Nanci, What a great story! How very frustrating the compartment syndrome and weight gain must have been. What's a Brevet? I am pretty ignorant about sports in general--I feel like it's a whole new world, and usually pretty fun. I love the biking, but in the winter, in the city, biking after dark feels really hazardous. I am fearful about patches of ice and wiping out into traffic. I will do some riding on days off, but it's going to be running and weights most of the winter. Got to get back in the pool, too, to get through that first part of the triathlon. Connecting with you all here is going to help keep me training during the short, cold, dark days. I did my weights routine for the first time in a long time two days ago, then ran a frigid 8K Turkey Trot yesterday. Believe me, I was sore today! But I'm going to the Y to do some climbing type stuff--work on the hamstrings and glutes. I feel like I'm always on the verge of stopping all together. While I now believe that I can be an athlete (am an athlete), I still don't believe that I'm not going to quit. If I don't do it today, will I do it tomorrow? The biking helps it all hang together. I'm so glad for you, too. Take care, Lise