<p>Sabaray - I finally decided to go back on a statin. My cholesterol numbers were normal range, but a recent coronary calcium scan number increased somewhat from five years ago and knowing that my brother died 3 years ago from blockage made me decide to go back on a statin. I switched to pravastatin from Lipitor because of previous muscle cramps (didn’t know if the cramps were real or imagined!) I only take the statin every other day .</p>
<p>My total, hdl, LDL tri and ratio numbers improved across the board from 3 months ago. Might consider a 3 month on 3 month off to see how numbers look as I still don’t like the idea of taking the statin long term</p>
<p>Thanks ohio - that is helpful. His total is still 287; tri 290 (down slightly ); LDL is 179 and ratio 5.7. He’s done better on the diet. Still a long ways to go. He’s starting with Lipitor I guess and will retest in 3 months.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4, I’m glad you are ok.that must have been quite a scare. I’ve had the experience of an elderly driver pulling out on me from a side street totally oblivious to my presence and it is unnerving to say the least. From what you describe, though, it sounds like your driver would have presented an equal risk to a pedestrian or someone on rollerblades and it was a problem of an inattentive driver oblivious to the world around her and what crosswalks are all about more than a problem of the dynamics of bicycles and cars sharing the road.</p>
<p>95% of the riding I do is on roads shared with other vehicles. I generally avoid multi-user paved paths and only ride trails when I’m riding my cyclocross or mountain bikes. I find that the multi-user paved paths are too filled with walkers, runners, rollerbladers, and casual bikers often with kids on bikes for me to be able to ride safely and consistently at the pace I desire. And often, the paved path networks in the area in which I live simply go in the wrong directions and the only way for me to get to where I want to go is by riding on roads.</p>
<p>How to ride safely on the roads is a topic that can generate fierce debate among the cycling community. There are those who advocate staying as far to the right as possible under all road and traffic conditions and those at the other extreme who militantly advocate controlling the lane under all conditions and riding on the road as if you are a car under all circumstances. I fall kind of in the middle. I strategically use a “control and release” approach based on the width of the lane, the presence of road obstructions or unsafe conditions on the right, and the need to maintain visibility to drivers exiting parking lots or side streets on my right. The situation I described above occurred when I was riding to the extreme right of a lane and was not in the field of vision of the driver who was looking left for cars as she pulled out of the side street. If I had been riding 3-4 feet more towards the center of the lane, I would have been exactly where she would have expected a car to be and she would have probably seen me. My general rule is to ride 3-4 feet to the left of the fog line so that cars do not attempt to squeeze past me in a lane that is too narrow to pass safely and so that cars coming from the right can see me. If the lane is wide enough for cars to pass me within the lane with 3-4 feet clearance and there are no shopping centers to the right or road obstructions, then I will generally release the lane by riding more to the right. If there is a wide improved shoulder and not a lot of side streets, I’ll ride the shoulder. It’s a mix of promoting safety based on the road conditions and visibility issues and courtesy of moving out of the way of cars when it is safe to do so. I also find that riding predictably is critical. Holding my line, not weaving, and riding in my lane of travel where the road has separate right turn lanes, using hand signals all help drivers of cars coming from behind know what to expect of me.</p>
<p>Also, riding 3-4 feet in from the fog line helps avoid “right hook” accidents caused by cars from behind passing and turning right and “left hook” accidents caused by oncoming cars turning left, both of which statistically occur with much greater frequency than bicycles getting struck from behind. By riding in from the right fog line, cars from behind are less likely to attempt to quickly pas and turn and you are much more in the field of vision of oncoming cars turning left who are watching the lane, and not the shoulder, for oncoming vehicles.</p>
<p>Beautiful morning for a run here - 26 and sunny by the time we finished. 9.6 miles, lots of hills. Longest run since the marathon but felt really good. </p>
<p>Thanks. She’s coming around. They went to a cool, hip restaurant last night and it was a disaster. They were given complimentary lobster tails as a result of some serious service failure and hers apparently was under-cooked. Ewwww.</p>
<p>Did 8.1 miles on tired legs. I ran to that Brentwood trail that runners aren’t allowed to be on and I fully intended to run on it just so I could come back here and report that I did! However, I had been climbing to get to it and wound up really only running about 50 yards on the approach because it was still climbing and I was tired of climbing at that point. I turned around. My route was quite hilly and I was surprised that I somehow got the 8 miles done. It was gloomy and 32 to start and went up to about 40. Dressed warmly and got pretty sweaty. Done. </p>
<p>Just saw an ad for 100% additive-free natural tobacco in ESPN the magazine. Natural Amercan Spirit tobacco has organic tobacco and organic menthol ingredients for any of you healthy smokers out there.</p>
<p>jym, eons ago I researched Ocatne because at that time it seemed to be the only elliptical that was designed with the variable stride. I went to a local dealer to take one for a spin, and in the end realized that I hated all elllipticals! So no Octane for me. But it was a well-built machine.</p>
<p>Ran 5 miles and did some weights. Gotta lift those heavy objects above my head! :)</p>
<p>MOFWC - hope your D recovers without any consequences.</p>
<p>Nrdsb, ouch! Glad that you came back in one piece.</p>
<p>Finally got DH to the rec center to walk on the track there! You may not think that is much, but it’s a start! First we had to locate his membership card, which was in the last place he looked…his wallet! <em>rolleyes</em></p>
<p>Anyway it was a nice change of scenery and more pleasant than the cold, clammy outdoors yesterday. And college son came with us. He and I ran a bit, and I jumped rope around the track, which is harder than it sounds, at my age. :)</p>
<p>Good morning. MomWC, you go Girl! I was secretly hoping someone would run that trail in rebellion ;)</p>
<p>Think I had the equivalent of a few hours of farmer carries and squats yesterday…with the snowless weather I took the opportunity to move the wood rack and wood from one side of the property to the other ;)</p>
<p>However, I’m afraid the purpose of this exercise was to avoid the future exercise of hauling a face cord across a hill in the snow when I get it replenished Two winters of that shenanigans inspired me!</p>
<p>45 outside this morning - yeah! No sign of sun but I’ll take it. Planning on a leisurely afternoon run. This time of year I love to run around 5pm when everyone’s outside Christmas lights are starting to come on, but it’s not dark yet. </p>
Two winters of that shenanigans inspired me!</p>