What do kids in Alaska do? They can't call off school every time the weather is cold up there.

They go to school, that's what they do! We'll cancel after school activities if it's too cold or too much ice fog, but too cold usually means -40 but this past cold snap had some things cancel at -30. What we DO cancel school for is freezing rain, which can just be awful here in the winter, especially after a long cold spell where the ground is super-chilled. Now we're having temps in the 30 to 40 above range, and the roads are very icy. In fact, my son's basketball tournament in Healy (just outside Denali Park) was just canceled. Roads are too bad for the buses, hwy dept says "essential travel only."

I'd like to do a survey of anyone that's ever done the Disney half or full marathon. I was trying to get my sister and niece to sign up but they said they had heard such negative things about people's experiences. How was it? Too crowded, too hot, etc. Would you do it again? Thanks for the feedback.

Well, I just did the Disney full, and it was a lot of fun except for the start which was too early (not so much the start time, which was 5:50 a.m., but they want you there so flippin' early), too much waiting around (just like srlopez said) and too crowded at the beginning. I got stepped on a lot and almost tripped several times. DH didn't like the signage on the way to the start, it was almost like they were punishing folks who didn't stay at the resort hotels and use the buses. We had free airline tickets and a great rate on a hotel outside the parks but still very close. We bought stuff at a Winn Dixie to stock our room, and we tried to eat out only once a day. But it can be very expensive and while I'd like to do it again to see what official time I could get (long story), I think there are other options for a warm weather January race to try first.

I just had these great photos sent to me by a club member who is injuried so he been walking with his camera We run past these twice a week http://web.me.com/danrunz/Youngstown_Road_Runners_Club/Club_Gallery/Pages/1112009_Chili_Run.htmlhttp://web.me.com/danrunz/Youngstown_Road_Runners_Club/Club_Gallery/Pages/1112009_Chili_Run.html

Sarge, to post a picture, you need to surround it with the img tag. That said, I see that it is called "transparent.gif". That's usually not really the picture. Usually, that's a blank graphic that a website uses on top of the real picture so that you can't link the picture. Post a link to the page you are trying to grab the picture from and I can take a look. Edited to add: yeah, that's actually a fairly complex site from which to grab a picture to post directly here. Posting the link to the album in this case is mo bettah and certainly mo easy. Cool pictures too!

Cool, Sarge, that worked! Nice running route and I see the one of you and DW too!

Dropping in to say hi and to report running in the coldest temps ever for me: 23F when I started, down to 20F and wind chill of 7F when I finished. Stopped and bought new double-layer mittens and a cute SmartWool hat on the way home from work. Put on an extra layer on top and bottom compared to what I wear when it's in the 30s, and felt pretty good the whole way. Only ran 3 miles tonight, but since I wouldn't have DREAMED of running in this weather even last winter, I'm pretty proud of me. You guys are all such a greta inspiration! Eliz

Great job, Eliz! Can you send 23 degrees up this way, though, please?? It's -12 right now and will get colder by dawn.