United States of America eSeries: Can you go the distance?

August 28, 2021

I just signed up for my usual slate of races in early 2022 (fingers crossed that the pandemic actually lets up) and was reminiscing fondly on my first half marathon. I was so nervous! I thought for sure everyone was going to be very serious and competitive and I was somehow going to make a fool of myself. Imagine my relief when I realized the panting, sweating strangers around me weren't judging or trying to outrun one another. In fact, I tell you what, you've never seen encouragement quite like the kind you'll get from your fellow runners around, say, the 10th mile of a 13-mile race. Everyone's tired. Everyone's doing their best. But somehow, there's always still a little energy left to cheer each other on.

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Our favorites this week

Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week

Shine like gold
The Paralympics is currently underway in Tokyo, which means even more superhuman athletes doing superhuman things. Here are just some of the tough and talented people competing in this year's games:

Asiya Mohammed, who made history by becoming the first female rower to represent Kenya in an Olympic or Paralympic Games. Mohammed lost both legs and several fingers in a train accident when she was two. She competed in her first sporting event, a wheelchair marathon, when she was 17, and has basically slayed every sport she's tried since then, including tennis and track events.

Beatrice de Lavalette, an American dressage equestrian competing in her first Games. In 2016, de Lavalette lost both legs in a terror attack at Brussels' Zaventem Airport. During her long and grueling recovery, she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to resume her passion for horse riding, and she certainly didn't give much thought to a being a para-athlete. But once she was reunited with her beloved horse DeeDee, she knew she had to get back in the saddle. And, well, the rest is history in the making.

Abbas Karimi, who is representing the Refugee Paralympic Team after fleeing Afghanistan when he was 16 years old. Karimi was born without arms, and despite growing up with loving family, suffered from intense bullying. He found solace in the water, and became a skilled swimmer. However, he eventually had to flee Afghanistan. He moved through four different refugee camps in Turkey before an American former wrestling coach saw a video of Karimi swimming and reached out to help the young man resettle in the US. Since then, Karimi has earned success after success -- including qualifying for his first Paralympic Games.

Plus, check out some incredible photos from this year's Games, curated by our friends on the CNN photo team.

She's super cool!
Meet Super Sema, the pint-sized star of Africa's first animated superhero series for children. Super Sema is creative and innovative, and uses technology to solve problems in her community. But the minds behind "Super Sema" know their animated star has another superpower up her sleeve. "African children need to see themselves represented on TV, on media," says Clara Njeru (second from left, above), head of production at Kukua, the company behind the show. She says children especially need more role models in science, technology, engineering and math. So far, "Super Sema" is a hit: According to Njeru, the show has attracted 15 million views in a month. Oh, and it has a big-name champion in Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o, who serves as a shareholder and executive director, and even voices one of the characters.

Credit: Morgan County Sheriff's Office/NBC

Doing a double take
Now here's an important question: Has anyone ever seen Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and this Alabama officer in the same room? Because they could just be the same guy. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office posted a photo of Patrol Lieutenant Eric Fields on Facebook, because Fields has apparently developed a reputation around town for his, uh, strong resemblance. Predictably, the comments started rolling in. "Nice try," someone wrote. "You guys got The Rock working there part time, don't you?" Another person said, "It's cool that the Rock looks like the real hero, Lt. Fields!" Some said they didn't see the similarities, but c'mon! The smile? The head shape? The arms? For his part, Fields has said he's flattered by all of the lovely comments.

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Raise a glass to...

These four "Magic Makers" who stepped up to help their communities during the pandemic. As part of World Princess Week, Disney honored these four exceptional women for their courage and kindness.

Clarice Sanchez of Sandia Pueblo, New Mexico, helped organize Covid testing and emergency resources in her small indigenous community.

Joanie Cullinan started a movement which raised $25,000 for fellow firefighters with occupational cancer. After beating cancer herself, Cullinan is back to work battling wildfires.

Sarai Childs helped small businesses safely reopen by starting a PPE drive that has furnished over 2 million masks and thousands of other supplies.

Crystal Campbell works as a physician's assistant in an intensive care unit, and does everything she can to bring joy to her patients, whether it's through singing, special treats or just some extra TLC.

You gotta see this

Credit: Joe Bussen

Ah, peacocks are such majestic creatures ... until they scream at the top of their lungs and strut around like they own the place. Reader Joe B. sent in some cool photos of the ostentation* of peacocks that hung around the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station in Wahiawa, Oahu, in Hawaii while he was working there in 2017. "They can and do walk right in front of your truck, make you wait while they mosey along, and take their time staring you down," Joe says. "They have no fear of humans. I had been taking a siesta when one of them shrieked like a screaming mimi right next to me. I needed help to get my claws unstuck from the ceiling." Judging from Joe's photos, they also have no problem bothering you while you're hard at work, power tools and OSHA regulations be darned.

*That really is a name for a group of peacocks. I looked it up!

Heroes among us

Hygiene insecurity. If you don't know what it is, chances are you haven't been in a situation where it was difficult to afford basic care products like shampoo, soap and toothpaste. Those necessities can add up to be costly. When CNN Hero Jeff Feingold, a father of two, dropped off donations to a local children's shelter in 2010, he was surprised to learn that some people in need have an especially hard time securing such items because they're not covered by food stamps and are costly for shelters to obtain. So, Feingold started Hope & Comfort, a non-profit that distributes hygiene products to Massachusetts-based organizations. The effort that started in his garage now fills a warehouse, and Feingold says his organization has distributed nearly 3 million hygiene products to more than 200 other non-profits.

Wanna get away?

On the edge of the Qatari desert, on the eastern coast of the Arabian peninsula, long expanses of arid land give way to a network of lush mangroves and calm waterways teeming with life. Al Thakira is home to Avicennia Marina, also known as the gray or white mangrove tree, and the dense thickets here make the area one of Qatar's most treasured natural sites. Mangroves are great for biodiversity, as they can play host to all kinds of fish, fowl and other fauna. Nearby is Purple Island, which has been a center of marine activity for thousands of years. The island took its name from the red-purple dye produced centuries ago from the shells of a local mollusk. Take a stroll down a long wooden boardwalk and you're at the beach -- a perfect place to get back in touch with the nature that's thriving all around you.

Hear, hear!

No matter what our particular job, especially in our world today, we all are called to be Tikkun Olam — repairers of creation. Thank you for whatever you do, wherever you are, to bring joy, and light, and hope, and faith, and pardon and love to your neighbor and to yourself.

- Fred Rogers, in a message of comfort that aired after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. (Suggested by Jonalyn B.)

Who knew?

Making biscuits. Mashing potatoes. A little feline massage. Whatever you call it, that thing cats do where they knead stuff is definitely a top-tier cute behavior. But why? Why do they insist on tenderizing every blanket or soft human part they can get their paws on? Scientists believe it's a sign that they're really relaxed! Kittens knead their mom's belly as a way of telling her they're hungry and ready for milk. In older cats, it's similar -- most likely, they're getting ready for some snuggles or a hard-earned nap. Or they just really, really like you.

Rec of the week

Brought to you by CNN Underscored

Pumpkin spice season is here: 24 items you'll want to buy ASAP

In light of Starbucks releasing its pumpkin spice lattes this week, we rounded up some of the best products to help you indulge in all the season has to offer. Want to make your weekend cozier? Why not sip that latte next to a new fire pit?

Shameless animal video

There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.

I was going to find a video of a Patagonian mara for today because I couldn't stop thinking about them, but then I was completely sidetracked by this capybara compilation. So, either way, we're getting our giant rodent fix today. (Click here to view)