I'm surprised to be only the second one posting at noon.  I need to catch up a bit since my last post on Friday. PBJ, congrats to your daughter on being queen.  Tramps, that's a pretty snow picture but I don't want to be in it.  breger, nice 5K with 1st in AG.  Walt, good job on your speedy 5K.

Nice long runs for mariposai, CNY ( a couple), and jlynne (on the TM).

My wife's knee surgery went well on Friday and she's getting around pretty well without too much discomfort.  The bad news is that the doctor found arthritis, in addition to the meniscus tear which was repaired.  The arthritis will likely cause the need for a knee replacement in a few years.

Yesterday, we were scheduled to see a Michigan State basketball game with our kids and our son's in laws.  My wife was clearly not up for the experience but felt well enough to take care of herself and sent me off on my own.  I enjoyed myself except for the drive home in slippery conditions.  Before I went yesterday, I got in a 4 mile run at a 9:47 pace.  This morning, it was in the low to mid 20s and there was a light breeze.  I'd forgotten to charge my Garmin so picked a route where I have good idea of the distance and got in about 6 miles.

A good day and good runs for all.

TomS

I started out in our unplowed neighborhood this morning, and got out onto better roads as quickly as possible.  Still, it was a combination of single-track on our streets, bare pavement on a nearby highway, and hardpack through another neighborhood. It made for slow going and 6.5 miles was enough.  I'm pretty happy that my knee held up with no pain.

 I also have a bit of a sore back today from yesterday's shovel-thon.  Bright sun today and all the snow is beautiful.  I'm not sure what the final tally was, but I'm guessing 18 inches where we live. We're going to venture out to the grocery store now.  Hopefully they've had deliveries.

Sarge – I thought you were going to say, “so many cookies, so little time.”……

Tom – I’m glad to hear your DW came through the surgery okay, but that’s too bad about the arthritis.

{{{PDR}}} and {{{Erika}}} and other back-aching shoveling casualties.

Denise – what a gem you are to stop and help someone shovel his driveway!

We mostly dodged the snowstorm here, and although there was a thin layer of ice in many places, the bike path was mostly clear.  Still, I dressed too warmly this time and finished the run on the TM mostly so I could get out of my sweaty layers.

18.1 miles for me today - 13.5 miles for me outside in 28° (ave 10:01), followed by 4.6 miles on the TM @ 10:00.

Now I’m heading up to make a double batch of the English Toffee I make every year at this time – some to give out, some to save for us.  I can either have toffee or wine after dinner…hmmmm….which will it be? 

Denise,  you were sweet to help the 'blue eyed guy; shovel his driveway!  & nice run in the snow for you.  This must mean you're over your bug, I hope.

Harriet I'm glad your run was painless.  Esp. in the snow. 

Erika, -20? .... hope your foot is ok!!!    I was thinking of you this morning, kept telling myself to Erika-up.

TomS I'm glad your wife's surgery went well.   I hope she can avoid the knee replacement, hard to say, I guess, but I don't think it's inevitable either.     Nice cold weather running for you.

Sarge, I know what you mean about the coffee!  I took a thermos with me this morning for after my run.

WTG Byll & Walt!!!!!   (see, bill.   we're always right.)( ;-) )

This morning was tough for me but I did manage to do what I started out to do.  14.2 miles, 10:19 av. pace, 9:16 max.  ahr 159, max 175.  compared to the rest of you this was IRC!   24F, light winds.   We had just enough snow to make it slippery, & it also covered the crunchy parts left over from the last time, the icy spots, etc.  In a few places there was a lot of it, & some places water so my shoes got wet.  So it was one of those runs like you were talking about yesterday, Holly.   Tense & focused pretty much the whole time.  Tried to relax as much as possible.   It was really beautiful, the sun coming up & shining on the river, snow shimmering, blue in the shadows.   But I didn't dare look too much!    The pace does not include stops for fuel & whatevers.  I  found I really needed those brief stops to stop focusing for a minute.    Well.   I didn't mean to be negative, sorry!   I'm happy to be able to do it, & that I didn't fall!   My knee is talking to me, but really not much more than before I started.  

Then I went to the gym for the usual weight machines, back lifts, side planks, reverse crunches & hammie curls w/ the stab. ball.         does it make any sense that somehow that would make me feel better?  It was hard while I was doing it, but it was almost like scratching an itch.  felt less carpy when I was done.    Walked Sadie about a mile, (poor pooch)  and That is That.

mta, hi Holly, hi Karin.   nice runs you two!   I agree. toffee with the wine.  oh, serious yum.

Liz, I see that you are in the throes of a Yak-crush. I've never tried them, but probably should: many of the roads I run on are dirt and remain pretty icy even after plowing.

7.6 in 1:09 today, no snow (hurray), but plenty of wind. Bought a new Smartwool cap...over my balaklava, it kept my head real toasty. My bald head, I should say.

Walt

toffee or wine?...hummm both...it is the Holiday season after all.

Where is everyone today?

Tom, it is great to hear that your wife's surgery went well.

{{{erika's back}}}} I am glad to see you ran 7 miles yesterday.

Divechief, I really enjoyed your description of the trip you took down under several years ago. Wow, three months of biking, how fun!!!!

Walt, how was your shopping  last night?

Denise, you are amazing. Shoveling someone else's snow...what a big heart person you are.

Karin, 11 miles after the fabulous 19 you ran yesterday...wow girl.

For me, 1:25' of easy running in the fog with Billy Joel giving me a serenade on my MP3 player. You know when I was a teenager I had a huge crush on Billy Joel. I learned to sing up town girl, piano man, just the way you are and other of his songs way before I even understood or spoke English.

I hope all of you are enjoying the last day of fall.

 Adorable new AVATAR predawnrunner. I just can imagine how much fun you must be having with baby Nate.

Jlynne DW and I had the same tree calamity happen to us a few years ago.  We were cracking up reading about yours!  You handled it with more aplomb though.  We just decided that was enough tree time for the year and hauled it out of the house.

DW and I are about to leave for a trip up the coast (Monday) so this has to be fast.  Just some pictures from yesterday (Sunday).  We started the day with a river tour.  It was from 10-12 and HOT!  Here is a picture from somewhere along the way:

Along the way we saw some of SteveP's friends hanging around in the trees trying to get some shut eye:

 Post river trip we took a walk to the local village.  Of course, no trip would be complete without the ever memorably kangaroo crossing sign!

Have a good day running all!  Seeing how it is Sunday where you are I expect to see a LOT of long runs today in celebration of International Long Run Day!