sidebar | life and training 10.3 – 10.9

Oh hello again. For once a normal week!

Felt like a long, strange start to the month, what with our trip and the hurricane disrupting the patterns of everyday life. Finally, though, I feel resettled into my usual routine. I think the helter-skelter nature of late September/early October sort of blew up my normal photography mojo, as I was in a real shit rut for like a week. I’m always a believer that the mind-body connection is a powerful truth, and since my brain wasn’t exactly dialed in what with all the local happenings post-Ian, such was likely reflected in my kitchen success.

But, bumps happen. Life ebbs and flows, shit goes wrong, shit goes right, shit hits the fan. Anxiety doesn’t exactly love this cycle of unpredictability, but if I’ve learned anything about coping with that tag, sometimes you just have to sit with it and let it pass. I tend to shut down really badly when my energy jerks over to the darker end – I become unresponsive like my old-ass Lenovo early in the morning, nothing can shake me to a normal level of reaction. Often, fighting against the onslaught isn’t useful for me. I just need to allow the tide to recede on its own. Almost always does, which is quite a relief to know.

All that aside, a nice, normal week. J and I had a date night in Safety Harbor tied around visiting the big Tocobagan mound at Phillipe Park. I mentioned the other week that Bay Area folks have a superstition that this sacred area has protected us from a few devastating hurricanes, so J and I decided to pay our respects. It’s actually quite a big hill, supposedly the site of the central temple. No wonder it was purportedly blessed. I’d want to protect my holy grounds after I’m gone, too, if I had any.

We then enjoyed dinner at Water Oak. It was okay, nothing spectacular, though their fish sandwiches sounded like they could be pretty solid. We shared oysters rockefeller – my first experience with them, I can do oysters in that fashion methinks – and ceviche (too much Old Bay) and I had a plate of grilled snapper as my main. The restaurant sits right by the oldest oak tree in Pinellas county, so we wandered across the street to say hello. The old guy has stilts to help support some of his branches!

How was your week? Share something nice that happened. I like good news, and I think nowadays spreading the fortune in that respect is quite beneficial.

The Fuck We Eating This Week?

…Crispy, cheesy potatoes

…A cozy, warming tortellini soup

…A hearty dish you’ll want to keep in mind for the holidays

…A big, decadent layer cake

…A fun autumnal sangria.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Sweater…The coziest mock neck sweater is my new autumn favorite! I own the gray color and love it with bike shorts if I’m just at home or jeans when out and about.

Polenta…The corny grain *might* rival mashed potatoes for me. Try it out in my Hot Honey Shrimp with Cheddar Polenta! And stay tuned for a new rendition coming this week. Heh heh.

Headband…Bought the burgundy corduroy headwrap I mentioned last week – so comfy and stylish. Love it for keeping my hair out of my shnoz when I’m cooking.

Shops and Wish List

Fashion

Target…Deal days this week, not a whole lot to report but they did have some of my favorite cozies on sale! Bought another pair of the perfectly cozy lounge jogger pants and the high rise fleece jogger pants then a single knit blazer came back in stock so I swiped it before anyone else could. Earlier in the week I grabbed that adorable fuzzy refined crossbody bag I mentioned in last week’s burgundy edit, can’t wait to wear it on a casual evening with a blazer and jeans.

Skincare and Wellness

Art Naturals…Read quite a lot of surprisingly awesome reviews of their vitamin C serum so I might give it a try this week since my current brand is running out (and I don’t really love it anyway). An alternative to this one would be…

Winky Lux…A bit more expensive for their Orange You Bright serum but I adore their White Tea Tinted Veil so much that I’d be willing to invest a bit if this one is of similar quality.

Kitchen and Dining

Target…Can’t seem to find a casserole dish that I’ve really liked in the past, so I grabbed this one and plan to test out a recipe in it this week. Needed a new sangria pitcher also for some fun cocktails I’ve planned!

Week in Training

Monday, 10.3: 11.1 miles, 11:16 pace

Really nice morning, legs felt slow after Sunday rest day.

Tuesday, 10.4: 8.01 miles, 10:59 pace + 20 minute shoulders & triceps

Another glorious trot! Heart rate hung out at 152 average and the air was cool, if not really humid still. Managed to squeeze in a quick lift before work as well.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 bent arm side raise 20#
• 3 x 10 skullcrusher 40#
• 4 x 12 eccentric press 20#
• 4 x 10 kickback 15#
• 1 minute alternating jackknife

Wednesday, 10.5: 10.11 miles, 10:47 pace + 35 minute legs and core

Didn’t expect this pace, but I’ll take it! 62 with a 59 dew point and really soaked it in. Lots of people out, many of them in long sleeves, which I always find amusing.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 ea. single leg squat 30#
• 3 x 12 leg press 180#
• 3 x 12 sumo deadlift 90#
• 3 x 10 elevated sumo squat 90#
• 3 x 20 bird dog 10#
• 3 x 25 toe taps
• 3 x 20 leg extension crunch thing

Thursday, 10.6: 4.07 mile walk (1:05:02)

Friday, 10.7: 7.23 miles, 10:56 pace + 35 minute chest & back

Very stressed in the morning, run felt good but still couldn’t shake the anxiety. Seems to be a theme lately so I need to buckle down and figure out what’s going on so I can try to mitigate the immediate morning brainrushes I’ve been having.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 mid row 70#
• 3 x 10 ea. single arm chest press 30#
• 1 x 8/2 x 10 behind back pulldown 70/60#
• 3 x 10 incline chest fly SS 10 incline press 20#
• 3 x 10 row 35#
• 5 minute core work

Saturday, 10.8: 11.07 miles, 11:07 pace + 30 minute legs & core

Okay run, it’s warmed up a bit the past few days and I felt more sluggish than usual (maybe those two factors go hand in hand?) Good little gym workout after even though I still felt highly strung by the time I got back home.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 sumo goblet squat 65#
• 3 x 10 ea. single leg press 120#
• 3 x 10 ea. Jefferson lunge 60#
• 3 x 10 ea. standing hydrants 30# OH
• 3 x 16 dumbbell plank drags 25#
• 5 minute burnout with a 25# weight

Sunday, 10.9: 4.03 mile walk (1:03:00)

Total running mileage: 47.5