Have a Safe & Happy New Year!

Enjoy your celebrations tonight... and be safe!  We all became connected through fitness, yet it has grown to much more than that.  We look forward to a bunch more fun in 2016!

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Below are some words shared by Lorelei for you all...

Words can not express how thankful I am for all the support, hugs,flowers and time spent with me over this past week after the death of my dad " Larry ".   I am so happy he got to meet a few of you this Fall at the Med City Run. Some of us went for a run on Christmas Day. One of the spouses had said " Don't these people have families to be with ?"  We all said, Team Red is one of our families" .   I wish all of you happiness and no injuries in the New Year.

                                            Lorelei   

Announcement - Chesterwoods

I'm excited to announce: Team R.E.D. is taking on ownership of the Chesterwoods Trail Races.  As many of you know, Jim Mason created and directed that race for many years... he has officially resigned as race director and the Track Club has graciously offered Team R.E.D. the opportunity to take the event forward.

Mason, along with the South East Minnesota Trail Runners, are very much part of this team to make sure we maintain the integrity of the Trail Races!  It's going to be a lot of fun!

Mark your calendars as the race is the traditional 1st Saturday of June - June 4th in fact.  Registration will open very soon! Along with that, volunteer opportunities will also be available soon - Distances will remain the same as in the past:  5K, 10 Mile & 50K.   -   Stay tuned for more information.

Wednesday (tonight) 6pm:  Team R.E.D. is at the Bears Den - the streets are clear in Byron and we'll have routes of 3, 4 or 6 miles awaiting us!  Back to the Den for the post run or walk!
Friday 9am:  Secret training run from the RAC.  Join the fun and get some miles to start the year right. The distance is however long it takes to run off the sins of New Years Eve parties!
Saturday 10am:  The Polar Bear 5K Prediction Run - this is a race in which anyone can win and anyone can be disqualified! - The winner is the person who most closely predicts their finish time without running faster than predicted.  The Rochester Track Club hosts the event and will serve a light lunch afterwards! - Join the fun! http://rochestertrackclub.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=818
Sunday 8am:  I anticipate an Off Season Striders group run - check back for details.
Sunday 1pm:  Snowshoe at Oxbow Park! - Meet at the 1st Bridge (2nd parking lot on your left as you enter the park). - Bring something to sip on during the snowshoe.... it'll keep you warmer!
Monday 6pm:  The Monday Maniacs are heading back to Beetles Bar & Grill.  During last weeks alledged snowstorm, only one person showed up... we hope to see increased attendance this week!  Join the fun and go for a downtown run!
Tuesday 6pm: TerraLoco is hosting their weekly 5K along with a great guest speaker. Ruth Brennan Morrey will be there to talk Resolutions!  - Team R.E.D. and some of the other area groups will have a booth, so stop on by!
Tuesday 6:15pm:  The Tuesday Trail Crew is heading to Eastwood Park in Rochester.  This is a fun place to twist and turn the night away!  Bring your snow shoes and enjoy!
Thursday 6pm: Team R.E.D. heads to the Bears Den in Byron for our first Thursday night of the year!  Bring on 2016 and let's have some fitness and fun!

Tonights TerraLoco 5K Postponed

The 5K run at TerraLoco has been postponed.  Be sure to join them next week for the Tuesday run & Resolution Night!   Team R.E.D., along with other groups will have informational tables set up that night... and more importantly, Ruth Brennan Morey will be sharing her motivation for the New Year!

If you are still looking for a chance to get out tonight.. join the trail crew at Whitewater State Park.  Park at the Nature Store and bring a headlamp! - Post workout, whether you run, hike or snowshoe will be at Mauer Bros in Elba.

What's up through the New Year?

The Annual Christmas Breakfast run with Team R.E.D. and O.S.S. was once again a success.  This time we gathered at 5-West.  Lots of laughs... and a new member! Sort of.... Don joined us several months ago, and he finally received his Team R.E.D. Tee! These pictures are courtesy of Tom Woo... of course, if you're on Facebook, you likely have already seen these.

