When you read this, I will have begun a six-month leave of absence (see below), during which time Pacific Northwest staff reporter Richard Seven will write the On Fitness column.

R7, as he's known around our office, got my attention many years ago when, as we were both playing basketball in a media league, he gave me no quarter "just because I was a girl." I liked that — even though it exposed my poor ball-handling skills under pressure.

You can contact R7 at 206-464-2241 or rseven@seattletimes.com. And remember, at www.seattletimes.com/onfitness you can find back columns and quick links to popular subjects such as shopping for a treadmill or stationary bicycle, as well as search for specific topics covered here in the past few years. You can track down many other fitness resources the same way I do, by doing a search at www.lukol.com.

I'll be back Sept. 22. In the meantime, you're in good hands.

   — Molly Martin
 

Fitness news you can use YMCA Healthy Kids Day Twelve Greater Seattle branches of the YMCA will celebrate Healthy Kids Day Saturday, April 26. The Redmond Ridge branch will celebrate it Sunday, April 27, in conjunction with a family fun run. The free community event offers families a day of food, festivities, games and prizes at most participating branches from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (some may offer additional hours). For locations and times, call your local YMCA or 206-382-5003. Local fitness pro honored Kari Anderson, owner/director of the Pro-Robics Conditioning Clubs, was named Fitness Director of the Year by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), receiving a $2,500 scholarship toward continuing education in the fitness industry. In addition to teaching group fitness classes for more than 16 years, Anderson presents workouts and instructor training workshops internationally. She has an extensive background in dance, athletics and weight training, including being a national gold medalist in synchronized swimming and a scholarship student in the Joffrey Ballet. New on the shelves "Runner's World On the Road" ($9.95, Rodale) by Doug Rennie includes not only where to run in 35 cities in North America and Europe, but also where to stay, where to eat, a calendar of major running events and the name of a good source for running help in each city. (For Seattle, he lists Super Jock 'n' Jill.)

Q. In your notebook section recently, you mentioned a study that found people who exercised their legs using elastic bands, 20 to 30 minutes a day, showed marked improvement in knee pain. Where can I get information on those exercises?

— S.F.

A. The program consisted of 11 exercises, only some of which actually used elastic bands, which I learned when I tracked down the lead researcher, Michael Doherty, professor of rheumatology at the University of Nottingham, England.

In a letter to people in the U.K. who sought the exercises after hearing about the study, Doherty repeated that, as his original article said, 30 minutes of knee exercises each day "should improve your symptoms of pain." He added, however, that anyone with underlying medical problems should consult with his or her family doctor before undertaking the program.

After my inquiry about the exercises, Doherty arranged with a U.K. organization to post them on its Web site. The group, MOVE, aims to increase awareness of the health benefits of exercise and activity in people with arthritis. To see the exercises online, check www.move.uk.net. (Unfortunately, the exercises are not available by mail in this country.)

Q. I was diagnosed six months ago with celiac disease (gluten intolerance), the only treatment for which is to eliminate all gluten from the diet. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye and probably oats, and some of these are used in flavorings or to thicken foods that you'd never suspect, such as most breakfast cereals, soy sauce, baked beans. The problem is eating out, because there is no ingredients list to read. Do you know of any Seattle or Eastside restaurants where gluten-free foods are listed on the menu? Or where the chef would know if asked?

— M.T.

A. I don't know of any restaurants that list gluten-free foods. Readers?

Q. So, what are you doing on your leave of absence?

A. Well, my husband has a painting exhibition, along with some other projects, in Copenhagen (where he's from), and I'm helping prepare and go to Denmark for them. I'm also supposed to make a Web site for his paintings, which I don't know how to do, and learn to operate a digital camera, which I don't know how to do, and edit video, which I don't know how to do. (Six months may not be enough.)

As it turns out, my leave has a strong fitness component as well: It begins with a cortisone injection in my back for a herniated disc, which apparently has been the cause of the nagging back problem that for several months has made me one inactive fitness columnist. The shot(s), I hope, will lead to a return to regular exercise, which might even lead to slightly improved fitness.

Or, at least, another column on bad backs.

Molly Martin is assistant editor of Pacific Northwest magazine. She can be reached at 206-464-8243, mmartin@seattletimes.com or P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.

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