Virtual Running Buddies week o' November 27

[VictoriaL]

May I start this week with a report of yesterday's run???

As you all know I don't run in organized races, and can barely run with DH ( :) ), so yesterday was my very own, private Turkey Trot. Vicci's Turkey Day 5K, as it were...

Beautiful day for a run, and after having been in the kitchen for several hours prior I was ready to blow off some steam. BUT. I had realized I was running behind on my cooking schedule, as I ran and made some mental notes. I figured that I could do deal with it, with only the MIL coming there wouldn't be a problem if we ate an hour later (DH would just have to pick her up later!). It must have been bothering me in a subliminal way, though, because I finished, stretched, and went to log in my run only to discover that I had "forgotten" the last loop of my course. So I was .65 mile short. :( Hmm, my first Turkey Trot and I blew it!

And, of course, the calories which I ingested a few hours later could in no way be eliminated by such a short run. Actually, it should be a Turkey Day 20k next year if I want that to happen!

Up early to start de-decorating the autumn stuff and clean to prepare for Christmas decorating. And I'm glad that I got in a run yesterday, any run at all, because it's cold and windy and rainy, and they say that we may get a light accumulation of... snow. Oh well, 'tis the season when I don't mind it too much!

Hope that you all have had a wonderful holiday and are set for a nice relaxing weekend (unless any of you happen to go shopping...) :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thanks for starting Vicci. It was good of you to get the thread started with a Thanksgiving run. At least one of us got out. :) I spent some of my Thanksgiving sleeping in (I need to do that) then making smashed potatoes for dinner with my classmates - so no run (and it was raining too).

Yesterday I had planned on riding/spinning - even left enough time to get a good spin in. That was until the lights went out at ~3:00 and didn't come back on until midnight. So the spinner (in the basement) was unusable (no lights). Still, did a ton of walking and celebrated an early birthday for LW (today - she's 51).

Today, I had planned on running but ended up walking for about 2 hours. Part of a project for one of my classes. I had to walk in a 5 block radius (more or less) from my house. So I walked up and down all the streets in a square that was ~1 mile on a side (circumscribed 1/2 mile circle inside). I'll count all that walking as my run for the day.

Looking at a long morning tomorrow at church - three services starting at 7:45 and I'm picking up a classmate at 6:30 so he can get to his internship church that is near mine (his normal ride is out of town).

Off to bed - after a little reading. Happy trails,
Les

[Kathy B]

HI, Vicci! Funny about your subconscious need to cut things short....sometimes it is best to follow your gut instincts. Were you the first to finish in your Turkey Trot? ;) How did that 21 pound turkey come out, and more importantly, what are you making with all of the leftovers?

Happy birthday to your wife, Les! Too bad about the loss of power when you had set aside time to work out. Sounds like you still got in plenty of exercise, though.

Had a nice 3 mile run this AM. Beautiful day, but it is supposed to start getting much colder tomorrow. We put up the Christmas decorations this evening, since DS has to head back to school tomorrow evening. Before he goes, though, we are going to see "Wicked" at the Music Hall. The kids are so excited! I am looking forward to it myself.

That's all for now! Hi to all that follow. :)

[Natasha]

Hi everyone. Mind if I join? It's been a while!

Les, happy belated birthday to DW! I can't believe another year has gone by. Sounds like a neat school project that allows you to walk for a couple of hours.

Vicci, congrats on your private and exclusive Turkey Trot! How was the big turkey?

Kathy, enjoy Wicked! Stay warm during the cold snap.

Hopefully you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. It's just a regular ol' weekend here but I'm planning on making my spiced cashews, we just did some surrogate Santa shopping, and might put up the tree. Oh and since this is a running thread, I should mention that I will train today, but I'm not sure if it will be running or swimming.

Best to all,
Natasha

[VictoriaL]

Nat! Nice to see ya, stranger... ;) So what was it this day, swim or run???

So Les, you should ask Santa for one of those headbands with a light. Just think-- you could "bike" in the basement during power outages as well as run outside in the cold and dark! How much fun could that be? :rolleyes: Hope that your sermons and typically busy Sunday went well.

Kathy, so how was Wicked? Yes, I came in first in my age group! DH scared the he** out of me when he appeared out of nowhere while I was out on the trails, having decided after I left that he would go out too. He finished first in his age group as well. :) We've gotta clean off that mantle for the trophies! As for the leftovers, I finally wrapped the remaining turkey breast half in foil and froze it tonight. After The Big Day, we had turkey sandwiches (of course!), turkey tetrazzini, hot brown casserole, turkey tortilla soup and turkey enchiladas are on tap for tomorrow for the last of the meat. Then the carcass gets made into soup. I'm losing my enthusiasm for turkey...

I followed Kathy's lead and got out for a 3-mile run this afternoon. My heavens, what a gorgeous day! I think I saw 61 degrees on the thermometer at one point, and it was sunny as well. I had a lot to do, and didn't start until almost dusk, but the moon was gorgeous. More than a couple of deer startled me as I ran those darkened paths (didn't bother with the woods trails this time).