Following the pics  you'll find the scheduled runs through New Years Eve.   Wendy and I are wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas, followed by a safe and Happy New Year!

Don is a 'new' member!  Welcome! 

Jill, Marv, Craig, Dave & Shaun

Reggie, Ruth, Jean, Ann, Wendy & Tom

Jennifer, Anna, Dan & Claire

Team Work! 

Tod, Meg & Lorelei

Dave & Elaine

Marv & Jill

Pete, Dani & Gwen

Happy Team! 

• Friday 10:30am:  Tom, Megan and Dale are getting out for a Christmas day run!  - The more the merrier!  Meet at the RAC and join the crew for some fun miles.   
• Saturday 7;30am:  The Off Season Striders are cruising from Newts North along Hwy 52.  This is a fun location to run from, and back too! Enjoy the post run/walk social.  
• Sunday 8am: It's Dunn Bros North for Off Season Striders.  Once again, get your miles in running or walking, then come back to chit chat with a breakfast coffee or treat. 
• Sunday 9am:  The 507 Trail Running crew is going to Quarry Hill for a group run. All paces welcome and you can plan to grab a treat a Daubes Bakery aftwards!
• Monay 6pm:  Monday Maniacs are running from Beetles Bar & Grill in Rochester... planning to head down 2nd Street and catch some Christmas lights! 
• Tuesday 6pm:  The TerraLoco Chairty 5K is for the Salvation Army Red Kettle this week!  Come run a no pressure 5K and bring a $5 (or any size) contribution for the Kettle.  
• Tuesday 6:15pm:  The Tuesday Trail Crew is hitting Whitewater State Park!  Gather in the parking lot near the Nature Store and prepare for the  trails at night... post run we'll enjoy some time at Mauer Bros in Elba.  
• Wednesday 6pm:  Special Edition of R.E.D. from the Bears Den in Byron.  Join us to Run or Walk 3, 4 or 6 mles (or any distance you prefer!)  - You guessed it.. we'll come back for a few drinks at the finish!    
• Thursday New Years Eve!  - There is no officially scheduled Team R.E.D. run that Thursday.  If anyone wants to create a group run and would like me to help communicate it, I'm happy to do so.  Otherwise, everyone have a safe and happy New Years Eve celebration!  

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Another reminder below regarding a couple of upcoming races.... and stay tuned for details on the Chester Woods Races, they are still a go and scheduled for June 4th!  

• Jan 2nd:  Polar Bear 5K Prediction Run - This event is not won by the fastest, rather by the person who can best predict their finish time.  You are not allowed to wear a watch, or anything that helps you track time.  
• Note I:  If you run faster than your predicted time you are Disqualified! 
• Note II:  Team R.E.D.s Sonja directs this race, and if you're planning to run, it would help her greatly if you got registered now!   More info at http://rochestertrackclub.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=818
• Jan 9th:  Winter Race Series - the 5K series enters the 2nd race of the three.  It's not too late to join the series as it's a three race series, but your top two times are what count in the scoring.  So even if you missed the first race you can get in the action now!  --   Also, you can run this race as an individual event, and not worry about the entire series!    More info found at http://tritoneventsraces.com/winter-race-series/

Thoughts & Prayers

Many of us are in a celebratory mood this time of year, while others experience some more somber moments.  Being supportive and finding support is important to all of us.

In the past couple of weeks, three Team R.E.D. members have lost a parent.  Please continue to send thoughts and prayers to the families of Wally Arnold (father), Todd Pike (mother) and Lorelei Hanson (father).

As we approach our Christmas and New Years celebrations, please keep them and their loved ones in your prayers. - And of course, we all need to remember to always cherish our families and friends.

Christmas is upon us... and the group runs continue!

Here's a look at a few runs that have popped onto the radar the past few days! - including two opportunities on Thursday morning.  We'll have no official Team R.E.D. run that evening (Christmas Eve).

