I didn't have much time to stop and smell the roses this weekend even though I spent my Easter Sunday afternoon planting flowers. On Saturday, I rode briefly (25 miles) and tried to keep it an easy ride. Afterwards I ran three miles. It's getting hot outside, and I will probably need to start running early a.m. to avoid symptoms of heat exhaustion. Runners World says you lose 7% of your speed when the temperature is above 85 degrees. If above 93, the magazine suggests trying a different activity. Unfortunately for Alabamians, there's no way to avoid 90 degree temps unless you actually like holing yourself up in the gym.

My IT bands are screaming sore. J dug his fists into my legs last night and I screamed in agony (though the pleasureful type — the kind that you know ends in healing). I did a number on my leg muscles this past week and need to recover if I'm going to run up and down hills for 15K this Saturday.

J and I spent the afternoon Saturday at the zoo for his nephew's birthday party, and we were a little surprised by the rate of morbid obesity we observed, particularly in children. The scope of my world skews my viewpoint (the majority of people I see outside of work are insane endurance athletes). Then again, I wouldn't call the increasing rate of morbid obesity in children an acceptable event. "Just because everyone else is doing it" doesn't make it ok.

Growing up, I remember there being one significantly overweight child in my class, and she had some sort of genetic/hormonal problem (thyroid?) causing the obesity instead of excess eating and sedentary habits. When I was a kid, I would whine for a snack, and my mother would give me a box of raisins. Miffed, I'd put the box back in the pantry and run off to play outside some more. When she packed my school lunches, I'd find the cursed box of raisins inside. I always threw them away, and I still don't like raisins.

But I thank her, anyway, for not allowing me to engorge myself with junk food. Young people don't have a chance if they aren't given a good start.