Good morning, everyone! Decided to come here for advice on a ahem, running-related issue, but the fun stuff first! Catching up with everyone or almost everyone, I hope!
Heather -- Please be careful on your bike rides. I wish you weren't doing that alone. Be sure to keep a cell phone with you so you can call for assistance if you need it.
Lily -- Any word from your boss yet?
Judy -- CONGRATULATIONS on your bonus! How awesome is that!?!?!??! I am so glad that you don't have to worry about that aspect of your trip at all. Very very cool!
Christa -- Those pictures are wonderful. And somehow it doesnt' surprise me that you and Bree make friends whereever you go.

And all 3 of your babies are beautiful!
Jen -- So glad to have you here. This group is very energy-and enthusiasm-sustaining. I think you will find that the passion for becoming more fit is contagious. So, settle in and enjoy!

Of course, if you have to print out the posts to read (like Judy) so that it looks like you are doing something work-related, take some advice from me -- don't print it on a shared printer!
Amy -- I know a lot of people have chimed in on the downhill question, but I can tell you that my doctor (who is the director of sports medicine at a local univ.) said you actually engage a different set of muscles as you run downhill and that it requires balance and core strength to maintain control. So, there's my $.02 or maybe I should say $10 (my co-pay on that visit

)
Melissa-- What a wonderful picture! Nice to see that gorgeous hair! Seriously, I may have missed it, but was it cold enough (in Arkansas!) to run in a hat? It wasn't a Sunny-I-May-Decide-I-Need-Some-Cash-for-Sustenance-While-I'm-Out-Running kind of hat, was it?
Kevin -- Can't wait to read your marathon weekend report. So glad to see you posting here.
Hi, Dave! You realize, don't you that my image of you keeps getting more and more heroic -- snuggling with your DW!

Being such a great daddy to your

and STILL finding time to train (oh, and work, too!)
monte -- awesome pace!
Hi, Carrie! Great pace and to sustain that for 4 miles is awesome! You GO, girl!
Sunny -- Don't worry, sweetie. It WILL get better. I am glad to know that deep down you know that. After all, you have pulled many of us out of many a funks over time. I think you are going to have to appreciate the fact that you did all that lifting and you can't do everything well in one day. Get over it!

I'll keep an eye open for your IC but maybe she just knew you needed a little break. Instead, we will be your

and send lots of

and

that by the time 3/12 rolls around you will be "into" running again.
Mel -- Awesome pace! And on a weeknight! I'm impressed! How thoughtful of DH not to let you worry about driving or walking. What a sweetie!
Dena -- I am with Mel. I couldn't do C25K either. I remember coming here so discouraged about that and the great advice I got was to do what was comfortable and to push that comfort zone a bit. I finally came to the conclusion that what I had to do was train to train for a while and then I started the MfM plan late September or early October. That worked for me so well.
Pat -- So nice to see you posting. Miss you! I hope your training is going well for Ohio. Wish I were going to share that experience with you guys!
Okay, so here is my question. Many of you know I had a very serious heart condition for almost 10 years, that was cured in January 2005. One of the symptoms of that condition was constant breathlessness and a lack of oxygen in my blood. Of course, all of that is zillions of times better than it was, but I can't quite figure out why I still don't seem to be able to sustain a jog very long and it is obviously something to do with the breathing. I mean, it's not my muscles -- my legs aren't screaming for me to stop or slow down or anything like that. It is literally the gasping for breath that is forcing me to keep my jogging intervals short. What can I do to improve this? I am seeing my treating cardiologist in a couple of weeks (can't wait to show him my Donald medal!) and will ask him, but I am hoping someone here might have some advice.