A support group called “Living After Suicide” meets the third Tuesday of the month for those left behind after the loss of a family member or friend. Every year, 34,000 Americans die by suicide. Read the full story

Today we introduce our newest columnist, Sarah Matchett. A certified cycling coach who works with Cool Breeze Cyclery in Mooresville, she’ll be writing monthly on fitness and training-related topics.

Every year when the cold, wet North Carolina February weather sets it, I’m tempted to move all my fitness and training inside.  Let’s face it, treadmills, cycle trainers and indoor driving ranges are awfully nice when the thermometer plunges.  And temperatures aside, any athlete—from competitive to beginner—knows the value of a structured indoor workout.

But working out inside never feeds my soul, puts the color in my cheeks, or just makes me happy to be alive the way an outdoor bike ride with friends does.  That’s true even in February.

In actuality, there’s no such thing as too cold if you know how to prepare. It’s true for kids who want to stay out in the snow, and it’s true for athletes who want to stay outside to train! Here are some tricks for staying outdoors – and fit – all winter: Read the full story

Runners have a variety of theories about winter training, such as the idea that you burn more calories in cold weather or it’s easy to get dehydrated. Triathlete magazine interviewed John Castellani, a physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Mass., so help separate the truths from the lies.

LINK: “Does Winter Running Burn More Calories?”

Bob Millikin will present a program on “Advance Medical Directives” on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m., Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 201 Fairview Road, Mooresville. Read the full story

By Dr. CHRIS MAGRYTA

I remember lecturing to my fellow residents back in 1997 about the timing of post-exercise nutrition and the need for sports drinks. In those days we knew little about optimal nutrition, but we knew that sports beverages were not necessary for most athletes.

High-endurance athletes – marathoners, triathletes and cyclists – can make a case for needing some electrolytes during intense training (greater than 3 hours). Johnny in Little League or Susie in gymnastics have no case for a sugar-laden beverage and should avoid them. Read the full story

Davidson College Presbyterian Church’s Community Missions Committee will sponsor its winter Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, Feb. 6, between the hours of 2 and 6:30 pm. It will be a special day of loving and giving. This drive is being held in memory of Steve Sgouros who died this past December. Read the full story

Neti pots have become a popular remedy for colds and sinus congestion, but health officials are warning people to use them properly in the wake of recent deaths.  For some, the thought of rinsing one’s nose is enough of a deterrent from using a neti pot. But the problem is not the idea of washing your nose – it’s what kind of water you use. In two widely reported cases  last year people used tap water, instead of distilled or sterilized water and wound dying of of water-borne brain-eating amoeba. Read the full story

Beginning this month,  Kannapolis Fire Department is shifting its CPR classes from those focused on healthcare providers a series called Family & Friends CPR. The Department hopes to reach those individuals in the community who would not normally have the opportunity to learn CPR through these monthly classes. Read the full story

Now that New Year’s has come and gone, the motivation to stick with those resolutions may be fading. This year, the Town of Davidson has partnered with Snap Fitness to help local residents stay on track and lose those unwanted holiday pounds with an 8-week Lose Weight, Feel Great Challenge. Read the full story

CHARLOTTE – Ever run up a skyscraper? Registration is now open for 750 slots in the 2012 Race to the Topon Saturday, March 24, in downtown Charlotte. Runners will see who can be the fastest to scale the 50 floors and 1,194 steps of the Duke Energy Center in downtown Charlotte.

The race begins at 8:30 a.m. with runners starting in waves at 15 second intervals, according to experience level. Runners also will be able to choose their own flight times.

This year’s competition will include a First Responders category, where police, fire and Medic officers will compete against one another.

Part of the proceeds from this year’s Race to the Top will benefit the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. Read the full story