sidebar | life and training 12.13 – 12.19
Methinks elves are sneaking into our condo when we’re not paying attention. Or even when we are paying attention. Gradually, both of our stockings have gained bulk and neither of us have any clue as to whence and wherefrom the goodies came.
We even left some cookies on the bar cart, where the stockings hang, and they’re disappearing by the day! Bizarre. Could use a home camera system I think. Though, I suppose if they’re leaving goodies, it’s not so bad they’re squeezing their way in the house sans our noticing.
Twas the Monday before Christmas and I haven’t even finished my Christmas shopping. Dumb. I wasn’t helped my a fraudulent charge on my card that caused me to need a new one – which sucks, because now I have to rememorize all the damn numbers! – so I had to delay a couple of gift purchases until I received my updated card. I’m glad my company caught the person’s attempted spending spree, but still. Inconvenience at its finest.
It seems as I get older than the Christmas spirit flits further and further away from me. Granted, living in Florida and having zero semblance of winter weather doesn’t help, but perhaps in my mental state I’m more fixated on being sad that Christmas approaches and will thus end rather than excited about the days leading up. I know that swap is all on me, but I find it harder and harder each year to bust out of that ultimately downtrodden thought and into true joviality and anticipation.
We did, on Saturday the 18th, attend the annual boat parade that cruises along the river. Despite the crappy humid night, the lighted boats and snazzily-attired folk lining the walkway did bring some sense of Christmas cheer. We walked home while viewing the boisterous scene – the lineup was quite pretty this year, compared especially to last year. It may have had a bigger kick of oomph than the other times I saw it, I think.
Christmas Eve & Day Dinner Menus
The FMG 2021 Christmas Eve and Day spreads are live! A roundup of cocktails, appetizers, mains, and treats for a varied, festive holiday and holiday eve. Each recipe is pescatarian, vegetarian, or even vegan-friendly for those lessening their animal product intake for their meals. Links provided for everything included. Happy noshing!
A Few Things I’m Digging
Cantina bar cart…Back in October, J and I purchased a brand new bar cart for our living room (and to get my props off the damn floor!) and we finally received it this past week! Well, most of it. The marble top is still to come. We chose this one and so far the spaciousness and aesthetic are perfect.
Night cream…I recently purchased this Sukin night cream and am in love so far. It smells natural, slightly citrusy and floral, and the brand has pretty upstanding credentials. Vegan, no animal testing, no weird ingredients, most everything plant-derived. The cream is thick but absorbs easily, and my skin feels like silk beneath my nightly marula oil.
One Protein Bars…I’m trying to up my protein since I’m lifting more and running less, but I personally have some trouble with my meat-free diet since fish isn’t practical to eat every single day. These bars only have one gram of sugar, 20 grams of protein, and don’t taste of sidewalk chalk. Cookie Dough, Cookies and Cream, and S’mores are my favorite so far. They also make a few vegan versions as well!
Coffee mugs…Love the simple design and sturdy stoneware physique of these Hearth & Hand mugs, as well as the little “joy” inscription on the bottom. I used them for my Decadent Coconut Sipping Chocolate, I swear they keep the drinks warmer for longer.
Veggie turkey…I’m into throwing these Tofurky peppered slices and some egg whites onto toast for a quick to-go breakfast. I usually butter one side of the toast as well, because butter.
Week in Training
Monday, 12.13: 5.72 miles, 10:30 pace + 50 minute shoulders & triceps
Shoulder day is kind of the worst. I feel like that part of my chain is SO weak despite how much I work to strengthen it! A decent workout today with a short core burnout at the end.
Strength:
- 4 x 8 barbell pressup
- 4 x 12 chest press
- 4 x 8 OH triceps extension
- 4 x 10 close grip chest press
- 4 x 10 triceps pressdown
- 4 x 10 triceps pulse
- 4 x 10 seated shoulder press
- 4 x 10 lying triceps extension
- 50 bicycle crunches/40 hip dips (20 ea. side)/30 ea. jackknife/20 hover plank walkouts/10 bench reverse crunches
Tuesday, 12.14: 50 minute back & biceps + 1 hour cycling (20.8 miles)
Priotized my strength session today so woke up, slurped down my preworkout, and headed straight to the weight room. Well, after I realized my watch still sat on the charger and I had to run back upstairs to grab it…10 minute elliptical warmup followed by a solid upper body session.
