Could NASA engineer me a calorie-free cheesecake too?

A couple of things about getting up at 5:40am to run before work:

1) Are you aware that in late August in New York, the sun doesn't actually rise until after 6am? 6:13am on August 26th, to be specific. Which, this morning, was approximately a mile and a quarter into my 2.5 mile run.

2) In late August in New York, it's also kind of chilly out at 6am. That probably has a direct correlation with item #1, seeing as how it's still mostly dark out.

3) Drivers operating motor vehicles don't always react as quickly to you as you totter along a main arterial. Again, refer to #1 for a possible clue as to why. They also go a lot faster, seeing as how it's pretty much only you and them on the road.

At least I have all of that revolutionary new spandex running gear I purchased online last week keeping me warm, and yet still ventilated. Some of you may shudder at the thought of spandex. I, however, embrace it (at least when it comes to my bottom-half). It keeps everything in place and minimizes unsightly wobbling. Plus, the dent in my butt due to an unfortunate event we'll call "The Great New Year's Eve Mishap of 2002" seems much less noticeable after 2 layers of NASA engineered Nike spandex.

Another plus - looking at the scale this morning did not make me want to gouge my eyes out with a wooden spoon. In my book, that almost makes up for the whole 5:40am buzzer business.

~RSF