Amy: Hi and thanks for asking a great question!! I take a vegetarian/vegan multivitamin and vegetarian/vegan glucosmine chondroitin regularly. I don't know how many of you know this, but GC pills usually contain shellfish, which means they're not kosher either. I take GC all year round, as does DOOD. We also take Cytomax--I guess we're sweaters, too--when we're training. Like most other people, you included, we try to eat a balanced diet so we're not reliant on supplements; sometimes, though, it's hard to do. (I'm currently obsessed with good fats and getting enough fiber!) I've also been experimenting with making my own protein bars with soy or whey protein, but none of the recipes have turned out as palatable or as well-balanced as a Clif bar.

And why do YOUR conferences sound like there's so much good information involved? I definitely need a career switch. P.S. I'm still with you on doing the core work, but right now I've maxed out my posting time for WISH things.
Stacie: I definitely recommend weight training, and add it onto my XT days--and sometimes my running ones, as I'm not always that organized. But I'm loving these suggestions, as I know I tend to fall into a rut and need to mix things up. I read your TR, and think you and Matt are just the cutest couple! And in terms of the Minnie I'm so proud of you, and Susan, too!
Maria: Woo hoo for the subway sprint and for the mommy movement. I really think that increasing my daily activity level, outside the exercise, is what has been helping me with energy levels, overall stress, and even a couple of pounds. So I'm delighted that you're sticking to that plan. Speaking of plans, whoever came up with 100 calorie packs is a marketing genius! I've been following Lisa's suggestion to pre-bag everything, including my snacks, and that helps me too. I think I need to stamp the calories on my bags in big red letters! WTG with the TM; even if it's not what you wanted to do, you treated yourself to a WO!
In terms of my housing and the Hilton, but I'd love to live in hotels for the rest of my life. Room service, you know?

It'd probably be more enjoyable than moving boxes, if not as good for me. I don't really mind doing the moving by myself once the furniture is gone. I mean, DOOD had his trip planned way before we knew about the move, so it makes no sense for him to cancel it. Plus, I know he'd do it for me if the situations were reversed. I consider myself very lucky to be with someone who always has my back.
Connie: Hate those sneaky migraines--I actually think they hit harder than the ones you can feel coming, and leave you fuzzy for days afterward. I'd love to come do the trail run with you in TX, I would! I've never visited your fair state, believe it or not. And we have friends who now live out that way. But it's not in the budget cards this year.

I am trying to convince DOOD to plan a race trip out that way for sometime in 2009, as he's doing the 50 state marathon gig.
Vic: So is there a SOP for amending a SOP? That's something I probably learned in my 20s. Why brewer's yeast in your shakes? I may have forgotten the answer to this in an earlier post--sorry!
Lisa: Spot-on advice, as usual! I think your assessment of circuit training being good for those of us who get bored easily is brilliant. That's me, and I do note that I really need to focus with free weights--hard after my running or a full XT day--and my form suffers. What I probably need is advice for how to stay focused while challenging myself; a lost cause, I think.
Tracey: Well, I can't think of anyone who I'd rather be influenced by, even if you are turning me into a girly girl!

My new digs are only about two miles away, on the "better" side of the Frick Park area (Squirrel Hill, if anyone here knows it). I'll be rubbing elbows with people wearing better clothes, so I hope I'm not all runny-sweaty when I meet them.

Real estate. It's all about location. I'm sorry to hear about your heel pain, btw. I think Mike's covered the basics, and my heel pain is almost always related to #1 and what kind of activity I've been doing the day or so prior. (It's usually sedentary, I've found.) I hope his advice helps!
Beth: It's funny, because as much as I love the DOODster, I really love him when he's away on these trips. He does one of these every year, except last year when we moved. And when it came time for him to be gone, and he was still with me, I was more than a little edgy. I like my alone time, I guess! But you're right about the absence/heart/fonder, because by the end of that month I'm glad to have him back. I'm sorry to hear about your struggle of a run; do you know if it's a cold or allergies at this point?
Mike: Great information, as usual. I haven't checked out the Trader Joe's supplements, but will do so in the near future. Their prices are usually pretty good, and much cheaper than my food coop for these kinds of things.
Dave: That's wonderful news about the HR dropping and keeping the pace with less effort!

You've really come back from your injuries stronger than before and, if you don't mind me saying, with a stronger mindset and the focus to achieve your goals. You've really shifted your routine up, and I admire that.
As for me: Not much going on. Did my 30 minutes of running today, plus Pilates. (Meant to do those yesterday, didn't and needed to. Got involved with
House instead. Evil, evil TV!) We're starting to pack up a few things, but nothing too intense; I'm planning on moving slowly over June as long as we need to pay rent at two places. That means moving shouldn't interfere too much with my summer leisure time during DOOD's absence. Of course, that time includes time spent with my WISHmates, but I'm also thinking of sneaking in a trip to our local amusement park, Kennywood. Anyone been?
One last thing, folks. Explain to me this slow twitch/fast twitch thing. How does one know what one is? I mean, I think I'm just slow and not particularly suited for sprints or distances. (But don't tell my body that--it's in denial.)