10 at sixth but rising star L Devendro Singh was the best-placed Indian at second in the latest International Boxing Association (AIBA) rankings here.

The 20-year-old Devendro (49kg), who won a silver medal at the Asian Championships last month, has risen three rungs to be second with 1550 points behind Russia's David Ayrapetyan.

Shiva Thapa (56kg), who won a gold at the Asian Championships, remained steady at fourth.

Manoj (64kg), who settled for a bronze at the same event, was 21st in the previous list but has gained significantly to break into top-10 with 800 points.

In other categories, World Championships bronze-medallist Vikas Krishan (69kg) held on to the seventh spot.

Former Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh also gained a couple of positions to be 12th with 500 points in the middleweight 75kg category.

In the women's rankings, London Olympics bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom (51kg) kept her third position in the list with 2050 points.

In the 60kg division, Asian Championships silver-medallist L Sarita Devi's position was also unchanged at seventh with 800.

Sexting is a practice you tend to hear about usually when celebrities, politicians or sports personalities get it horribly wrong, and usually when the other person has revealed all.

But we're not so far removed from famous folk that the rules of sexting don't apply to us too. After all, most of us have phones which a)can text and b)take photos.

"The pros of it – you can send on the spur of the moment when feeling particularly lusty – is also the downside. Lust is a powerful emotion when we’re in the grips of it. When it wears off, what seems sexy at the time can feel either silly (best scenario) sleazy or perfect blackmail material (worst)."

To be successful at sexting, the experts say, you need to be realistic about the type of relationship you are in. Sex and relationship psychologist for Durex, Susan Quilliam, said: "It depends on the type of relationship you're in and the situation at the time you’re in at the time of texting.

"It is most appropriate when you’re involved with someone seriously and you're emotionally close enough to know that they will accept it and not forward it on. It is definitely not a good idea early in a relationship and/or if you don’t know someone very well or send it as joke."

The phrase "pinup girl" often conjures up images of hourglass figures and vintage fashion. But how often are the pin-ups we see actually plus-size women?

Not often enough. That's why we're so excited that Hilda, originally drawn in the 1950s by illustrator Duane Bryers, resurfaced on the Internet this week.

According to the blog Messy Nessy Chic, Hilda is a vintage icon who was "one of history’s longest running calendar queens" alongside Marilyn Monroe and others.

“She’s a creation out of my head. I had various models over the years, but some of my best Hilda paintings I’ve ever done were done without a model,” Bryers said in an interview with illustrator Les Toil.

Click through the slideshow below for some of our favorite Hilda images, courtesy of Brown & Bigelow.

Woody Austin couldn't decide whether he should keep his 3-iron or go with a hybrid for the second round of the PGA Championship. He accidentally went with both, which cost him four shots and likely the chance to play this weekend at Oak Hill.

Austin was assessed a four-stroke penalty Friday when he discovered he had 15 clubs in the bag. His 71 became a 75 and put him at 4-over 144.

"Can't say I was angry because it was more of a shock, so you're like pretty bummed," Austin said. "I think after 20 years, you do one stupid thing of each, and that's the first time I've ever done something like that. Now all I've got to do is figure out how to get DQ'd."

Rule 4-4 allows for only 14 clubs. The penalty is two shots for each hole the extra club is in the bag with a maximum of four shots. That was a moot point because it was on the tee at the 215-yard third hole that he looked into his bag and realized he still had the hybrid in there.

Austin gave it to his son, who carried it the rest of the front nine.

It was the first time a player had been penalized in a major for 15 clubs in the bag since Ian Woosnam at the 2001 British Open. The difference was Woosnam was tied for the lead going into the final round and make birdie on the opening hole. He had an extra driver in the bag, and because Royal Lytham & St. Annes starts with a par 3, Woosnam didn't discover it until the second hole.

Austin has made his share of blunders during his career.

He is most famous for once getting so angry about missing a putt that he repeatedly banged his putter against his head, a video sensation. At the 2007 Presidents Cup, he tried to play a shot from the bank of a lake and fell backward into the water, earning the nickname, "Aquaman."

Austin, who qualified for the PGA Championship only by winning in Mississippi last month, said this might not have happened in better weather.
       

Oak Hill already is long for him, and two of the par 3s are over 200 yards to elevated greens. He was using both clubs on the range and decided to stick with the 3-iron because he was hitting it better.

In a light rain, caddies had covers over the clubs to keep them dry. He did not blame his caddie, Dave Lawson.