sidebar | life and training 11.18 – 11.24

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK YAY I’VE BEEN HUNGRY FOR THIS ALL YEAR.

Phew. This post is up a bit later than usual here on Monday because I worked this morning – I typically don’t on Mondays. Since 4am I have been nonstop: run workout, breakfast, work, started a new treat you’ll hopefully see soon, walk, lunch, writing, grocery shop, and now here with more writing and a scoop of ice cream (with half a red velvet cupcake) at my right hand. Mass chaos, feathers flying everywhere, raining cats and dogs and hamsters, etc. etc. And I still have to make dinner.

It’s all good, though. The holidays sway both quickly and slowly for me, and while I undergo periods of ovewhelm, I also kinda enjoy the satisfaction of plopping down on my couch after a hectic day and sleeping like someone shanked me with elephant tranquilizer. I only have myself to blame, too, for the rush of posting recipes right before The Big Day.

Good job, self.

This was a nice week, lots of productivity and some nifty adventures folded in. Wednesday I dropped over to the swanky Edition Hotel’s coffee bar for a study session. The light in there is unreal, and it is such a tranquil environment for digging my face into the books. They serve La Colombe beans and the flat white, as a result, is wonderful. I think Little Miss Ba enjoyed her cookie nibble as well.

Garnering the motivation to study for my license has been a challenge of late: I feel like I’ve gotten swallowed up in other projects and taking the test is shifting more and more to the backburner. Sort of the danger of the holiday season, I suppose. The hustle and bustle is hard to resist and priorities pivot. I’m trying not to beat myself up for feel guilty, it is what it is, and I will eventually get done what needs to get done.

Saturday, after some baking, I dropped over to Boulon for the first time in a century for a hot chocolate and a pain au chocolat. I wasn’t hungry and didn’t really have a good reason for this outing except that I wanted to wander outside in the glorious weather. I took my journal with me and drew for awhile in their canopied outdoor seating area. The pause was really just what the doctor ordered – I went home and took a fat nap thereafter.

After work Sunday I met up with my best friend and his fiance at Independent for lunch and a beer. Really lovely spot: it’s a mainstay in Seminole Heights and I half expected to run into my old boss there, since apparently that’s his primary haunt and he basically works there. I ordered the TLT (a tempeh BLT) and it was fantastic. We ventured thereafter to Revolution Ice Cream Co since we cannot pass an outing without finding a creamery; I ordered the chardonnay caramel brownie flavor, and yes, it tasted just as luxe as it sounds.

I’m trying to think of what else I slithered into this past week, but I can’t remember and my planner is on the floor in the living room, hence too far out of my arm’s reach to snag sans getting up. OH! I decorated my landing a bit with a new doormat, a couple faux trees, and a homemade wreath! All supplies from Michael’s and took about 15 minutes total to create. So fun.

I got all my runs in and enjoyed them from a weather perspective, but the older I get the more difficult cardio in the cold is on my lungs. I’ve discussed before my theory that I developed some flavor of exercise-induced asthma after the Chicago Marathon in 2021 – I know I’ve aged since then, too, but I didn’t expect my body to just give up once I hit 30 and my tolerance to shrink that much. I came across a Facebook post from a few years ago that highlighted one of the insane workouts I attempted, and my splits were so much stronger than they would be now. Comparison is not helpful, but man, does three years really create such a thick gulf? The world of athletics is a mystery, but I guess the most important thing is that I continue to enjoy my undertakings, and largely, I do.

That goes for anything in life, friends. If it doesn’t bring you joy, don’t do it – or at least do it with neutrality, if you must, and be okay with the fact that while necessary it may not be your favorite thing. Looking at you, work.

A cozy Thanksgiving to all. Give your loved ones who struggle this time of year an extra squeeze, and just be extra kind to all you encounter. 2024 was and is hard on everyone. Why make it harder by being a dick?

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…A cozy brunch perfect for using up some Thanksgiving leftovers!

…A salty Christmas cookie bar.

…An easy, punchy wintertime bourbon cocktail.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Ice cream…Discovered the amazeballsness that is Publix Santa’s White Christmas ice cream. Holy shit, it’s one of the best coffee ice creams I’ve had. Can’t help but stand at the counter and enjoy a few more spoonfuls after I’ve finished my main portion. Hehe.

Bagels…For awhile I had three types of bagel in my house, but the amount slowly dwindles because I have been using them as my primary bread source. Doesn’t matter what: sandwiches, with cream cheese or avocado, as a scooping vessel. Especially into cinnamon raisin right now!

Shops & Wish List

Amazon cart…Liking some Christmasy stickers for postcards and my journals, and they restocked my favorite running shoes so likely gonna snag a pair. In need of a new bullet journal too for next year, though I think this will be a Christmas ask: I usually buy the moon pattern but I like the little dandelions too. Gonna get these gift boxes also for my 2024 cookie box (yippee!) and some felt candy canes for a new garland.

Fashion

Target…Wonder if I could pull off this velvet minidress? Love this cozy fair isle sweater and boucle pullover as well.

Week in Training

Monday, 11.18: 6.2 miles, 9:51 pace + 12 minute lift

Really nice morning, and a decent workout. I have trouble pacing shorter intervals after a longer segment, so that’s definitely something I’d like to work on. 2 mile warmup, 1.5 mile push (7:37), 2 x 400 (1:46.3, 1:48.8), 2 mile cooldown.

Strength: repeat circuit x 3

• 20 alt lunges 40#
• 15 squats 80#
• 10 pushups
• 5 sit up 20#

Tuesday, 11.19: 4.25 miles, 10:51 pace

Calm morning and a decent run.

Wednesday, 11.20: 3.1 miles, 11:06 pace + 3.36 miles, 10:25 pace + 15 minute lift

Split run because I decided I didn’t want to do speedwork but sorta decided too late that I wanted a slightly longer session. Both were pretty humid and uninteresting but the work is done.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 squat with pulse 50#
• 3 x 10 triceps extension 35#
• 3 x 10 shoulder press 15#
• 3 x 10 ea. lunge 40#

Thursday, 11.21: 5 miles, 10:21 pace

Speedwork on a windy, chilly morning! Splits were respectable albeit I think my GPS was wonky during the warmup and was most certainly wonky during the penultimate interval – no way I ran as slow as it measured. 2 mile warmup, 6 x 200 (:52.1, :50.4, :50.9, :50.3, :53.8, :48.8), 1.5 mile cooldown.

Friday, 11.22: 5.52 miles, 10:53 pace + 10 minute lift

Crisp and refreshing morning after a very broken night of sleep. Ran mostly easy with 4 x 50m sprints – topped out at 5:09, which is a little disappointing since I’d like to see the 4:xx paces come back!

Strength:

• 4 x 8 deadlift 100#
• 3 x 10 jump squat 60#
• 3 x 10 pushup 5#

Saturday, 11.23: 9.35 miles, 10:59 pace

Brisk little run today. The wind picked up during the second half, which never really bodes well for my lungs, but overall I really enjoyed this trek!

Sunday, 11.24: 3.5 mile walk (53:34)

Total running mileage: 36.8 miles