Hi All, I've got two web windows open so I can reply to the new thread and not forget about the old posts. Evryday, welcome and tell us about yourself. Mike, a mountain bike shouldnt be too bad on your back. I road bike could strain it a bit since you are in a bent over position while riding. I have a feeling you didnt lose too much cardio fitness during your running break. Start out with the bike, gym equipment, slow runs. I think you will be back up to speed shortly. Linda, 50 crunches?! I think I could do 5 maybe. How does your abs feel when you are done? I am seeing my doctor tomorrow for the exercise induced asthma I believe I have. I get it every time I exercise outside in the cold air. Bad too. Sometimes I can barely get air in. My old friend and first running partner (remember last winter) and I went to a Celtics game last week. We ran up 5 flights of stairs to get to the car. I was struggling to get air in when we got there. I doesnt happen when I exercise in warm air. Theresa, congrats on your PR. Your son is amazing. Do you read runners world? It has articles nearly every month about how to get your speed up for a race. Long and slow is good but you have to add speed workouts if you want to race well. Heres a sample of what Kim and I do. We run about 2 trails miles in a park. When we get to the soccer fields we do this speed drill... ...Run the perimeter of the field 4 times. First lap sprint one leg of it, jog 3, 2nd lap sprint 2 legs, jog 2, 3rd lap sprint 3 legs, 4th lap spring the whole thing. Then we get back onto the trails and resume our trail run. Bob, youre a giver not a taker. hehe. You offered advice to nearly the whole board but only gave a short sentence about how you are doing. My kids and I have Apr 21st off, which is my only day off that week since I have overtime. I was considering taking them to the marathon. Do you want a few more fans there? It would be weather permitting though as you know Boston can be iffy. Kim was one of the few that sliced through the wind. How she does it, I have no idea. The wind killed me. I managed to do 30 mins of treadmill last night. Ugh. Some treadmills differ than others. I was on this one that had slats in the conveyor part. It was hard to run on it and my perceived effort was difficult. Then I moved over to one with a regular soft conveyor and run with ease on it. Eliz, hang in there. Kayaking time is just around the corner. I am looking for a kayak to buy now. Kim and I might get up the nerve to do the Deerfield river this year. Laurie (still frozen in new england)

Thanks, Rindaroo and Laurie! Laurie, I will try your speed workout once we have a clear track or field here in Maine! Our mail is still not being delivered because our road is so icy. I managed 4.1 miles Monday and about 4.5 miles yesterday (my Garmin wouldn't pick up the satellite signal for the first time since I've had it! Bummer.). Rest day today - good thing since we're going to get more snow and rain! Have a great day! Teresa

I'm an idiot! I just posted an even lengthier than usual post on the old thread before I even noticed this one. Clearly, I'm not as rested as I thought, even after five days away from school. I think the only remedy is to spend the rest of this evening drinking wine and watching cheesy re-runs on TV. I'll catch up with everyone when I have completely found my mind again. Eliz

Teresa - they're not delivering your mail?!? What happened to "neither rain, nor snow, . . . . . .?" It's cool to think, every time you mention Route 1 in a post, that I live about 4 miles from the same Route 1. Of course, when I go north on Route 1 to go to work every day, I'd much rather be going south - all the way to the Florida Keys! (I have a photo of a sign for Route 1 in Key West on my desk at work.) Or maybe north all the way to Maine again some day, but definitely not until summer! Eliz

test post. Trying to get the pic of Kim and me to work.

Laurie, guess testing works finishing up a short trip to Apex, NC for yet another plant survey. this one was a lot simpler, so ended up only one day. it will take up most of the day to get home tomorrow anyway. I'll have some serious work to do to get rid of the eating I did today. Lunch was at a little seafood place and had a fish "sandwich" in which the piece of fish was twice the size of the bun! of course it came with hushpuppies and coleslaw and since i didn't want to go hungry, a cup of gumbo. At 7, for unknown reasons i was hungry again, so we went to a barbeque place that the guys at the plant recommended and ate entirely too much once again. the guy that I was with was going to order what i got (BBQ and fried shrimp combo) and wanted to know if they were decent portions. the waitress said "it comes on two plates, think that'll be enough?" it was more than enough by a long shot. I threw away 1/3 of the shrimp and 9 of the 12 hushpuppies. Eliz--I read your post, even if it's on the old thread. that's the glory of having the last post show up. some of us might call that a senior moment, but I don't think you're quite to that age yet. Linda--thanks for the new thread. am I really that picky about long threads? best wishes to you and your dad. sounds really tough to be going through. but that is a serious no giving up attitude. good night to everyone else--time for bed. Kevin

Kevin - I was only teasing. I always am thinking that its time for a new thread just about the time you mention it Laurie - Good luck with the inhaler. Let us know how it goes. I made it to the gym this morning & did much better today - 3/3 run walk & some weights.