This New York Times story confirms something I have known since September 1996, when I began training for my first marathon, namely, that “cycling, while grueling, is not as demanding as running.” Most people who go from one of these sports to the other go from running to bicycling, often because of an injury that prevents them from running. I’m perverse; I went from bicycling to running. I had been bicycling in earnest for 15 years by the time I took up running. I never gave up bicycling, obviously; I simply cut back on the mileage. I have what I consider the perfect athletic regimen. I run three days a week (distance varying by time of year) and ride once. (I also take two long walks a day with Shelbie, do 75 sit-ups, and do chest, arm, and leg exercises on my Soloflex machine.) During the winter, all I do is run, both recreationally and competitively. Please don’t think that you have to be an athlete to run or ride. You can do these things at any level. The more you do them, the stronger and faster you get. You’ll see the pounds come off (assuming you don’t compensate by eating more); you’ll feel better, physically; and you’ll feel good about yourself for doing something difficult. If you have questions about either running or bicycling, I’ll be happy to answer them.