Hope that you are all recovering, in one way or another, from this long weekend... :)

[SusanMac]

Happy, happy Turkey day everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend (even Nat!)

Natasha - great to see you around here again! Spiced cashews sound yummy. Are you still running with your running club?

Les - Do you mind sharing why you have a class assignment to walk in a 5 block radius? I'm very intrigued. Hope everything went smoothly for you & all of the various services yesterday.

Vicci - I love the idea of your own personal turkey trot! Congrats!

Here is my weekend schedule:
Wed - clean, clean, clean, clean, yoga
Thurs - pie, pie, pie, pie
Fri - pie, pie, pie, pie, brewery tour (that was super fun!)
Sat - pie, pie, pie, 45 min run! yea!
Sun - sleep in late, and have a lazy day reading. We did get out for a Bode walk. It was a fabulous day

[newsomz]

Hi All!

Glad to hear about all the nice turkey days. Just stopping by to say "hi"! School is keeping me busy but I have been getting in my runs. I did a 15k Turkey Trot with my sister & cousin and helped DH along with the 5k.

Vicci - You should try this soup (http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/spicy_turkey_soup_with_yogurt_chickpeas_and_mint/) out if you're tired of turkey! I made it last night and it was really good and different (for turkey). You might not even notice you're eating turkey ;)

Happy trails to everyone else! Gotta go study :(

[Leslie Ferguson]

Les - Do you mind sharing why you have a class assignment to walk in a 5 block radius? I'm very intrigued. Hope everything went smoothly for you & all of the various services yesterday.

The class is in Youth Ministry. The project was to walk about looking for places that might be considered spiritual by Youth (12-20 y.o.). That can (and does) include things like McDonalds, the shopping mall, and other hang out places. The paper that goes along with it is a summary of why I think those places are spiritual. It was a fun walk and it actually got me into places that I didn't realize were within 5 blocks of my house.

Things went well yesterday, even though I did a lot of other class work (finished a Genogram - an annotated family tree) and spent time with my sister (her BF's father was killed in an accident at work last Wednesday - electrocuted while taking down temporary lighting he had erected to repair a water main break).

Gray day today... class tonight... see you all later,
Les

[Kathy B]

Hi, all! Wicked was EXCELLENT! The kids were talking about it all the way home, and they are still talking about it today.

Got out for another 3 mile run today. I am very proud of myself that it is almost December and I am still running outside, but then, the weather has been great and it was 54 degrees during my run today, so that probably explains a lot. So much for the cold spell they predicted....at least not today!

Glad to see you Natasha! Are the cashews a gift, or just for munching?

Susan, LOL!! I LOVE your training schedule over the past few days! May need to plan mine that way next year.... :D

Les, sorry to hear about that tragedy. Hope your sister and her BF are doing OK.

Vicci, be careful running in the dark. Are the trails pretty clear? Very cool to share the evening with a couple of deer!

Carrie, glad to hear things are going well for you. Thanks for posting the soup recipe....I have saved it for future reference. Unlike Vicci ;), I have no leftover turkey to use up at this time since I worked on TG and my sister did the honors.

Got quite a bit done today (a few outdoor lights put up, laundry, cleaning, post office and vet), but still have some cooking to do this evening. I am sending DS some cookies to hold him over until Christmas break. He only left yesterday, and I am already planning to mail him something....can you tell I miss the little (big) guy??

Take care everyone!

[TKay]

Vicci - Thanks for starting us off with a great race report. Trophies? Wow. The sponsors of your Turkey Trot are very generous. Congrats on your win.

Les - I second the headlamp recommendation. ;) I'm so sorry to hear of the tragedy. Wow. That is just so shocking and sad. All my best to your sister and her BF's family.

KathyB - Wicked is one of my favorites. I've seen it a handful of times. I'm so glad you enjoyed it too. I'm impressed by all the outdoor running and all the productivity. I'm sure your ds will be happy to receive his care package.

Nat - Yay! So nice to hear from you. Mmm...cashews...

Susan - I love your Thanksgiving weekend recap. Sounds absolutely perfect (especially the pie part).

Newsomz - Great to hear from you too! Sorry you're so busy, but it sounds like you're still getting in some activity. A 15k Turkey Trot? Wow.

I enjoyed bursts of activity followed by stretches of inactivity over the holiday weekend. It was lovely. Our T-Day meal went smoothly, we enjoyed delicious leftovers and I don't have a single complaint about any of it. I even kept consistent with my workouts.

Speaking of which, I'm headed up for a combo workout today: TM, weights and bands. I think I'll throw in some lunges and squats too. Funny how the the trunk can't hold the junk up without assistance anymore. :rolleyes:

Have a great one, all!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thanks for the wishes over the accident - the family is doing as well as can be expected.

