Today's Wall Street Journal (link requires a subscription so I'll save you the aggravation) reviews wrist-top exercise computers (as they call them) and the Polar S625X comes out on top:

Polar's $370 S625X displayed the specific data we wanted to see on a single screen (no toggling), was the only watch in our test with a heart monitor that worked flawlessly underwater, and was the most comfortable of the bunch. "There were times I couldn't even tell I had the heart-rate transmitter on," said one of our testers. It's our Best Overall.

I'm happy to see Polar recognized for their good work, I've been very happy with all three of my Polar watches. Other models tested were the Timex Bodylink 5E671, Garmin Forerunner 301, Fitsense FS-1 Speedometer, and the Nike Triax Elite HRM/SDM.

. . .

I've blogged before that my drink of choice when running is Accelerade. My ultra-marathoner friend John told me about it a few years ago and it's worked well for me. Their shtick is that Accelerade contains carbohydrates plus protein in a 4:1 ratio and they claim that this extends endurance and improves recovery time. If you research the merits of protein in hydration drinks (as opposed to just carbohydrates) you'll see a lot of opinions on whether it really works. I can't say if it's helped me over Gatorade or Cytomax because I never used those in any serious manner—I started using it when I got serious about running and before I found anything else.

Anyway, Runner's World has an article on the debate and it's worth a read if you're wondering why there is a debate—why can't this easily be proved or disproved? Seems like a study on this would be a no-brainer to resolve but it's trickier than I thought.

. . .

I was excited to go to Chicago this week. I always hear great things about the city and wanted to experience it for myself. Wifey and I were there several years ago for a weekend but my perspective on things has changed since then (read I have two kids now). My employer has two offices in the Chicago area, downtown and Downer's Grove and I was going to Downer's Grove, west of the city.

Nothing against Downer's Grove, but as I drove from my hotel to the office I really couldn't tell what city I was near—Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix? The problem with these suburban office/residential areas is that they have the individuality of a slice of Wonder Bread (I'm borrowing that phrase from someone). There were all the usual chain establishments—Bed, Bath & Beyond, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Best Buy, Panera Bread, etc. Every suburban area across the country looks the same these days and it's kind of depressing. Sure, that's what I get for being in the 'burbs but I can't help it, that's where the office is. And being in these areas means that you've got almost no chance of trying something different when it comes to restaurants. Yes, there's something to be said for consistency and a familiar brand but traveling on business to some of these cities is really anticlimatic—it looks just like the place you left.