At 8 a.m. on Easter morning, it was only 24 degrees. Overnight, Cleveland Heights received quite a bit of snow. I believe it was more than a foot. As I headed out the door to meet my friend, Jen, for a run, I couldn't help but wonder, are we nuts?

It was snowing so hard it was difficult to see more than a few feet. If I hadn't heard the snowplows earlier, I would have thought city workers were on holiday break. The streets were covered with several inches of snow, and there was no evidence to suggest that a snowplow had been through the area.

As I headed for North Chagrin Reservation, there were only a few cars on the road. Granted, it was early, but it is unusual to have the roads to myself at 8 on a Sunday morning.

When I pulled into the parking lot, there were two cars, Jen's and a Honda sedan. Upon greeting me, Jen acknowledged that this may be a fruitless effort, but we were willing to give it a try.

As I prepped for our run, I heard someone say, "I thought I was the only one crazy enough to be out here today." With a chuckle, Jen and I introduced ourselves to Ben, who also had driven from Cleveland Heights. After a few minutes of light conversation, the three of us headed out.

It took us only a few minutes to realize a two-hour run was out of the question. We called it at 53 minutes. For the record, we were not the only runners out there. I counted another four runners and two walkers. For those of you who are avid runners, triathletes, cyclists and the like, you know why we were out there. Our love for our sports keeps us going in all weather conditions.

A few years ago the Hermes 10-miler had comparable conditions. Actually, maybe it was worse as it was raining and was windy. Despite the conditions, more than 600 runners showed up to show their support and do what they love. To avoid similar weather conditions the following year, Hermes moved the race to late April (the 28^th this year). I hope the weather is much warmer and all the snow is melted. I missed the 10-miler a few years back, but plan on it this year.

Another great race is the Cleveland Rite Aid Marathon, celebrating its 30^th year. Last year more than 7,800 runners participated in various events, again through the rain and wind. The Cleveland Rite Aid Marathon has a long and interesting history.

This issue is packed with helpful, informative and expert knowledge. We have something for everyone. For our cycling enthusiasts, we have a plethora of information to help you with your cycling and accessory needs.

As the supplement title suggests, also covered is paddling, an ever-growing sport.

Enjoy, stay warm and I will see you at the races.

Stacy Rhea

Over the past 12 years, Pedal-with-Pete has contributed more than $330,000 in funding for cerebral palsy research. Recently, Pedal-with-Pete presented a $42,000 check to Dr. Leland Albright at the University of Wisconsin in support of the research. Pedal-with-Pete is a philanthropic, volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for research to improve the quality of life for persons with cerebral palsy.

On May 19, Pedal-with-Pete will host the 13^th annual Bike & Hike Event for Cerebral Palsy Research in Kent. The event is a full-service ride with distances of 15, 40 or 60 miles. There also is a 2½-mile hike. Eddy's Bike Shop in Stow is offering SAG services for the riders. There will be door prizes, food and a bike raffle. Eddy's has donated a specialized Sirrus bike for the raffle. For more information, visit www.pedalwithpete.com.

On May 12, North Coast Skate School in Cleveland will join Rollerblade and 17 other skating schools across the country in celebrating national Skate for Health Day with certified skating instructors offering free lessons to children, teens, adults and seniors to promote the health benefits of inline skating.

Rollerblade's mission is to inspire the young and young at heart to stay in shape with inline skating, considered a low-impact sport. "Inline skating burns just as many calories as running or cycling with half the shock impact on your joints," said Nick Skally, marketing manager for Rollerblade. "As an avid inline skater, I'm always surprised at how many people don't realize what a great workout the sport is. It's a better cardiovascular workout than using a stair-stepping machine."

To sign up for a free skate lesson, visit www.freeskatelesson.com.

The library was a recipient of a grant from the Libraries for the Future and MetLife Foundation. "Fit for Life: Get Active @ Your Library" is a health and fitness program created to provide teens and their families an opportunity to work out and learn more about healthy eating. For more information about the program, call 216-623-7046. For workshop dates and locations, and links to fitness and nutrition information, visit www.cpl.org.

Cleveland Cavalier forward LeBron James has acquired a minority ownership in bicycle manufacturer Cannondale. James, a cycling enthusiast, spends time riding during the off-season, says David Budd, director of marketing for Cannondale. "Biking is an extremely important part of my training routine, and I like to invest in what I know," James said.

In 2006, Cannondale built a custom bike for James to use in his annual King for Kids Bike-a-thon charity event in Akron. James' bike, which is based off of Cannondale's Caffeine model, sports a Lefty fork, Si Hollogram cranks and is painted in the Cavs' red and gold team colors.