Carrie - I almost didn't catch that it was a 15k Turkey Trot. That has to be one of the longest turkey trots I've ever heard of. I think we limit ours to 10k. Great finishing it and having a good race. I hope your studying goes well.

TKay - It's not so much seeing to get to the bike, it's the lack of air flow (the fan is essential) in the basement. ;) Great consistency on your workouts.

Nat - Good seeing you again - glad you are well. Surrogate Santa sounds fun.

A shout out to the rest - yucky day yesterday. Rain, wind, visit with the psychologist to get my psychological clearance for ordination in June. :) Had a good class last night and took an hour spin this afternoon in the basement (with the fan). Off to do reading and prep for classes in the morning.

Hope all are well and happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

Tkay, sounds like you had a perfect holiday... And
Funny how the the trunk can't hold the junk up without assistance anymore.
Oh man, give it a few more years! :rolleyes: It's all I can do to keep up!!!

Wait, though, I think that Susan's holiday weekend was the one which I would like to have! Pie.

Carrie, I'm very impressed by the 15k! I would've felt it my due to eat an entire pie afterward! :) And thanks for the recipe link, I made the soup tonight. As always, I did make a few changes (turned it into more of an Indian-style by adding curry and garnishing with fresh tomatoes and cilantro) and we both loved it!

KathyB we are also having warmer-than-usual weather and I am thrilled to have been able to get out on the trails so much. I just hope that it lasts!
Mailing cookies mere hours after DS leaves for school-- what a Mom you are! :)

Les I understand about the fan, I use one when I have to use the EB-- even in winter. Good that you have that option when the weather is yucky (and the power is working...)

I meant to get out all day, but I started decorating the house and, one thing after another, I ended up going out at 4:15. The trails are clear, though, and it was a beautiful sunset. A little later I turned out of the woods and there was the moon, huge just above the horizon, and the Man was smiling at me! I got in 2.75 miles before I decided to pack it in.

An interesting note. For several weeks I had been noticing piles of light grey feathers, striped with orange, at various points on the trails. I knew that it was a bird of some sort, but had no idea what was terrorizing them. Tonight I found out. As I was running, I startled a gray fox and he scurried down the hill away from me. I came home and looked it up-- yes, foxes eat birds. And I'm going to have to keep an even more careful eye on Spooky now (luckily, he is not fond of wandering far from the house, in case he might suddenly become hungry and have to walk too far a distance for his snack!)

[Natasha]

Hi everyone,

Les, I'm sorry to hear about your sister's BF's dad. Hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected.

Susan, your weekend sounds absolutely pie-tastic! Glad you enjoyed.

Kathy, good to hear how fun Wicked was!

Vicci, yikes, that is scary. Smart to keep an even closer eye on Spooky! The other day I opted for a run. :) Your run with the Moon sounds wonderful!

TKay, good to hear that you had a nice weekend with your family as well. Are the kids getting excited about more holidays in the near future?

Carrie, the 15k sounds fun ... you're obviously back from France now. I bet you miss it, at least sometimes.

Oh yes, the cashews. They're mostly for gifting, though some will be for us to keep for random munching.

I think tonight will feature a spin. I need a dose of endorphins after a fairly challenging day ;)

Take care, guys,
Natasha

[TKay]

Les - So you were deemed psychologically sound enough for ordination? Were you nervous about that? :p I understand about the fan. Makes sense.

Vicci - Good going on the late-in-the-day trail run. Oh, that sneaky fox. I hope Spooky stays close to home--and safe.

Nat - How did the spin go? Did you get your allotment of endorphins? Yes, the kids are thrilled that the holidays are upon us--especially since they get two weeks over Christmas break.

Up for another resistance routine. I need to mix it up. I've been doing a band workout for a bit, and I'm sure I need a change. It really works though.

Dh and I are thinking of taking the boys to see the Beatles Love show (Cirque du Soleil) in Vegas over the holidays. It will be pricey, but the kids are discovering the Beatles now and I think they'd really enjoy it. We shall see. Who's got travel plans?

[Leslie Ferguson]

No TKay not that worried but it's good to have one more check box filled in. Hope you enjoy the Beatles show. We're not traveling - classes end on the 21st and 5 days of comps start on the 4th so we're going to lay low. But after that, Christmas comes and we head to Oregon. :cool:

Nat - Thank you for the wishes, the funeral was this morning (and I couldn't go - very important doctor's appointment). Lots of folks have been by to do their bidding and things seem to be going relatively well. Good that you're getting runs/swims/spins in.

Vicci - Good to keep Spooky off the trails - wolves (and coyotes) are no fun for critters. Good run too.

I spun this evening - long afternoon in class and the morning busy with a paper and the doctor. Tomorrow the world starts to get really busy - Lessons and Carols at school, the following day is a craft fair (with LW) and a little work at church, then preaching on Sunday (twice - luckily the same sermon), then the next to last week of classes. :eek:

Off to read a little and sermonate a little. Happy trails,
Les