• Thursday 7am:  Byron Elementary School parking lot.  - There is a group that is planning to run regularly in the mornings in Byron and I'll try to share times/locations here!  (typically it would be a much earlier start, but with the Christmas holiday they have slid it back a bit for this Thursday).  
• The group run is planned for 3 miles, but a couple are meeting at 6:30am to preload a few and then join the 7am crew.  Join us!
• Thursday 8am:  Renee is in town! - She's with a group running from the Canadian Honker and coming back for breakfast.  As is typical, Renee is offering a fine bribe in the form of cookies! 
• Friday 10:30am:  Tom, Megan and Dale are getting out for a Christmas day run!  - The more the merrier!  Meet at the RAC and join the crew for some fun miles.   
• Saturday 7;30am:  The Off Season Striders are cruising from Newts North along Hwy 52.  This is a fun location to run from, and back too! Enjoy the post run/walk social.  
• Sunday 8am: It's Dunn Bros North for Off Season Striders.  Once again, get your miles in running or walking, then come back to chit chat with a breakfast coffee or treat. 
• Sunday 9am:  The 507 Trail Running crew is going to Quarry Hill for a group run. The plan is to celebrate the fitness at Daubes Bakery.

Note:  Next week we are not planning an official Thursday night Team R.E.D. run due to New Years Eve.  We'll hold our Team R.E.D. run on Wednesday at 6pm instead.   

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Another reminder below regarding a couple of upcoming races.... and stay tuned for details on the Chester Woods Races, they are still a go and scheduled for June 4th!  

• Jan 2nd:  Polar Bear 5K Prediction Run - This event is not won by the fastest, rather by the person who can best predict their finish time.  You are not allowed to wear a watch, or anything that helps you track time.  
• Note I:  If you run faster than your predicted time you are Disqualified! 
• Note II:  Team R.E.D.s Sonja directs this race, and if you're planning to run, it would help her greatly if you got registered now!   More info at http://rochestertrackclub.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=818
• Jan 9th:  Winter Race Series - the 5K series enters the 2nd race of the three.  It's not too late to join the series as it's a three race series, but your top two times are what count in the scoring.  So even if you missed the first race you can get in the action now!  --   Also, you can run this race as an individual event, and not worry about the entire series!    More info found at http://tritoneventsraces.com/winter-race-series/

Moving Fast!

Time is flying by... and there are so many fun opportunities ahead!  -- There is not a scheduled Team R.E.D. Run for Thursday Dec 24th.  - If anyone is planning a run, just let me know and I'll share it... but otherwise, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Saturday provided a whole lot of Team R.E.D. time!  We started with a great turnout at the Annual Team R.E.D. / OSS Christmas Run and Breakfast -- Followed that up with a bunch of R.E.D. members attending a wonderful surprise party for Adam at Forager -- Followed that up with so many R.E.D. members hitting the North Star bar to continue the celebration and see Kasey perform with Nite Shift!  What a fun day with great a great team!  -- there are pictures from the day floating on Facebook.. I will try to post some at some point!

Note:  If you didn't know about the surprise party, it means I don't have a valid email address for you.  Please let me know and I'll be sure to update your email.  

New Facebook Groups to Check Out

We have a new runner moving to Byron this week... her name is Emily, and she's started a Facebook page for Morning Runs in Byron! -  If you're interested in connecting, check it out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1723458954554515/1723827324517678/?notif_t=group_activity

David has been part of Team R.E.D. from the beginning, and he's started a Sunday Morning trail group.  If you want to be in the know with the plans of that group, check it out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/884572344973734/

I will also try to communicate the group runs from these two... as long as I am in the loop.

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Monday 6pm:  Monday Maniacs are heading to Cowboy Jacks on South Broadway in Rochester.  Join us for a few miles of running or walking, and head back for peanuts, beverage and food if you like!  The social is always fun!
Tuesday 6:15pm:  The Tuesday Trail Crew is heading to Carley State Park.  This park is a great gem in our neighborhood.  Log some miles while allegedly hunting for Santa's Reindeer!  Plan to join the post trail social as well!

