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I had limited time on this Friday but it was warmer today than the others this week so I decided to get out for a run. This pond was mostly frozen but not all the way in a couple parts. Let’s just hope no one tries to go out there yet.

Frozen lake with patches of snow and ice, surrounded by bare trees under a cloudy sky, creating a wintry, tranquil scene.

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Game on! The big two are ready to face off tonight on the rink… 🏒🥅

Two people play hockey on an illuminated outdoor ice rink at night, surrounded by a snowy yard with a small house in the background.

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With this the 2024 Gott Walker Ice rink is open for business. The girls and Big Darbs tested it out. I will say after shoveling it earlier today Darby was so excited to get on the rink and more importantly run all round the rink. 🏒

A backyard ice rink gleams under evening lights, bordered by snowy grass and a small illuminated shed. Nearby, leafless trees create a serene winter atmosphere.

A dog stands on an ice rink in a snowy yard at night. Behind, inflatable snowmen are positioned on a stone wall, with a house illuminated in the background.

Two people skate on an illuminated outdoor ice rink, situated in a dark backyard environment with house lights in the background. They wear warm clothing, including jackets and hats.

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Smile! 😀 Why not, I am out running which I enjoy and my ankle didn’t bother me which I was worried about. Also, the sun was out today and no wind making it not bad at all even though the temp was 18°F.

Footprints are scattered over a light dusting of snow on a wooded path, with the word “SMILE” etched into the snow amidst bare trees.

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Don’t let the sun in this photo fool you as it was up till this point on the run it was windy and overcast. Running wise things were good until about 1 mile from home and my ankle started hurting a pain I have not felt before so let’s hope that goes away soon. 😬

Snow-dusted path stretches into the distance, flanked by leafless trees with sparse brown foliage, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

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It felt good to get out for a run tonight before dinner. Felt a little sluggish after not being overly productive all weekend but overall it wasn’t too cold out or at least I am starting to get used to it.

Sparse trees stand still in a tranquil forest, with light snow covering the ground and branches, creating a serene winter landscape amidst bare branches and a distant thicket.

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Was a cold run out there today and I seemed to have ran across some pumpkin massacre on the trail. I am not sure I have seen so many destroyed pumpkins in one place.

Orange pumpkins are scattered along a leaf-covered forest path, surrounded by bare trees and a fallen log, creating an autumnal atmosphere.

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After some debating yesterday I did decided to sign up for a 10K Turkey Trot  with a little encouragement from people 🦃 . Was a chilly morning but had fun out there.

Two men wear medals around their necks after completing a race, standing on a city street with a cloudy sky and bare trees. One holds a water bottle and phone. “FINISHER” is written on the medals.

Official Results

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Flooding Complete: 27 hrs and 11,649 Gallons (44,096 L) of water later I am now going to call it good. It really did take much longer than when I did it in 2022 but I used less water overall and the rink size of 54' x 32' is the same. Now we will wait for ice to start being made by the assistance of mother nature. 🧊

A makeshift outdoor ice rink sits on a grassy yard, supported by wooden beams and surrounded by white plastic lining, with a small shed and barren trees in the background.

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Flooding Update: 24 hours and I am going to let this continue for a while to make sure I have enough water on the shallow side. I am now wondering if I placed the rink in a slightly different location than other years as it seems to be taking longer than last time.

A large, rectangular ice rink with white tarp lining is set up in a backyard with a shed and leafless trees nearby. Wooden supports hold the tarp in place.

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Flooding Update: 22 hrs in and all four corners are finally covered with about 1 inch of water on this shallow side. Since I don’t have to be anywhere to be till 9am I might let it run till at least 8:30 am with two hoses and then decide my next moves.

An ice rink is set up outdoors at night, surrounded by trees and a lit small building. The rink’s surface reflects the structure’s lights.

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Flooding Update: Decided to call it a night after the 16 hr check-in as it didn’t look like I was going to have any issues with it overflowing and the structure was solid. However, I was awakened at the 20 hr check-in, so I went out and did a lap again, thinking I might shut off a hose, and it still had not covered all four corners yet, so I will let it continue. Interestingly, there is a little ice forming already out there.

A rectangular ice rink with smooth ice sits outdoors at night, framed by white tarps. Dim lighting illuminates a small building and string lights on a structure in the background.

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Flooding Update: Can’t believe I still have not filled the 4th corner after 16 hrs of flooding. I am thinking I am just going to go with the plan so let’s hope it is all good tomorrow.

A large, partially frozen rectangular pond is illuminated by nearby house and shed lights at night, surrounded by a grassy yard with a deck and Christmas lights visible.

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Made some time today with flooding the rink and working to get out for a run. Sometimes the best motivation is listening to something interesting.

A bare, leaning tree arches over a grassy field in a rural landscape, with a cloudy sky diffusing the daylight in the background.

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Flooding Update: Well 14hr in now and all braces around the rink are in tack except maybe some small ones as things progress. However, water has still not touched the far back corner. The 18 hrs estimate from other years might be close. Not an idea time though so I am wondering if I go for another 2 hrs with 2 hoses and then cut back to 1 overnight so I can sleep with no worries. 🤔

Large rectangular ice rink is forming under dim lighting, set on a flat grassy yard; wooden supports and plastic sheeting outline the perimeter.

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Flooding Update: Still filling up slowly now that it is about 10 hrs in I am getting eager for it to at least cover all 4 corners. Hopefully, by the 12 hr mark I will get there.

A large outdoor ice rink, partially covered with a plastic sheet, reflects light at night. Nearby, a lit house and a small building provide context in a backyard setting.

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Flooding Update: 12 hours in and only three out of the four corners are now covered but I feel like reaching that fourth is going to take some more time.

A large, partially unfolded white tarp covers a body of water, shimmering under a porch light. A small building with lit windows stands nearby in the dark, open yard.

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Flooding Update: Things are still progressing nicely with no issues to report. I decided to get the back braces put on as I think we have about 1ft of water on the back side now or close to it.

A large tarp-lined wooden frame covers a yard, reflecting light from a nearby house at dusk.

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Flooding update: 6 hrs in and things are still looking good. Not quite to half the bottom covered yet but the deep end is filling up nicely so far.

A large rectangular tarp covers a partially filled frame, likely forming a makeshift ice rink, situated in a grassy backyard with leafless trees and a small shed nearby.

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Flooding update: 2 hrs in and keeping pace with the last time I did it from what I can tell as the water is touching the whole back wall (closest in picture). Later this afternoon I probably need to get the braces pounded in place.

A large, rectangular ice rink is under construction, with water contained by white plastic sheeting. It’s set in a grassy backyard, surrounded by trees and adjacent houses.