Mailbag

Posted Sep 29, 2006 by Stacey Shick

Updated Sep 29, 2006 at 11:21 AM

To respond to some of your comments and the e-mail I’ve received this week:

From Janet T.: Is this the same STACEY? WOW!
i remember when you and tried running together in the summer of 2001, neither of us got close to a mile!

It’s the same Stacey, and it’s true that five years ago, I could barely run a half-mile without stopping. But I slowly started running more and walking less, and here I am today. I’ll talk more about my running history in some future posts.

From Michelle F. It’s been awhile since I ran a marathon but I’d be happy to run with you or give you some pointers, the ones your trainer won’t tell you about!

I’m going to take you up on this offer very soon. As long as I can share what I learn with my loyal readers.

From Ivy S. my favorite running remedy (for my knees) was a bag of frozen peas

I currently have two bags of corn in my freezer for just that very purpose. To help my sore foot this week, I’ve used a bandana to tie the corn around the side of my foot. It seems to be helping. I’m also going to go out to buy new shoes next week, so that might help, too.

From Jennifer S. How is your foot doing? Hope spending the day off of it has helped.

My foot definitely feels better today. I’m very hopeful that I’ll be able to make tomorrow’s run without any trouble, and that I’ll still be able to walk afterward.

From Adam H.: I just want to know how you ended up having to prepare Rosh Hashana dinner.

I volunteered. It’s just as easy to cook brisket for 12 as it is for 2.

From Baba And what did Stacey cook for dinner for twelve?

I made brisket with an onion topping and gravy, mashed potatoes, honey-glazed carrots and challah. The challah didn’t rise properly, but it still tasted good. Mike provided the apples and honey, and my mom made an apple cake to end the night. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

---

Gingko Biloba Is What Should Have Been For Lunch

Posted Sep 29, 2006 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Sep 29, 2006 at 10:40 AM

Even after months of day-in and day-out blogging about our respective lunches, never missing a day, I can’t believe I completely forgot about it today.

It’s been one of those days.

* The office computers required software upgrades that caused them to have to be shut down, more than once in some cases. They also have been running realllllyyyyyy slowly. Not sure if it is related.

* Marty and Ryan will both be out on Monday, so I am preparing for manning the fort alone on that day.

* My parents are coming for the weekend and I didn’t get all that I needed to do ahead of time done yet. So I am preoccupied with jotting notes down on Post-Its.

* And I plain keep forgetting what I am working on halfway through each task. Especially once I get engrossed in some silly conversation with Tribune reporter Phil Morgan.

Where was I?

Oh yeah, so Marty comes back from a meeting and asks me if I remembered to photograph the bowl of chili I am currently inhaling.

Huh?!

It completely slipped my mind. And not wanting to have to re-microwave my lunch (I would probably forget about it and leave it in there), I decided it was too risky to go downstairs to retrieve our office camera to shoot Marty’s burger and fries.

---

It’s An Adventure

Posted Sep 29, 2006 by Patty Kim

Updated Oct 4, 2006 at 09:18 AM

For the full story on Crystal and Patty’s adventure race, click here.

Don’t laugh. Video here!

---

Working It At Work

Posted Sep 28, 2006 by Patty Kim

Updated Oct 3, 2006 at 09:55 PM

So I’ve been having trouble finding time to run. Work has me scrambling at odd hours with little energy left to fuel a workout.

How can I manage my time better to keep myself in shape?

I found some options ...

Presenting the Treadputer. Yep, get your run on while answering the phone, typing a report, writing a story, checking e-mail or surfing the net.

Interesting concept. Because I have a tough enough time watching the TV directly in front of me while running on the treadmill at the gym, I can just imagine how productive I would be on one of these contraptions.

If I didn’t fall off the Treadputer, no doubt my sweating like a pig would short circuit the system.

How about a more laid-back approach?

Here’s the Geek-a-Cycle.

I could handle this. A stationary bike topped with a computer station.

For a mere $350 not including the computer, you, too, could have your very own biking bonanza at work. But wait, there’s more!

“Physical activity while you work at your computer improves blood flow and increases oxygen to all parts of your body. Your heart and lungs work harder during the day thus providing all the health benefits of a moderate workout!”

“Inhibit blood clot development!”

“By pedaling, you stimulate your heart and improve blood circulation to your brain. You DO NOT become drowsy. You stay ALERT. You think better. You do *QUALITY* work!”

Hmmm, maybe I’ll just take the stairs ...

---

Aaannnd, we’re off! Um, soon!

Posted Sep 28, 2006 by jriley

Updated Sep 29, 2006 at 07:11 AM

Hi there, reader. I’m John Hartnett, and this is my first posting for the new Weight Loss Challenge. I hope to let you in on my adventures (more like misadventures, probably) in getting fitter and less heavy.

The Challenge begins on October 1, and so, on that day, I’ll weigh in using my trusty Taylor Body Fat Analyzer and Scale model 5571. I will also record various other measurements then, because I’ve chosen to use resistance training to try to rev up my metabolism, in addition to changing my food intake for the better, and expanding my cardio efforts.

I am 53, married to Jennifer, and have a daughter, Amanda, and a son, Devin. Amanda and her husband Paul has presented us with two spectacular grandchildren, Matthew, 4, and Deanna, 2. I mention my family because they’ll likely be showing up in these postings every so often. I work for Humana.

Right now; my primary exercise is a form of extreme bicycling. That is to say, I commute on my bicycle, in Tampa. (I told you it was extreme.)

Currently, I bike about 45 minutes a day, on average 3 – 5 days a week, commuting to and from Humana’s call center at Netpark (the old Eastlake Square Mall at 56th St and E. Hillsborough) about 3.5 miles from my home.

Now, if you have ever, ever, been on any Tampa road, street, thoroughfare, or cow path, you know that, even wrapped in an automotive suit of armor, you’re taking your life in your hands. Now picture yourself on two wheels, pedaling madly, with a vaguely head-shaped Styrofoam picnic cooler bobbling on your noggin as your only protection.

Yeah, that’s exactly what my family says.

I love bicycling though, automotive assassins aside. How else does one get excellent cardio while also exercising one’s vocabulary responding to mobile critics of my ancestry? And yes, I do take care to obey the law, which means that I do have the right to use the left turn lane, so stop cussing me out, Bubba.

It is also, for me, a great tonic for my osteoarthritis of the knees; the left is the bad guy, the right knee is weak, and gets talked into joining left knee in wild inflammation binges. It helps a lot to bike.

This weekend, I’m going out and buying a weight bench and dumbbell set. (I’m getting back into some resistance training to get “back” into some sort of shape.)  I may also upgrade my bicycle, but we’ll see how exhausted my credit card is before I commit to that.

That’s it for now, folks. We’d love to have you drop by again. Feel free to make any comments you may care to make.

Take care.

---