When it comes to exercise, the first quarter of 2005 has turned out to be my worst in two years. There has been one excuse after another -- an overload of professional projects, the annual Portland respiratory crud, a couple of business trips, an ill-fated job prospect, stress.

Tonight, a few days into spring break, I finally got back on the road. And it hurt.

There's that burning sensation in your throat when you're running in cool air after a long layoff. The situps highlight every little ache and pain in your upper body. The weights that you tossed around last summer are astonishingly heavy. You don't even want to look at the stopwatch when the run's over.

Nonetheless, there's a feeling of accomplishment at the finish. "At least I got out here and did it. I haven't put on any weight to speak of. By Fourth of July, I'll be as fit as I've ever been in my life, and by Labor Day, I'll be a true physical specimen."

For now, however, there's Advil, and the hope that I don't wake up with a cold in the morning.