After work I forewent a run in exchange for my first ride in quite some time. I cruised along for an hour and averaged 117W, which isn’t too far from where I was before so I’m not totally disappointed.
Strength:
- 4 x 8 biceps curl
- 4 x 10 underhand row
- 4 x 10 bent front raise
- 4 x 20 alt. side biceps curl
- 4 x 10 lat pulldown
- 4 x 10 preacher curl
- 4 x 12 standard row
- 4 x 15 ez bar reverse grip curl
- 50 scissor kicks/40 crunches/30 toe taps/20 leg drops/10 ea. side plank rainbows
Wednesday, 12.15: 5.19 miles, 9:30 pace + 55 minute legs
I came to an interesting realization that my preworkout might actually be causing my heartrate to blow out of proportion. My resting heartrate has generally been fine, around 48-50 bpm on a typical morning. I noted today especially that once I finished drinking my caffeinated drink, my heart felt like it was fluttering and leaping. I wonder if there’s something to this newfangled observation as far as my recent running problems go.
Progression run today, not really planned but ended up feeling like going a bit faster. I ended in the low 8s for the final 5 minutes.
Strength:
- 3 x 8 deadlift to single leg deadlift #70
- 4 x 10 leg press #120
- 4 x 12 alt. curtsy lunge #70
- 4 x 15 calf raise #100
- 4 x 10 ea. weighted stepup #30
- 4 x 10 goblet squat 50#
- 1 x 10/3 x 8 single leg press 60#/70#
- 50 plank shoulder taps/40 v-ups/30 alt bridge leg lifts/20 hover toe taps/10 inchworms
Thursday, 12.16: 5.73 miles, 10:29 pace + 48 minute shoulders & triceps
…And my preworkout hypothesis is moot. Horrid run today. Thinking I need to slice down my running a lot, or even cut it out for a week or so to see if things settle.
Strength:
- 4 x 10 front raise 15#
- 4 x 12 skullcrusher 20#
- 4 x 5 machine chest press 60#
- 4 x 10 dips 80#
- 4 x 10 seated military press 15#
- 2 x 12/2 x 10 boat overhead triceps extension 20/25#
- 4 x 10 barbell upright row 10# on bar
- 1 x 12/3 x 8 triceps pushdown 28/32#
- 50 flutter kicks/50 scissor kicks/50 crunches/50 lying toe taps/50 bicycle crunches
Friday, 12.17: 42:14 cycling (15.01 miles) + 45 minute back & biceps
Hit the saddle for a simple cadence ride, averaged 121W.
Strength:
- 4 x 12 reverse fly 20#
- 4 x 10 preacher curl 45#
- 12/10/8/6 face pull 32/37/41/45#
- 4 x 8 concentration curl 15#
- 4 x 10 barbell row 20# on bar
- 4 x 12 wide curl 15#
- 4 x 10 lat pulldown 60#
- 20 ea. oblique crunch/20 bird dog/:30 hollow rock hold
Saturday, 12.18: 6.3 miles, 10:19 pace + 55 minute legs
Today went a bit better, though my stubborn ass of course extended the run from 45 minutes to 65 minutes. Sigh. Went for a 2 minute run/:30 walk split and my heart rate was a bit more controlled. Really unpleasantly humid morning again. Pretty sick of this weather.
Strength:
- 4 x 12 ea. elevated reverse lunges #60
- 4 x 8/2 x 6 leg extension #130/140
- 4 x 10 alt single leg deadlift to squat #60
- 4 x 10 ea. single leg press 70#
- 4 x 20 ea. single leg calf raise 30#
- 4 x 6 jump squat #90 (OOF)
- 50 bird dogs/50 deadbugs/50 crunch/50 bicycle crunch/50 shoulder taps/30 lateral hops
Sunday, 12.19: 3.12 mile walk (54:00)
Total running mileage: 22.9
Total cycling mileage: 35.8
