So May is Bike to Work month! I have a 15 mile commute, which is pretty much perfect for cycling. I do not exaggerate when I say with the traffic around here (Seattle area), it takes me the same amount of time to bike home as to drive.

I wish I could bike every day, but with errands, picking up kids from school, bringing kids to Cub Scouts, baseball practice, ballet lessons and other activities, it's just not practical. But I… Read More

First, what's a hill repeat? You find a hill. You run up the hill. You run back down the hill. Repeat at least three times.

Sounds like torture, huh? I used to think so...but now I love it! Here's why:

1) No need to map a full route. Once you've found your hill, you're done!

2) Huge mental challenge. Can you keep focused and push through, even when it's boring?

3) Improvement is readily apparent. If you time yourself on the same hill week… Read More

So...I have to confess something.

The first thing to go when I'm pressed for time is my strength training routine. I typically have 12 to 16 hours per week scheduled for exercise and training; only 1.5 hours of that is actual strength training. And since it's not sport-specific - read, something I'd do even if it weren't exercise - it gets dropped first.

But strength training really is important. The individual sports I do each develop certain muscles, but can contribute to… Read More

Ever since I lost weight, I've found it really difficult to meal-track while on vacation, or traveling on business, out of the country.

So I give myself the freedom from meal-tracking and I use a different tactic. It works like this: I figure I'm always with other people during meals. So I make sure that we have great conversation - and I eat really, really slowly.

I try to choose healthier options, but when you're in Germany, you're pretty much eating sausages… Read More

I'm in Germany, traveling on business for a week.

Fortunately for me, this week is a lighter one in my training and the hotel has a gym and a pool. So I can continue working out regularly, only slightly modifying what I can do.

My modifications include dealing with the fact that the pool isn't a full lap pool - and it's also heated to a higher temperature than a lap pool. So to compensate, I swim completely based on time,… Read More

Today is The Girl's birthday, and we did a family party this evening. When I first asked her what she wanted to do, I expected to hear something like "Go to the Rainforest Cafe" or "Everyone comes over and we play games." Instead, she said, "I want to dress up like a princess and go bowling."

Separately, I understood both parts. But together? Only from the mind of a four-year-old.

And how beautiful is that, seriously? Why shouldn't we dress up… Read More