sidebar | life and training 10.21 – 10.27
I watched Hocus Pocus for the first time on Sunday. My verdict?
Underwhelmed.
To be fair, I’m not a massive Halloween person, and a lot of those tropes, themes, and imageries don’t do a whole lot for me. I love pumpkins (and carving them), I love autumn treats, and some of the decorations people put up are quite amusing, elaborate, and downright creative, though I don’t much decorate for the occasion myself.
Now, Hocus Pocus seems to be a movie that my generation and the younger Gen X’ers gobble up this time of year. It came out in 1993, which is the year I was carried to my mom’s doorstep by a stork. I never saw it for one reason or another (probably because I lived under a boulder when I was a kid. Still do.) Finally caved this weekend and watched it.
It was decidedly okay to me. I wouldn’t make a tradition of it, though I guess I understand why people do. It’s whimsical and charming in some ways, but I am neither whimsical nor charming myself so I suppose I don’t adhere to that style of movie. I’m much more attached to It’s the Great Pumpkin or Nightmare Before Christmas – which I watch before Halloween and before Christmas most years. But for real, Hocus Pocus was fine, I’m glad I saw it, but I don’t necessarily need to see it again.
Halloween is Thursday, and to celebrate I’ll be flying up to Pennsylvania to see my sis for a few days. I’m excited for the break. This past week I felt like crap many of the days and that seasonal exhaustion that crops up every year recently is starting to engulf my soul. I need a break, to escape a little bit, and get a taste of actual fall weather for fuck’s sake. Heading up north is going to refresh me, and being around family will help distract me from some bullshit that cropped up at the end of last week.
Yup, that’s basically how I feel.
I followed a pretty normal pattern as far as comings and goings. Wednesday I dipped over to Oxford Exchange for a rather exceptionally tasty PSL. Seriously, you go, barista.
Saturday I ventured out for a little escapade in St. Pete. First stop was Sesh, a brewery I’ve been eyeballing for a few weeks and which this particular day seemed appropriate considering its spooky theme. Loved everything about it. The space is sprawling and clean and well decorated, not to mention the fun 12 foot skeletons guarding the entryway. The pumpkin beer was straight up pie in a glass, and my grouper sandwich and fries both stellar. Definitely making this a regular haunt in the area.
Then a peep over to Gallagher’s pumpkin patch to pick out my gourd for carving! I also grabbed a smaller dude because his stem fascinated me.
Busy week ahead. I’m working hard on organizing my 2024 Thanksgiving menu for you guys, and hopefully I’ll get off my bum and pick up supplies for my envisioned tablescape to share with you. *Most* of the recipes are complete, just a few more to test out and perfect – a lot of menu contains brand new content, for which I’m quite hyped. I’m hopeful I can scrap out my to-do list pretty efficiently before I whisk myself up north for the weekend.
How are you all feeling? Tired? Me too. It’s universal. Everyone I’ve spoken to feels extra heavy and fatigued lately. I’m trying to embrace rest as much as I can, even when I don’t think I deserve it (which is pretty much always. I have a very toxic productivity mindset sometimes, though I’m working on it!) Remember, if you don’t choose intentional time to slow down, your body will choose it for you.
Have a good week, dear people. I’m here if you need anything.
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…Stuffed spaghetti squash!
…A tasty cocktail to add to your autumn repertoire.
…Some seriously dope-ass salted caramel cupcakes.
A Few Things I’m Digging
Tuna salad…I make a very rustic tuna salad for lunches fairly often, and lately it’s been hitting the spot (with a side of ripple potato chips!) I combine a can of tuna with a bit of vegan mayonnaise, dijon, garlic and onion powders, chopped celery and tomato, and avocado. Measure with the heart. Filling and pretty healthy too!
Joggers…I’ve been living in cozy sweatpants lately. These are similar to the ones I garb in all the time.
Salted caramel…I’ve been baking with my homemade caramel sauce quite a lot lately, most recently in my Salted Caramel Apple Cider Layer Cake. I’ve another treat coming this week using a batch of that wonderful sweet goodness – stay tuned!
Spooky Halloween Treats
As we’ve established, Halloween is Thursday, so I’m rounding up some frightfully tasty goods for you to try this week!
Halloween Harvest Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Lil Monster Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies
Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Creepy Crawly Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
Week in Training
Monday, 10.21: 7.5 miles, 9:33 pace + 14 minute lift
Lovely weather for a good workout! I hate how my GPS has been funky during my warmups because it shows my pace a lot slower than it likely is. Not that I’m really married to my speed during the 2 easy miles at the beginning, but a little more accuracy would be nice…Intervals were 2 miles (8:02, 7:52), 1 mile (7:45), 400m fast (1:49), then a 2 mile cooldown. Pretty satisfied with how this all felt.
Strength:
- 3 x 12 diamond squat 50#
- 3 x 10 ea. triceps extension 15#
- 2 x 15 hip dip 25#
- 3 x 10 jump squat 40#
Tuesday, 10.22: 5 miles, 10:48 pace
A little warmer this morning but still quite pleasant. 150 bpm too, which is really solid for an easy run!
Wednesday, 10.23: 5 miles, 10:37 pace + 10 minute lift
Another day of 4 x 50m sprints during an easy run. I hit a 5:15 max! Also felt really accomplished because I averaged a 5:xx on three of the four sprints. Making some max speed progress!
Strength:
- 3 x 8 ea. balanced shoulder press 20#
- 3 x 12 alt. lunge pulse 40#
- Core work
Thursday, 10.24: 6 miles, 10:08 pace
Really nice morning for some speedy work! 2 mile warmup, 800m (3:47), 2 x 400m (1:45, 1:45), 2 x 200m (51.4, 49.3), 2 mile cooldown. A bit disappointed with the 800 but fairly happy with the other splits!
Friday, 10.25: 4 miles, 10:41 pace
Very still and humid out but the temperature was pleasant and my legs felt oddly good considering Wednesdays strength workout and Thursday’s speedwork.
Saturday, 10.26: 10 miles, 11:05 pace
Shit mood and a shit run, really. Learned something a bit disheartening the night prior and worked myself into various shades of annoyance, resentment, and disconcertment. Got it done, at any rate, and am looking forward to perhaps a bit of a cutback week hereafter.
Sunday, 10.27: 4 mile walk (1:02:29)
Total running mileage: 37.5
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