Yes, Nrdsb4, absolutely have the bike shop where you get the bike do a fitting. And if you are buying a high end bike, they should be willing to swap out a different length stem and different width bars if necessary to get the right fit and different saddle if needed. As you look at bikes, I will be glad to go virtual shopping with you; I’m no longer allowed to enter a bike shop unchaperoned. 
Thanks MNKat!!! I’ll just my usual instructor pretty on target then. Glad I have kept up with this at least once a week.
Well, in the accountability department I didn’t quite live up to my commitment. I had planned on a 13 mile run this morning, but quit at 10 miles. It is ridiculously hot - even at 6:00am it was 85 degrees, 89% humidity. I was out of water by mile 9 and really struggling. I ended up walking a fair amount of the last 2 miles. So although it puts me behind on my training plan, I think it was the right thing to do. I have to be flexible and adjust for the conditions.
Nrdsb4-I’m glad you’re getting all this good input on bike options and clips. I am learning from all these comments and may upgrade at some point in the future. So much good advice here!
C3Baker, you did not quit. You simply made the right strategic decision. Kudos! Make sure to rehydrate and replenish the electrolytes you lost. When I ran my 16 miles two weeks ago, I ended up drinking 2 bottles of water and still came home weighing 2 pounds lighter! It is crazy how much a human can sweat.
My leisurely city walk is the exercise du jour. 
Someone, please! Wake me up at 4 am so I can finish my run before the mercury hits the fan!
Interesting article on overtraining. http://www.denverpost.com/fitness/ci_28318295/overtraining-endurance-athletes-symptoms-causes-and-solutions?source=infinite
Great article, MNK.
@Nrdsb4, somehow I missed your comment about wanting to avoid a drop, extended position and your need for a more upright position. Take a look at the Specialized Sirrus line of bikes and Cannondale’s Quick Carbon.Specialized is doing some interesting geometry tuning so that all bikes throughout the range of sizes in a particular model will handle the same. The Sirrus bikes are particularly exciting.
No time to post yesterday – but I ran 4.8 miles at 5:30 AM. I went out then because (1) I was awake (2) I wanted to get it over with and (3) it was only 77 degrees when I started. I was a big sweaty mess when I finished.
All this bike talk! H dragged our bikes out the other day, cleaned them all up and put air in the tires – only to find out we each have a tire that leaks. Will get them fixed ASAP so we can ride. If H took the initiative to clean the bikes, I figure the exercise “mojo” may have hit him – and I don’t want to lose it!
After a quick speed clean of the house before D and her BF arrive, I plan to veg out on the beach today. No apologies!
@Nrdsb4, for fast, upright bikes, here are what I would think would be your best contenders:
http://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2015/bikes/fitness-urban/fitness/quick-carbon/quick-carbon-2
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/multi-use/sirrus/sirrus-expert-carbon-disc
Nrdsb4, the bikes Michael suggested are what I have. Been really, really happy.
Timely article on overtraining, Michael - I’m keeping it for reference! Yesterday was tough - normally I’d be doing a long run today with my group but reminded myself to stick with my plan to get over this. Dogs had three BIG walks yesterday, so they’re happy I’m not marathon training! Went ahead and paid the $60 to refer my registration and cancelled my hotel. No going back now - I’ll need you folks to keep me motivated so 2016 will be my year.
Headed to a Reformer class this morning, in good news weight that had found me is starting to get lost, so that shows me I don’t need to run like a maniac to lose weight. I need to get back to planning meals and shopping for those meals, so that will be another project for today. iDad seems to be AWOL again…wonder what he’s been cooking lately?
@MichaelNKat and @deb922, thanks for those tips. Those two bikes look really great. It will definitely help me to walk into the bike shop with some good knowledge in advance.
It just so happens that my birthday is in a few days, so…
Checking in with the group. I’m glad you’re here. Yesterday’s exercise consisted of lawn mowing. cleaning a couple of floors, and a walk to bring in groceries for dinner. Bike riding is sounding appealing. I may do that today.
9 miles this morning. Goal was 8 miles. It was a nicer morning with lower humidity- still 70 degrees to start, but felt better. I didn’t look at my splits and ran by heart rate- trying to keep it down but not as low as my MAF number, which is just not practical in this weather. My goal was to finish the 8 and get the time on my feet and not be obsessive about how slow I am. I felt so good since I wasn’t pushing, that I added on at the end to get 9. Not fast pace, but I was surprised when I looked at my watch at the end that it was a lot faster than it felt. I’m going to make myself keep doing this.
3 mile run plus a 1 mile walk at the end. Now enjoying a high-protein blueberry oatmeal smoothie & the sense of well-being that comes after a good workout! Have a great day everyone!
Before it got hot today H ran 5 miles. I told him I was looking for the running book and he knew exactly where it was (on the library bookshelf - H’s library, which is the shelf he built above our WC). “The Official Book of Running” by Bill Emmerton, 1978. Yes a lot of miles, over 130,000 documented miles in 38 years.
Timely article about over-training. Know of two HS students that were over-trained; one started on crew which was a great sport for him, but then he switched to distance running (dad was a runner) - I was shocked that this kids that built up nice looking muscles and very healthy looking at the start of 9th grade and went to looking almost starved - then he fractured his hip from over-training and needed his hip surgically pinned! A swimmer damaged herself with the butterfly - ruined her chance to get 4 year ROTC scholarship (I need to ask parents next time I see them if she has ‘healed’) a MD mom friend would not allow her DDs to swim the butterfly due to the potential of injury(and I asked an orthopedic surgeon at a conference about this and he acknowledged an issue with some swimmers with the butterfly).
Some HS coaches want the team wins so badly that they do not put the individual athlete’s health and well-being first. Some of this is of course due to coaches being pressured. MD Mom said most swim coaches don’t know the recommended limits or how to properly train for the butterfly.
18 miles - and I am still alive. We had a late start as usual, because Mr. needed to grab a few things at the hardware store… When I started my run, it was about 75. By the time I finished, it was closer to 85! Miscalculated the route and ran out of water 2 miles before the water fountain! That was a bummer. Also, when we got to the trail, I realized that I left my Garmin at home, but it was a blessing in disguise, because I ran without killing myself trying to maintain a certain pace.
I was definitely NOT fast today. I made the right decision to leave my tee in the car, so my apologies to anyone who was blinded by the sunlight reflected off my shiny, fat, pale belly - I saw two other ladies wearing shorts and sports bras/tops.
Nice brisk 4 mile flat land hike on a hot muggy afternoon yesterday. Near disaster. Got to the trail and realized I had left my iPod connected to the computer at home. Fortunately, I rummaged around and found a backup iPod in the bottom of my case. Filled with podcasts from last year, but enough music (and battery charge) to last the hike!
Good distance, Bunsen. I saw quite a few females with just sports bras today. It might be catching on!
Glad you had entertainment on your hike, iDad!