One of my favorite times of the year is that week of downtime between Christmas and New Year's Day. With no school and a light work schedule, this time becomes a week of review and renewal, reflection and hope.

As one of my between-holiday traditions, I peruse the dozen or so seed catalogs I've tossed aside during the Christmas rush. The vivid photos of perfect tomatoes recall the best parts of summer: long, lazy days with lunches of juicy tomato sandwiches and warm evenings of salad suppers on the deck to the accompaniment of peepers and bullfrogs on the pond.

As I reflect on the glories of homegrown tomatoes, it's easy to get carried away. I'd love to order a dozen or so varieties in every shape, size and color. But then I remember the work involved in taking a tomato from seed to dinner plate and the time commitment required for successful gardening and my list dwindles.

I know that if I grow all the tomato varieties that catch my eye, I won't have room in my garden for any of my other summer favorites. And what's a salad without lettuce or salsa without peppers and onions?

I've learned to temper my passion for summer tomatoes with a dose of winter's sensibility.

Another between-holiday tradition is my annual running review and preview. I close out my old running logs and break out a new calendar.

Running event brochures and magazine enticements have piled up over the past months like my seed catalogs. Just looking at the sleek photos of gorgeous scenery, exuberant spectators or joyous race finishers recalls the days of warm summer training, cool evening long runs and the excitement of giving your all on race day.

Like those tomatoes, running events come in a wide range of colors, sizes and flavors. Delicious as these events may be, I know that each race requires a level of commitment in time and money. Much as I'd like to race all over the country every spring and summer weekend, I realize that would be physically and mentally draining. I file away most of the race brochures and narrow my choices to a few possibilities.

Just as a garden full of tomatoes is a shortsighted and limiting use of gardening space, a schedule full of races is an unbalanced use of time and energy. If I include too many races into my schedule, I won't have time for other more relaxed running or for favorite summer activities like fishing or gardening.

After my week of planning, I'm ready to place my tomato seed order. I've chosen a couple of old favorites like First Lady and Sungold that I know will thrive in my garden.

I've also decided to try an heirloom that the seed company brought back by popular demand. It might require more attention and a little more work for an uncertain outcome, but I'm willing to give it a try. If it grows well, the sweet rewards will be worth the effort.

I'm also ready to place my road racing order for 2009. Of course, I've included some of my favorites, such as the Cook Forest Half Marathon and the Butler Road Race. Training for these events will give me hours of exercise and the rewards of scenic and familiar courses run in the company of friends.

I've also added a classic brought back by popular demand: the Pittsburgh Marathon. I know it will take some extra commitment, but I'm willing to give it a try. If my training goes well, the sweet rewards will be worth the effort.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Pittsburgh Marathon training begins this weekend. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 8:30 a.m.: Frigid 5K, Greensburg. Benefits American Cancer Society. 724-837-0684 or xcrunner091@verizon.netSaturday, 9:30 a.m.: James V. Snyder Memorial Resolution Run, North Park. Starts at boathouse. jvresolutionrun@yahoo.comJan. 10, noon: Run 2 Read Half Marathon, Fairmont, W.Va. Run through Prickett's Fort State Park on paved and crushed limestone trails. 304-366-6055 or run2read@yahoo.comJan. 11, 9 a.m.: Frigid 5-Mile, North Park. Hilly run starts at North Park Lodge. Sign up for running store marathon training program. 412-490-0881 or ksmith@eliterunners.com

<B>Gobble Wobble 5K, Nov. 27: </B>Barry McLaughlin Jr., 1st Overall M, 15:33; Morgan Richards, 1st Overall W, 20:10; Jessica Bennett, 1st 12-14 W, 22:02; Aaron Anderson, 19:11; Phil Springirth, 22:25; Tim Springirth, 22:53; Chris Romito, 23:55; Casey Unverzagt, 24:17; Jonathan Shirk, 24:17; Tom Meling, 25:40; Dawn Meling, 25:41; Patrick Shaw, 26:59; Ralph Sundelin, 27:37; Tony Sunseri, 27:39; Teresa Davies, 28:43; Stephanie White, 29:22; Martin Miller, 29:48; James Davies, 29:49; Wendy Shaw, 30:27; Emily Unverzagt, 31:22; Josiah Unverzagt, 31:23; Ruth Perry, 31:25; Tyler Davis, 32:25; Nancy Bellizia, 34:25; Elizabeth Kruck, 40:14; Patricia Bellizia, 43:22; Maria Bellizia, 43:22; Matt Robb, 58:32; Mary Newman, 1:05:19<B>Pittsburgh Turkey Trot 5K, Nov. 27:</B> Ryan Sheehan, 1st Overall M, 14:52; Laura O'Hara, 1st Overall W, 18:06; Chris Geddis, 2nd 20-24 M, 16:10; Mark Blasinsky, 2nd 50-54 M, 22:30; Steve Diantonio, 3rd 50-54 M, 22:33; Becky DeSantis, 3rd 60-64 W, 28:00; John McPheron, 17:54; Frankie Moxie, 17:54; Eric Geddis, 17:55; Steve Cottingham, 18:10; Jonathan Fleming, 19:10; William Peace, 19:13; Bob Cunningham, 20:01; Kristen Prazenica, 20:17; Tara Fagan, 20:19; Michael Stamatelos, 21:11; Jonathan Snyder, 21:17; Jamie Gianechini, 21:47; Christopher Lazzara, 21:58; Dorothy Moxie, 22:40; Darrel Ryssel, 22:44; Michael Cabarre, 22:47; Colin Zedreck, 23:37; Philip Mathew, 23:54Griffin Mathew, 23:56; Dan Guy, 24:08; Stephen Wagner, 24:32; G. Ripper, 24:54; Thomas Puskar, 25:26; David Frick, 25:33; Neil Gregorio, 25:40; Joseph Ryssel, 25:44; Liz Lamping, 26:25; Lindsay Klaum, 26:31; Thomas Prager, 26:37; Bruce Schatterly, 26:48; Jeff Smith, 26:49; Patty Kitt, 27:13; Cyndie DeLucia, 27:14; Michael Liss, 27:15; Joanna Sutton, 27:15; Mike Sutton, 27:16; James Hodgson, 27:19; Scott Jones, 27:20; Robert Cottington, 27:32; Paula Miller, 27:46; Todd Houck, 27:49; Ryan Deemer, 28:16; Jacob Dillen, 28:17; Ron Nyman, 28:33; Robert Vidosky, 28:35; Andrew Vidosky, 28:35; Mary Levri, 28:42; Carissa Schott, 28:53; Marie Palano, 28:53; Corrine Satriano, 29:06; Janis Hackett, 29:07; Jon Stipanovich, 29:09Madison Klaum, 29:12; Colleen Chartier, 29:17; Aubrie Reedy, 29:19; Kevin Black, 29:39; Alexandria Jones, 29:44; Jennifer Black, 29:48; Drew Satriano, 30:26; Mike Capsambelis, 30:33; Rebecca Gannon, 30:33; Maureen Ditson, 30:43; Peter Taube, 31:01; William Lutz, 31:19; Amy Hartzell, 31:19; Kathy Mattern, 31:32; Steve Robertson, 31:52; Kristen Screen, 32:00; Terry Melis, 32:25; Caroline Scammahorn, 33:02; John Stoehr, 33:16; Dan Loaskie, 33:26; Susan Doherty, 35:21; Christina Loper, 36:17; Elizabeth Houck, 37:51; Sally Krznaric, 42:16; Meredith Ryssel, 43:29; Braden Zukowski, 44:12Send comments and suggestions: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: bigp16@connecttime.net