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There are a couple of fun races coming up! -

• Jan 2nd:  Polar Bear 5K Prediction Run - This event is not won by the fastest, rather by the person who can best predict their finish time.  You are not allowed to wear a watch, or anything that helps you track time.  
• Note I:  If you run faster than your predicted time you are Disqualified! 
• Note II:  Team R.E.D.s Sonja directs this race, and if you're planning to run, it would help her greatly if you got registered now!   More info at http://rochestertrackclub.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=818
• Jan 9th:  Winter Race Series - the 5K series enters the 2nd race of the three.  It's not too late to join the series as it's a three race series, but your top two times are what count in the scoring.  So even if you missed the first race you can get in the action now!  --   Also, you can run this race as an individual event, and not worry about the entire series!    More info found at http://tritoneventsraces.com/winter-race-series/

One Step at a Time!

It's a big weekend ahead... but don't forget to swing over to the Bears Den tonight for a fun run or walk.. followed by a great social!   6pm at the Bears Den tonight! - 3, 4 or 6 miles (or really whatever you want!)

• Saturday's Team R.E.D. / OSS Holiday Run/Walk is on!  -   7:30am is the official start time from 5-West in Rochester.. however.. if you're looking for additional miles, there is a group starting from 5-West at 6am!  Join them and get the long run in!  
• 6am: Preload additional Miles - Be Merry! 
• 7:30am:  Normal people run or walk - Be Merry! 
• 8:30am:  Eat / Drink / Be Merry ! 
• Saturday Night:   Let's party with Nite Shift at the Northstar!  Team R.E.D.s Kasey Kuker  will be rockin' with her guys!   -- 50 cent beers until the band starts!  

** One of many things I love about this group ***

I was chatting with the very recently retired Tom Woo... I told him he can now be lazy.  He replied.... "I got up and ran speed work with Roger at 5am... retired people get up early to do speed work."  

That's a testament to working hard... and enjoying the fact we have the gift to be fit!   

Saturday's Festivities!

Saturday the 19th is a big day... check it out!

The Annual Team R.E.D. / Off Season Striders Christmas Run/Walk/Breakfast is on again! - it's this Saturday, Dec 19th at 5-West in Rochester. Run/Walk starts at 7:30am...and we'll plan to start the dining about 8:30am. -- this is different from years past. We'll each be ordering off the menu, opposed to a buffet as we have previously.

I'm excited to anticipate a great turnout, and enjoy a bit of time together during this wonderful time of year! Remember to dress festively!

Nite Shift is playing at the Northstar!  Team R.E.D.'s very own Kasey Kuker will be there with her 80's hair band stuff!   - Join the fun and let's Rock 'n Roll All Night!  - click the link and enjoy!  (you might have to hit play too).  

http://theniteshiftbandrochestermn.bandcamp.com/track/ball-room-blitz

Week Ahead!

What great pics we saw via Facebook from the Santas on the Run!  It sure looks like everyone had a great time!  Peg & Wally do a great job of putting on events!  Additionally, they were able to make a very nice donation to the Ronald McDonald House!

Looking forward to hearing about this race! - Several Team R.E.D. members were spotted here! 

That's a whole lot of R.E.D. lined up with Ronald! 

Please welcome our newestest members... Brian Hunn and Tracey Adams both joined us recently!   They both seem to be a great fit, as fitness and fun is right up their alley!

Team R.E.D. welcomes Brian!  

Team R.E.D. Welcomes Tracey!  

Monday 6pm:  Monday Maniacs are heading to the Taphouse in Rochester.  What a fun, downtown location! - we can go just about any direction as long as we find our way back for the social!
Tuesday 6pm:  TerraLoco continues the Toys for Tots drive and the Marines will be represented, ready to pick up these generous gifts!  Please consider joining the 5K and bring a gift of money along with a toy! - each person who brings a toy will receive a free pair of socks! -- Note: there's also an opportunity to demo some Saucony shoes.  
Tuesday 6:15pm:  The Tuesday Trail Crew hits Oxbow park for a fun run in the dark!   Gather at the 1st Bridge (which is the 2nd parking lot as you enter the park).  Oxbow is great anytime, but to run or hike it in December is pretty special!  
Thursday 6pm:  Team R.E.D. is at the Bears Den!  Let's celebrate the lovely weather with a run or walk together!  - We'll have routes of 3, 4, or 6 miles and away we'll go! 
Saturday Dec 19th:  We're planning another great holiday run and breakfast with Off Season Striders!  Some of the details are still being worked out.  Check back and join the fun!   
Saturday Dec 19th:  Nite Shift is appearing at the North Star!  Several Team R.E.D. members are planning to rock the night away with Kasey and her band!  More details will follow on this one as well.  

