<p>Congratulations BB! You did it and you did it well. Very happy for you.</p>
<p>I took advantage of our first truly glorious spring weather (70 degrees in southern NH) to get out, walk on some dirt and rocks, and shoot another practice video: </p>
<p>[YouTube:</a> Pawtuckaway Middle and South Mountains](<a href=“Pawtuckaway Middle and South Mnts. - YouTube”>Pawtuckaway Middle and South Mnts. - YouTube)</p>
<p>It felt so good to be warm and even a little sweaty. Could have worn short sleeves, but it was warmer than forecast. Wonderful way to exercise. About 5.5 miles up and over two small mountains (hills).</p>
<p>Congratulations BB! It sounds like you had an amazing experience! </p>
<p>In looking over some pictures of the marathon from yesterday, I noticed that the best runners have names on their bibs instead of numbers.</p>
<p>I never noticed this before… is that typical? How long have they been doing that? Am I just unobservant? How many get their name instead of their number?</p>
<p>It’s a pretty cool idea.</p>
<p>Meb’s bib number is listed as 19, so I assume at least the top 20 runners get their names.</p>
<p>I looked him up here, his splits are amazingly consistent: <a href=“http://raceday.baa.org/individual.html”>http://raceday.baa.org/individual.html</a></p>
<p>One our family favorites, Apolo Ohno is going to be competing in Ironman Kona.(got to meet and see him compete in speedskating live - amazing!) Will enjoy watching his journey through Twitter and Instagram - he’s an inspiring, positive guy!
<a href=“http://www.tribtown.com/view/story/737b1bebd87f444d8add8f07ba8cc30f/SPD--Ohno-Ironman”>http://www.tribtown.com/view/story/737b1bebd87f444d8add8f07ba8cc30f/SPD--Ohno-Ironman</a></p>
<p>I really am working today, but just came across this in a newsfeed - timely for some of us “not” marathoners and who still have bouts with running feeling hard - even the short runs!</p>
<p><a href=“If Running Feels Too Hard, Try This | ACTIVE”>If Running Feels Too Hard, Try This | ACTIVE;
<p>“The most important thing to remember is that doing something is always better than doing nothing.” I’ve told myself this MANY times!</p>
<p>I’m not sure how far down the names on the bibs go- it’s definitely only the elite field. My young friend was 139 (no name) and finished 47th overall. Many races will do name bibs even for the slow folks- you can choose what goes on your bib. You can put “Idiot” or whatever! It lets people who are spectating cheer for you! It’s all chip timed, so the bib numbers don’t really matter anymore.</p>
<p>Ugh…just picked up a message from my physician. Some lab work I had done last week had some troubling results. She said my Vitamin D was low…20…and that my fasting glucose (111) and cholesterol have crept up and both are a bit over normal. She said thyroid was normal at 4.1. Written results will arrive in the mail later this week. The cholesterol increase has me baffled. The glucose level is a family curse. I will wait for the written results but I have to say I am very concerned. I will redouble my shedding for the wedding program. sigh…</p>
<p>NMinn, Vit D deficiency is easy to correct with supplements in most cases. You are in the 70-80% of population who is at the below normal levels.</p>
<p>I think elites got two bibs - on the back and on the front. The rest of the field only got one. Many runners had their names hand-written on the bib and/or on the t-shirts or arms - the crowd cheered for them calling them out by the name. 
I should have done that, too!</p>
<p>Here are some interesting data:
<a href=“http://www.bostonglobe.com/2014/04/16/boston-marathon-demographic-breakdown/PJK8nePQq3oUpBXFeJxJKK/story.html#female”>http://www.bostonglobe.com/2014/04/16/boston-marathon-demographic-breakdown/PJK8nePQq3oUpBXFeJxJKK/story.html#female</a></p>
<p>nMinn:</p>
<p>The Vitamin D is easy to fix. Most of us are deficient. If it were me, I’d probably take 2000 to 4000 IU a day if you want to get up to the 40 to 60 range and then test again in 3 to 6 months. You can get them at any drugstore. I take these little tiny liquid gels:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Vitamin-Softgels-250-Count/dp/B004GJYTF8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1398186780&sr=8-3&keywords=vitamin+d”>http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Vitamin-Softgels-250-Count/dp/B004GJYTF8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1398186780&sr=8-3&keywords=vitamin+d</a></p>
<p>The blood glucose is easy to fix, too – although you might not like the treatment! Creeping blood glucose levels are an almost sure-fire red flag for insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome. Quick solution for most people is to cut sugars and grains. With mildly elevated blood glucose, you probably don’t have to go crazy low carb (although you could if you wanted results in days), but you will probably have to make some pretty significant long-term changes in terms of limiting pastas, breads, cereals, and sugars. You could probably bring your blood glucose levels back down to normal range in a matter of weeks, and it is very likely that weight loss would be a LOT easier.</p>
<p>I don’t know about total cholesterol. That number, by itself isn’t that informative. If your triglycerides are high (and they probably are if you are insulin resistant), that will improve as part of the same mechanism above for reducing blood sugar.</p>
<p>I keep getting diagnosed with low Vit D- and I get a lot more sun than a lot of people in the country! I do take my supplements, and it measured better the last time.</p>
<p>I take those vitamin D gummy’s. Easy and tasty lol!</p>
<p>3.2 miles in my new Hokas. They gave me a rub spot on the top of my foot, not sure I love them but they are cushioned lol!</p>
<p>Vitamin D? I think I’m set. :)) </p>
<p>Awww, these made me laugh and cry… best 42 signs from the Boston Marathon. Take a look, I think you’ll enjoy!</p>
<p><a href=“The 42 Best Signs From The Boston Marathon”>http://www.buzzfeed.com/mrloganrhoades/the-42-best-signs-from-the-boston-marathon</a></p>
<p>Not surprised about the Vitamin D level after the horrible winter that we had. I am outside all of the time in the summer at the lake.I already eat pretty low carb. Haven’t had any white bread, potatoes, cereal or pasta for over three years but I do have one multigrain 100 calorie English muffin every morning. I am not a sweet eater so no cake, cookies or desserts either. I am afraid I know what the culprit is…my nightly wine with H. We have a glass with dinner and usually one more while we talk about our days. I also eat quinoa several times a week. Didn’t think there were many carbs there. As far as the cholesterol goes I haven’t had any fried foods for years or red meat for over 35 years just lots of chicken and turkey. No ham but bacon every once in a while. I eat an egg white breakfast sandwich every morning. I think I need to up my weight routine and get back on that recumbent bike! 
Anxious to see the actual test results. Thanks for the input!</p>
<p>Minnnesota is so far north that it’s probably impossible to make enough vitamin D from sunshine at least 9 months a year. Even in the summer, you’d have to be out in the sun at noon. And, if you put sunscreen on from the get go, you don’t make any Vitamin D.</p>
<p>Even if your vitamin D level is adequate at the end of summer due to sunshine, by 8 months later your level will have been depleted unless you are supplementing.</p>
<p>My doctor recommends cutting back on the amount of vitamin D I take in the summer if I am outside a lot.</p>
<p>I just got my doc to order another vitamin D test with my physical in July. At that point, I will have been taking 6000 IU of vitamin D a day for nine months. It will be interesting to see what my levels are.</p>
<p>My Vitamin D levels were much lower than yours NM–doctor recommended supplementing 5000 IU every day for 3 months. It worked–levels just at normal. doctor said to keep it up and take the supplements 3 days a week. </p>
<p>^ What does your doctor consider “normal”?</p>