[Photos taken 23 December 2024, posted online 24 May 2025. We’ve returned to more normal May weather after a bonkers run of 10 sunny days with ridiculously high temperatures. It’s bizarre to blog about December at this point.]
The annual ginger bread house making happened on Thorlak’s mass day. That day we also had a 1-rep-max day at the gym of the three big lifts, and I set two personal records (PRs)! There were no judges around, just a fun group of people having a blast, so it’s not official. (Note on lingo: UK English apparently uses PB rather than PR, for Personal Best, but that’s peanut butter in the US, and others write 1RM for One-Rep-Max!)
Monday 23 December 2024
The annual ginger bread house, to be displayed until 6 January, at which point it was smashed and eaten.
That morning at 9:45, the ice scraper had arrived, and was happily clearing the parking lot! I danced a happy dance!
We had a 1-rep-max-day at the gym, where we just did the three “big” lifts: squat, bench-press, and deadlift . My body was in a happy mood, and I scored two PRs (Personal Records): a 65 kg bench-press (up from 60 kg), and 110 kg squat (up from 100 kg)! Being tired, and vary of spraining my back, I decided a 130 kg deadlift was enough that day (current PR is 140 kg).
First time squatting 110 kg. Slight break in form but clear improvement from two years prior.
Same 110 kg squat (2x(15+10+10+5+5) kg + 20 kg bar), from another point of view. I see that the knees cave inwards a bit, which needs to be worked on… I’ve also discovered I’ve been core-bracing non-optimally, so I’m working on that as well… a work-in-progress as usual! (animated gif, wait for it to load).
The stars aligned (read: no shoulder/upper arm crap going on) and 65 kg (2x(15+5+2.5) + 20 kg bar) went down and up again! I’m currently working on shoulder-blade and arm positioning, along with muscle activation… (animated gif, wait for it to load)
As a finisher, 130 kg (2x(15+10+10+10+10) + 20 kg bar) left the ground and returned. With a history of back-straining, I figured 140 kg would not be a clever move the day before Christmas… I’m working on better core-bracing (less peeing, sadly no joke), fully engaging the legs/butt, and not yanking the bar up with my upper body (animated gif, wait for it to load.)
With spirits flying high from lifting heavy, I arrived home to find the girls prepping the annual ginger-bread making session.
Decorating candy, check!
This year’s design waiting its turn to get baked.
Fun!
Finnur cooking a big meal as we had guests. Here mushrooms are being prepped for the sauce!
