sidebar | life and training 10.9 – 10.15

Yaaaaaaaaaaa’ll it’s CHILLY OUT.

And this fucken gnat keeps flying against my computer screen probably because it’s lit up and bugs like shit to be lit.

This week blitzed by but also seemed to move in slow-mo. Not sure how I feel about that. And now, I’m keenly away that it’s mid-October and the holidays are very quickly scooting into vision. I have so much to do, many start lines to embrace, and am kind of paralyzed by the passage of time so I’m not quite sure where to begin.

But, this week wasn’t awful I don’t think. The weekend proved quite busy and eventful. I’m trying to let myself slip from my comfort zone and feel like I’m making up for many lost years of self-isolating, so this means saying yes to semi-spontaneous dates, staying out later than usual every so often (not too often, though. I felt like a dumpster fire afterwards and practically slept all day Sunday). I think I’ve been craving some guilt-free breaks from work and work for quite some time now, and perhaps now I’m allowing myself that grace. It feels good.

Who else was aware of the solar eclipse on Saturday? It was trippy! I knew that it was forthcoming but somehow forgot once it started happening. J and I were enjoying a snack I made and both wondered why the hell it was so dark in the living room – then, we looked at our watches and went oooooh. It was a wonderfully bright day, yet the rooms were dark as if overcast. We wandered outside and J did the whole paper trick to catch the reflection of the crescent in the sky. I wish I had a better view of the sun from my place, I would’ve tried to capture a pic with my camera. Ah well. Next time.

I met up with a friend at Luv Child for lunch/drinks, though I only got a paloma and a glass of cabernet. The paloma wasn’t great, it tasted like fizzy grapefruit juice. I don’t remember the wine I had, but it was pretty lovely, very juicy. I ran back out in the evening for a very late session of Mario Kart with the same friend. I couldn’t sleep anyway so I figured I might as well just go hang out, and ended up getting home around 1am.

Needless to say, Sunday was pretty rough. I slept a few hours, went for a short walk, had breakfast, then intermittently passed out for another couple hours. J informed me of a little Sunday market nearby, so I wandered over to check it out. So cute! I bought a couple fresh-ground peanut butters from the stall and was very tempted by another empanada tent. Next time.

More sleep ensued. When J got back we walked over to Sparkman Wharf so he could pick up some lunch. It was a glorious afternoon, vivid sun and a luscious breeze, and the water took on an extra sparkly cloak. I caved and got a fish taco from Gallito while J tried the quesabirria tacos, which looked fab. The fish taco was okay, nothing miraculous. The important facet was valued time spent and being outside, which really helped bring down that shit feeling I brought with me to the day from Saturday night.

Hoping for a good, calm, but fun week. I’m throwing down some Thanksgiving tests in the next few days and have started on this year’s menu – yippee! It will feature some oldies and some newbies. Can’t wait to share it with ya’ll when the time’s right.

Let’s chat: Share a highlight from your weekend! What are you looking forward to this week? Lately, I’ve just been happy to return to routine after the weekends. It’s nice to break loose, and it’s also nice to have some structure, you know?

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…A creamy mushroom soup.

…A saucy buffalo meatball bowl.

…Crispy sweet potatoes perfect for Thanksgiving.

…A funky, spicy apple cider cocktail.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Ice cream…No, it’s hardly ever cold enough to avoid ice cream here. Tried out this pumpkin cheesecake ice cream – SO good. They sell a nondairy version as well but it’s not quite as tasty.

Smoked salmon…I’ll tell you what, the gravlax at Ikea is some of the best fucken smoked salmon I’ve ever had. Paired with some avocado and crusty bread or a pumpkin bagel…yumbo.

Shops & Wish List

Kitchen & Dining

Le Creuset… Love all of their cook/bakeware in the new “Thyme” colorway: the pumpkin cocotte (I will always drool over it and never get it because holy hell expensive), the braiser, the casserole dish, and the cassadou, most specifically.

Crate & Barrel…Love the green trees baking dish, would be perfect for Christmastime casseroles/lasagnas. The pumpkin dish towel is super cute, and of course pumpkin cookie cutters. I need to invest in some mule mugs so I can make Moscow Mule variations for ya’ll – I don’t really have any here on FMG!

Week in Training

Monday, 10.9: 8.27 miles, 11:15 pace + 10 minute mobility

What a GLORIOUS FUCKING MORNING. It was about 66 degrees, windy, dew point in the 50s. I actually wore sleeves and felt good. Hungover and tired since I drank a probably-caffeinated espresso martini the night prior and couldn’t get my ass to sleep, but I guess I run well in less than ideal conditions.

Tuesday, 10.10: 7.08 miles, 11:01 pace

Nice morning but I think I was overhyped/underslept, so this was much harder than it should’ve been.

Wednesday, 10.11: 4.18 miles, 11:01 pace + 35 minute full body

Three hours of sleep and felt totally delirious during this run. But, got it done anyway, again faster than I would’ve anticipated.

Strength:

• 4 x 16 alt. front raise 20#
• 3 x 10 double pulse squat 50#
• 4 x 10 chest fly 40#
• 4 x 12 alt. curtsy lunge 60#
• 4 x 10 ea. triceps ext. 20#
• 3 x 12/1 x 8 around world biceps curl 15/20#
• Core work

Thursday, 10.12: 4.06 miles, 11:09 pace + 3.17 miles, 11:03 pace

Trying to get myself used to double runs for Napa Valley training, so wedged one in today. The weather was HORRID, ridiculous humidity and 84 degrees/80 dew point conditions. Not to mention some serious wind that kinda worried me. Took both runs indoors and felt pretty alright overall.

Friday, 10.13: 5.04 miles, 11:04 pace + 10 minute mobility

Horrible morning, really awful run. Heart rate was SOARING and I just felt heavy yet overenergized.

Saturday, 10.14: 10.29 miles, 11:34 pace + 10 minute mobility

A decidedly aight run. Definitely warm and sticky out but there was quite a lovely breeze and it was just the quiet morning I needed.

Sunday, 10.15: 3 mile walk (48:00)

Felt awful Sunday morning so kept things easy until I felt better.

Total running mileage: 42.1