Sometimes the best way to get through things is to focus on being the best you can be.
I thought that while walking. This time, I did the 10k course in 1:27:28 (14:06 mpm), which was a bit slower than 2 weeks ago, but it was cold and there was a hard wind blowing. I was at 58:20 at 4 so I added another sub 30 final 2.2.
And this is what I am trying to do. And I am trying to avoid imaginary battles that appear to be real to me.
2.4 mile commuter walk over lunch.
weights: pull ups: 10, 10, 5, 5, 10, 10 (seriously)
bench: 10 x 134, 2 x 170 (wanted 3), 1 x 175, 3 sets of 5 x 160
high incline: 10 x 94, 5 x 110, 5 x 110
Trying to remind myself to focus on what is important and to not worry about what I cannot control.
Weights: low 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 225
6 inch: 3 sets of 5 x 300. It seemed to go ok, with the final set being the easiest one.
Walk: 5K on campus.
Last night, I went to a basketball game with B and Bradley won 74-60. ISU pulled to within 60-57 with about 6 minutes to go but BU pulled away.
Yes, the Redbirds were without their best player (big man) but BU outworked ISU for most of the game and deserved the victory.
We are ready to go to the Illinois St. at Bradley game; the arena is sold out (lots of ISU fans) and the place should be noisy. And both teams have been very inconsistent; it would be a 20 point blowout in either direction, or a triple overtime nail biter.
Last night, the Bradley women got creamed 72-40. It was only 29-23 at the half but no contest at all in the second.
Workout notes:
Thursday: 10K course in 1:29:08 (14:23 pace); not as fast as Tuesday but a more even effort. No one to push me.
Friday: commuter walk: 2 miles
Pull ups: 6, 10, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5
bench: 10 x 134, 3 x 170 (yay!) 3 sets of 5 x 160
high incline: 10 x 94, 9.75 x 105 (not quite the lockout), 10 x 94
Saturday: 11.2 miles (two goose loops in 2:56:23 (15:49) slow but I let my mind wander all over the place, and it wasn’t that great of an effort, though I was winding down toward the end.
I am just feeling sort-of alienated, though I wonder if a lack of sleep might be an issue. And, well, I think that I want a fight.
Instead, I had a workout on the porch. Beautiful weather for this time of year: I did pull ups in short sleeves!
It went 6, 10, 8, 6 then 4 sets of 5 (3 sets were chins)
bench: 10 x 134, 8 x 150 (boo!) 10 x 134
trap bar dead (low) 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 225
high incline: 10 x 94, 4 x 115, 5 x 110
2 minute plank.
2 mile commuter walk later.
Ok. The first poll question: is it ok for a man to call up a married woman and ask her out to lunch? I am NOT talking about a working lunch for work, a committee, a client lunch, lunch after something like a 5k, or grabbing luch during a break at work. Oh yes, he is not her husband.
I am talking about him calling her and making a specific date for lunch.
If you wish to participate, answer the above question first.
Now, let’s ask the same question: is it ok for a man to call a married woman and ask her out to lunch (same stipulations as above) but now, the lady is an octogenarian and he is younger?
Do different rules apply if the woman is elderly and the man asking is not?
I asked the first question on Threads. It was low response, but the answer was mostly “no, it is not ok.”
What do you think?
The good: 1:25:37 for my 10k course. I was at 56:52 at the 4 mile mark (end of the hills) and finished the final 2.2 in 29:45. It helped that another walker tried to challenge me going up Corn Stock Hill. This was my fastest time since November of 2023.
But there was some excitement: I noticed that the light appeared to be stuck at Maplewood and Main; I just jaywalked. Some dreadful kids were on a rampage with a stolen vehicle.
People are fed up with this sort of thing and are tired of the excuses and lack of accountability. People are upset about the so-called Safe T act, but some have pointed out that red states, which don’t have such nonsense, also suffer from a lot of violent crime.
One thing: I am going to have to cultivate a news habit: I’ve fallen so behind. I am wondering if I should have a newscast to lift weights to.
Speaking of which: warm day (by February in Illinois standards) and I walked 2 miles to go to lunch.
Weights: pull ups: 8 sets of 6, one of 5 (not as good as I had hopes)
bench: 10 x 134, 1 x 170 (harder than I thought it should be), 5 x 160, 6 x 155, 6 x 155
high incline: 10 x 94, 10 x 105 (ok; lock out on the left arm..not quite), 10 x 94
Valentine’s Day came and went, and I am still married, so there is that. We went to a play (The Importance of Being Earnest) and enjoyed it. Yesterday, it was a double header movie day on the couch.
I got some working out in as well.
Saturday: I had a tough 10 mile walk in 2:34:44; I did several loops in Bradley Park: the spur, that mixed loop (about 2 miles) then a 1.3 mile Corn Stock loop then just enough on campus to get to 10+.
Sunday: 5k walk (16:48 pace) after deadlifts:
Deadlifts: 10 x 134, 10 x 134 (wanted to record my form at a non-challenging weight), 10 x 184, 10 x 225 (kind of ragged)
6 inch handle: 4 x 300, 5 x 300, 5 x 300
Well, I made it to the end of the work week. I have not slept well, though my mood has been much improved over the past few days.
Thursday: hilly 10k course in 1:26:46 (14:00); best time for the course, post knee episode last year. In fact: maybe over the past 18 months? I had to get it done to take my “wife/friend” to the doctor’s office.
Today: 2 mile commuter walk. As far as the rest: pull ups: set of 10, then 4 sets of 6, one of 7, two of 5
Bench: 10 x 134, 1 x 175, 4 x 160, 6 x 155, 5 x 155
high incline: 10 x 94, 5 x 110, 5 x 110
curls: 7-7-7 set (decided to bring these back)
Life of an old goat 