Had a lovely 3.25 mile hike today with several hiking friends from church. At 45 degrees the trails were fully thawed...and quite sloppy. That is usually a trail that takes just over 1 hour, but it took a full 1.5 hours today as it was SO muddy in places that we had to pick our way through to keep from falling. Very thankful for my trekking poles for sure! I can handle falling and getting muddy, that's no problem. The problem is my track record these last two years when I've fallen, I just have too many broken bits to risk it.

I did enjoy the hike, mud and all. I do still have shin splints in one leg but the other is healed - which is why I headed for the 3.25 mile trail rather than the 4.4 mile option. Bit by bit! I will relax, and work on my Tai Chi form later tonight.