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Looking ahead just a bit.. Jan 2nd is a great race! Predict your time at the Polar Bear 5K!   You can get all your details here.. but trust when I say, anyone can win this race, and anyone can get DQ'd!  

http://rochestertrackclub.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=818

Looking a little further ahead.. some Team R.E.D. nurses are considering a trip out west in March!  This race is with Helene - the woman who ran the perimeter of the USA - and brought that run right through Rochester and Byron!  We ran with her!    Check out the link below!  
https://www.facebook.com/helene.neville/posts/10153790578224044

Successful Caroling!

Nice job Team R.E.D.!  It was a fun and successful evening of caroling on the run!  So many laughs.... so many smiles... and we only made one kid cry (that we know of).  

We also had a new member join us last night!  We love new members!

Pictures of the caroling and our newest member will post later....

Saturday 8am:  Santas on the Run! - You can still register for this fun event from 4-8pm this evening at A Child's Kingdom in Rochester... and you can register between 6:45-7:45am Saturday morning.  Get out and have some fun in a Santa Suit!
Saturday 7am:  Off Season Striders are meeting at Dunn Bros on Elton Hills.  (if you're not racing with the Santas, this is another chance to get some miles and, of course, gather for the post workout social.
Sunday 8am:  The Off Season Striders meet at Brothers Bar & Grill on South Broadway.  Another great chance to get active this weekend!  Park behind brothers and depending on the weather, either gather in the parking lot, or inside the back door.
Monday 6pm:  Monday Maniacs are heading to the Taphouse in Rochester.  What a fun, downtown location! - we can go just about any direction as long as we find our way back for the social!

Caroling on the Run & Men's Night!

Thursday 6pm:  Our Annual Caroling night is upon us!  We'll meet at the Viking Lounge, located at the Clarion Inn at 1630 South Broadway.  We'll do a brief rehearsal and hit the road!  - We have 3 stops planned, with runners running approx 4.5 miles and walkers walking approx 2.5 miles.

Dress Festive..  be ready to belt out your voice - consider arriving early if you need liquid courage!

Our songs are Jingle Bells as we enter... and We Wish You A Merry Christmas as we exit.

Our route will bring us back to Viking Lounge where we can settle in for some social time and some Minnesota Vikings! - or you can participate in the caroling with us, and then head over to TerraLoco for Men's Shopping Night - see below.  

Thursday 7pm:   TerraLoco is hosting Men's Night!  This is a great, discounted shopping night, where you can shop for your ladies and enjoy pretzels and beer!   Have fun at our locally owned fitness store!

Great Night!

We had a small, but enthusiastic crew at the Underwear One-Mile on Friday night!  - Thanks for our wonderful financial sponsors in the Bears Den and Byron MarketPlace, we are able to donate 100% of the entry fees and contributions we received!   Join the Journey is our charity of choice for this event!

Also many thanks to our prize sponsors in TerraLoco. Needs' Carwash, Santa's on the Run, Med City Marathon, Donut Run and Beer Mile! - thanks to these sponsors, many participants received some wonderful prizes!

And finally.. many thanks to all of our Team R.E.D. sponsors as without them, we couldn't do any of this!  Be sure to thank them, and visit their businesses!   - you'll find links to their websites on the right hand side of the blog - Thank you!

Appliance Village

TerraLoco

ServiceMaster of Rochester

Bears Den

Need's Car Wash

Med City Marathon

Byron MarketPlace Liquor

Pro Image

Thanks to everyone who participated and volunteered!

That stroller was decked out with Christmas Lights! 

Janelle was our starter, and when she said "On your runners... this happened." - she claims she said "Undie Runners"

Cal led the race from start to finish!  - Claire was the first woman to finish!  

