Hang up your potato sack. Summer relay races could use this little "pick-me-up".

Every July, teams from all over the world travel to take part in the annual Wife Carrying World Championships in Sonkajarvi, Finland.

The race is just what it says it is and is based on a 19th century tradition when it was not uncommon for men to steal women from neighboring villages. Can you imagine?

There are a few basic rules to observe in the race, the two most important being that all the participants must have fun and that the winner is the couple who completes a 278 yard obstacle course in the shortest time.

Style of carrying varies, although the Estonian-style wife carrying is my choice which is where the wife hangs upside-down with her legs around the husband's shoulders, holding onto his waist. (No fart rule in effect, for sure).

The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 107 pounds.  If it is less than that, the wife will have to be weighted with an appropriate weighted rucksack. (For all my Size-0-taken-in friends, keep your old potato sack--you'll be needing it.) If a contestant drops his wife, that couple will be fined 15 seconds per drop. The contestants run the race two at a time, so each heat is a contest in itself.

In Finland, this year's champion won a plasma television and his wife's weight in beer but I'm sure that the best prize is not having your husband drop you on your face.