The third annual bike-a-thon will be June 30 in Akron. Last year he was joined by fellow hoopsters Amare Stoudemire, Rip Hamilton, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. James and his court raised nearly $400,000, with proceeds benefiting the Akron YMCA, Akron Urban League and the James Family Foundation. Cannondale is a sponsor of the ride and donates bikes for a charity auction. For more information, visit www.lebronfoundation.org.

Endurance athletes push their bodies to the limits with a strenuous training regimen that demands smart nutrition. Nationally recognized sports nutritionist Monique Ryan offers proven strategies for improved athletic performance with sport-specific guidelines. In the new edition of Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes, Ryan offers proven strategies for improved athletic performance with sport-specific guidelines for running, cycling, triathlon, swimming, adventure racing and rowing. In-depth information is presented in an easy-to-read and accessible style, with individual chapters dedicated to each of these popular endurance sports.

Learn how to assess body composition and find healthy ways to lose body fat and build muscle. Ryan provides comprehensive explanations on the nutritional role of carbohydrates, protein and fat in an athlete's diet and explains the importance of meal timing for better performance and recovery. She also explains the concepts of nutritional periodization so athletes can properly adjust their mix of foods throughout the training cycle.

The book includes a review of popular ergogenic aids, tips on meal planning, typical shopping lists, sample menus, glycemic index tables, facts about vitamins and minerals, and a comparison of sports nutrition products.

When Bill Maurey traded a six-pack of beer for a bike in college, he never imagined he would become a serious biker. Yet, after bike commuting to class, he instantly became hooked, prompting him to take a semester off his senior year and go on a "fully loaded bike tour."

Maurey and a friend traveled for three months, 3,000 miles total, each toting 100 pounds of gear. "We hadn't prepared for that tour like we wanted, so instead we thought we'd get in shape on the tour, and we did," Maurey says. "We came back and we were machines. It was probably one of the most positive experiences of my life. It made me a full-blown bike rider for life."

It wasn't until the 1990s that Maurey joined his first cycling group, the San Diego Cyclo-Vets. Many of the members were focused on the racing aspect of cycling, but he was more interested in fitness and friendships. His experience with the Cyclo-Vets "is where I got my education on safety and true fitness building," he says.

Later, when he and his wife moved to Cleveland, they used cycling clubs as a way to make new acquaintances. They had planned on trying out several different clubs, but something about the Cleveland Touring Club made them feel at home. "In June 2003, we just showed up for a ride, and we instantly made friends with the people. We joined the club that day."

Maurey is now the "de-facto" president of the club, organizing its annual Sunday in June bike ride that brings in hundreds of bikers. He says that when he joined, the group was in need of some new blood. "When I got there, it seemed that it had been the same people doing the same jobs over and over for 20 years. The 'spark' had seemed to leave the club. I feel fortunate that my wife and I had the energy, and we tried to add a new spark."

With the risk of losing the Sunday in June ride, Maurey was more than willing to step up and volunteer for the position that would put him in a leadership role in the 200-member group. "I looked at it as a way to meet new people. When you're in a new town, you know that it takes an effort to make a new set of friends."

Maurey says he has succeeded in his quest to meet new people through biking. "I know 300 people on a first-name basis," he says.

His focus on cycling camaraderie has renewed former members' interests in the Cleveland Touring Club. "We've been able to draw people back into this cycling community enthusiastically."

Cycling may seem like a solo sport, but Maurey says there are many added benefits to biking in a large group. His first example: safety in numbers. "When you're riding with a group of people, you get much greater respect from drivers." Working with a team, he adds, is always more fun than working alone.

When selecting a bike club, Maurey has several words of advice. When riding with a club for the first time, be sure to show up early and mingle with the members to see if their speed and experience levels are similar to yours. Other things to look for are a focus on safety, the social interaction and the number of riders. It may sometimes take several rides with a club before you know if it's right.

Sometimes, after years of riding, a rider's interest level may go down. Maurey says this is natural. "If you're doing something and you're not having fun at it, it's OK to pull back a little and ease off. For 30 years, I've been serious about biking, but there were years I hardly rode at all because I wasn't having fun."

Despite this, Maurey's bike club experiences have helped him maintain his dedication to biking. "If you have a group of people that you are making a commitment to, you can't just blow it off. Once you have that commitment, it helps keep you motivated."

Maurey says he isn't a "fitness freak," but he is a "health freak," and cycling is what allows him to stay healthy and have fun doing it. "If I was cycling and I wasn't having fun, I wouldn't do it. I would find something I enjoyed. I find that cycling is the most enjoyable way to stay fit."

On Maurey's plate for this season is the Cleveland Touring Club's Sunday in June ride on June 10 and other rides in and out of Ohio with biking friends he has made across the country. As well, he'll continue to live out his fitness goals. "I strive to make being healthy something I can enjoy."