Four Baby Bumps

Dan back to defend his Golden Undie Title!  

Wendy and Marilee attack the course... Marilee seems out of uniform.  

Some of our wonderful volunteers pictured here.. Jill, Lance, Shannon are pictured, yet thanks also to Katie, Cory, Tom W, Sarah, Aaron, Janelle and Wendy for helping out!  

Claire wins the woman's race with a time of 6:19!  - She also wins a a complimentary renewal (and free Team R.E.D. shirt)!

Cal's first event with Team R.E.D. and he wins the race!  Time of 5:43!  - Cal wins a complimentary membership with Team R.E.D. - he also get's the shirt! - One more thing, he has already be held to the Just/Only rule and did 10 pushups!  

Claire wins again!  - This time Best Undies!  - The judges felt she committed to the spirit of the event at the highest level! 

Dan wins his 2nd title as Golden Undie winner - during the award presentation he was heard saying "Tom, my eyes are up here!"  

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• Sunday 8am:  Off Season Striders are rolling out from Panera South.  The group will hit the Mayowood trail and have some fun!  Come back for coffee and chatter!  
• Monday 6pm:  Monday Maniacs are heading to Wildwood for a great evening of running or walking!  Join us, and come back for the social! - Wildwood is a nice location to hit some of the bike trail system. 
• Tuesday 6pm:  TerraLoco is hosting their charity 5K.. bring your $5 entry and a toy for Toys for Tots!    In fact, this entire month you can donate to Toys for Tots at TerraLoco!  - the first 150 people to bring a toy we receive some great technical socks!  
• Tuesday 6:15pm:  The Tuesday Trail Crew is heading to Indian Hills in Rochester.  This spot is a fun spot.. yet it's tucked away. Visit the following link to see a map that will lead you there. (it's just a bit west of Broadway and a bit south of Elton Hills Drive).   - there's a great over-look of Rochester from this location - especially fun at night!  Address is 1800 Terracewood Drive NW   http://foih.org/documents/FOIH_Brochure_April2015.pdf
• Thursday 6pm:  Team R.E.D. is going Christmas Caroling on the Run or Walk!   What does that mean?   It means we're doing good things! - See a bunch of notes below... we'll continue to add more details as we figure it out - as you know, some of our Team R.E.D. incredible'ness happens on the fly!  
• We'll gather at 6pm at the Viking Lounge at 1630 South Broadway in Rochester and quickly review our Christmas Carols  - We have two songs max (sometimes, if the crowd doesn't seem interested, we might stop at one!) - you can start practicing... Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. 
• We ask that you bring a cash contribution of any amount -- $10, $20, $100, $1000 are all welcome (any amount is appreciated!)... and Team R.E.D. will make a contribution too.   This creates our pool of cash to do good things.
• We have running and walking routes that take us to a couple of area restaurants.  The routes are designed to have the walkers and runners all arrive approx the same time.  We'll wait for everyone to arrive before we go in the restaurant. 
• We enter the restaurant - sing our hit list - and then leave cash to pay for meals for some of the people dining.   - we will do this until we're out of money!  
• Out of money?  Then we head back to the Viking Lounge and hope they don't also need money! 
• We have reservations at the Vikings Lounge at 7pm.   
• With the stops and a 7pm reservation.. I would anticipate the most miles will be approx 4.5 miles.   - if you want more miles... please consider pre-loading or running a bit more after we have finished our good works!   
• Wear something festive!  - Santa hats!  Jingle Bells!  Ugly Sweaters! Pretty Sweaters! Whatever makes you feel festive!  
• The Minnesota Vikings play at 7:30pm that night.. consider that a bonus! 
• Thursday 7pm:  TerraLoco is hosting a Men's Shopping Night.  Beer, Pretzels and free gift wrapping! - Ladies, your job is to register, so your men know what to buy for you! https://www.facebook.com/events/1636188949982262/
• Saturday 8am:  Santas On the Run! - Join this fun event... run in a santa suit, and then you get to keep that suit! Peg & Wally shared a free entry for this event at our Underwear Mile, very nice of them to share an entry to this fun!    http://rochestertrackclub.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=797