Thanks for the start Bioguy. Sounds like you had a nice time yesterday.

Speaking of birthdays, today is my older daughter's birthday. She is 37 and lives in Navarre Beach Florida.. She is planning on coming up for Christmas with our 2 granddaughters.

I'm heading down to the basement for a kettlebell workout.

Mornin' Masters.

Thanks for the start, bioguy. Nice job of racing-without-training at Rehobeth Beach yesterday, and having the bonus of sharing the course with your DD and some running friends. Happy birthday to Sarah.

Happy birthday to your oldest DD too, Dave. I hope you have/had a good basement kettlebell workout.

Nice work at the Y, Jlynne. Running on ice is something to be a bit wary of regardless of age, although I agree that falls when we are older than dirt are a bit more risky than when we were younger than dirt.

How nice to read posts from Mariposai and Stumpy yesterday, and to read that both are doing well. And, as always, I looked forward to the posts from the rest of you as well, and enjoyed your perspectives on workouts, checking Christmas tree lights, helping out at a breakfast with Santa, and other random activities and observations.

Tet, the cushion/pads I got for the tops of my crutches have made a HUGE difference in my ability to use the crutches comfortably. Get 'em. Regarding Steve's thought - I have YakTraks for my feet, but not for the crutches. Maybe I can jut put a couple of screws through the rubber pads if it comes to that. Fortunately, there is no snow in the forecast for at least the next 7-10 days, so I may be OK.

Late yesterday, I so wanted to just get out of this dang leg brace for a change. But I think the real issue was that I had the straps too tight (they need to be tight enough so it doesn't slide down the leg, but not so tight that they cut circulation), so I just loosened the straps while I sat and read, and that was at least marginally satisfactory. I'm also looking forward to sleeping without the brace on - that'll be a treat.

I read an article yesterday about the importance, especially as we age, of eating enough protein and doing enough exercising to help maintain/strengthen enough muscle mass that, in turn, can help prevent bone and other issues. I sent the article to a friend in his 80s who definitely does not eat nearly well enough to help maintain good health. It's good to get those reminders every once in a while, and we can choose to be attentive to them, or not.

This morning I did another 55 minutes of stretching, knee exercises, and core work. My left arm was a little achy, so I stayed off the weights for today. If the roads dry off after yesterday's and last night's rain, I'll see if I can get out for another circuit or two of the driveway. This evening, we're going with neighbors to see a gingerbread competition (in which one neighbor has an entry), and then out to dinner. Should be fun.

Have a greta Monday.

Jay

 

 

But the worst thing in sports is leaving Florida State out of the BCS Playoffs. A group of selection people ignored the record and decided who they thought would be better. The selection shouldn't be open to such a subjective set feelings. Undefeated in a major conference should be automatic entry to the playoffs.

+1 Totally agree Dave. And thanks for the info on your Kettlebell workouts.

Bio - nice HM!

 It was still dark when I got there and the lights were all on so I had an interesting first mile or so until the sun came up. I got to run through tunnels of lights.

Did you pay your entrance fee?  

 

    MIL did not have some of her personal/intimate items sufficiently tucked away and her daughters are traumatized.

Snork!

40 minutes or so of weights and core for me today.

Thanks, bio.  Great job on the half marathon!    Steve- the Fleet Feets are locally owned and run.  Some are better than others and, of course, some sales staff are better than others!

I'm really conflicted about the football playoffs.  I think FSU got screwed, but I also think that Georgia is the best team despite their losses.  So I don't think we have the best 4.  I think Saban did probably his best coaching job of his career this year, despite how tired we all might be of the Alabama dynasty.  I think Alabama will beat Michigan.

4.3 miles- 47 and sunny with some wind.  I had a long day on my feet at our charitable gifts fair yesterday and I'm tired.  Got it done and hit my goal of 2023 miles for 2023, so there's that.

Rolled Ken out to the gifts fair and our Lessons and Carols service yesterday afternoon/evening.  He got rolling a little too fast on the ramp coming out of church, but he didn't crash.

Good Monday morning, all!   With an emphasis on the Monday part.  I had heck of a time getting out of the house for my morning swim, and once out, found I had locked part of my belt under the door (it was hanging from a hanger with the rest of my clothing, if you wondered how that would be possible), then wrapped part of my gym bag around the handle of the storm door after I got my belt free.   Then on the way to the Y I got stuck waiting for a very slooooow moving train, and got into the pool at 6:45, noticeably one hour later than the 5:45 I had entered in my workout log when I created the swim workout.   I had made back-to-back oil and filter changes for my car and my wife's car, starting at 8:00, so I had to cut a significant amount of swimming out of my workout.   I wound up with just under a mile instead of 1.5 miles or so.   It was a scheduled "Easy" workout, and included 2 x 500 freestyle as a main set, but with so little time I only did one 500.  I'd set a goal time of 7:55 and finished it ion 7:54, basically staying with a 1:35 / 100 pace.  I couldn't tell you when the last time was that I did a 500, but I think I used to do them around 8:30 if I was going for a time.   A good goal time, if I stick with this distance as part of my workout occasionally, instead of rarely, is probably 1:30 / 100 or 7:30.   Or maybe I'm fooling myself and should stick with a wide range, from 7:45 to 8:15 or so.

Have a greta Monday everyone!

Happy Birthday to the RA kids - who aren't kids anymore really. 
DS's 24th bday is next Monday and since he lives 4 hrs from us, and is working that day, and doesn't really want anyone to know it's his bday, I'm sort of at a loss of what to do to kinda sorta make the day special. I'm thinking of having a large taco platter delivered from a place close to his office. Enough food for his whole office, which is only 6 people, and then leave it to him if he wants to share why his parents sent over lunch to the office. 

Had a busy weekend. Spent Saturday getting the house cleaned and decorated. It all looks so festivus now.  And then Sunday, I was able to get out for a short run (5 miles) and then went to an afternoon Christmas Tea Party at a good friends' home. She had about 14 ladies over for tea, and the typical finger sandwiches that are served at high tea, a few games, gift exchange game, etc.  It was a nice afternoon, although it was taking place the same time as the Niner/Philly game. I checked my phone periodically to see the score. My friend who was hosting the party  - - her husband is a huge Niner fan like my husband is, so he came over to our house to watch the game with my husband.

Busy week with our company Christmas party this Friday, so not really a work day - just a few hrs in the morning before being limo'd to the party venue. And then next week I'm on jury duty all week so need to work ahead on my work deadlines this week in the event I'm actually out of the office serving on a jury next week.