sidebar | life and training 12.18 – 12.24
Merry aftermath, good people!
The verdict of Christmas this year was an odd one. I think I’ll save the Christmas day exploits for next week’s Sidebar, but I will say that folks seemed to be fairly relieved that the holiday was passed and the volume of people with that viewpoint was much larger this year than usual. The burnout is strong in the world, it seems.
The week was a bit of a doozy. I worked quite a lot and had little time for much else aside from running, grocery shopping, and other adulting exploits. I don’t even remember much of even the ordinary, boring details of the week. Just life, man.
Thursday I went to Sparkman Wharf with a friend and had a grand ole time perusing the area. I’ve lived near the outdoor food hall for years but never gave it much though despite peering over at the expanse every time I drive or run by. I got a beer at Lighthaus, an empanada at Gordito’s, and blew $15 on a tiny cylinder of peppermint bark-coated shortbread candies from Hampton Chocolate Factory that are quite delectable but probably not worth the price.
Drink-wise I tried out a whiskey sour finished with a splash of cabernet from Edison’s Swigamajig (very tasty) and grabbed an old fashioned from the outdoor Splitsville bar. And then I was fairly drunk, so we wandered around Water Street beneath the dazzling Christmas lights and called it an early evening. I slept like total garbage that night.
Saturday night we enjoyed a lovely gathering with my sis and her fiance at Angry Chair Brewing. I meant to go there a couple weeks ago but apparently they were celebrating their 9 year anniversary anyway, and I ran out of time to commute. So, I saved my visit for elite company. I had a total blast: we shared a tray of pretzel sticks, and I ordered some blackened cod tacos that were quite tasty and very well portioned. Beer-wise I tried a German chocolate cake stout and their Czech pilsner, both solid choices.
And then…Christmas Eve. The epic day of the holiday season in my family. I worked in the morning, then had a fairly quick turnaround after running and stopping by Publix for last-minute groceries. More or less the Karbach rendition of Christmas Eve is eating our faces off, drinking our faces off, and dancing our faces off, and lord oh lord did my sis and I do all three very effectively. I was in very safe, responsible environs, but I wound up laughing like a maniac while lying on mom’s kitchen floor after a couple strong whiskey sours and a Christmas shooter.
My sister also video chatted her fiance and I basically spent a large deal of time telling him that a) by marrying her he was effectively marrying me, and b) I was gonna fight his best man to take the best man’s place and abandon my sister. All in good fun, of course, but I did threaten to write a 5 paragraph essay detailing why I’d make a better best man.
Then, we had an epic dance to “Thrift Shop.” The memory lives on in video format, but will not be shown in public ever. One of the most memorable things that’s ever happened on a Christmas Eve, and trust me, we’ve had some wonderful times throughout the years.
My sister had to drive me home that evening, which was all well and good, and I ended up getting about 3 hours of sleep. Worth it.
Does your family celebrate Christmas on the 24th or the 25th? I know a lot of families now veer towards the bulk of their celebrations landed on the 24th, then Christmas Day becomes more of a recovery period. I’m okay with that arrangement, to be honest.
One final week of the year, then 2024. Crazy, right? I enjoy the holidays but my sleep and self-care has definitely suffered a tad – too much merrymaking and all that good stuff. Still, it’s one period of the year, it’s okay to branch out from normal routine when the occasion warrants.
Hope ya’ll are having a nice end of 2023. We shall make it through together.
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…The pretty salad I meant to do last week but didn’t. Oops.
…My birthday cake!
A Few Things I’m Digging
Kringle…I have no idea what recipe my mom used, but she baked this irresistible kringle that I’ve been nibbling on viciously. It reminds me of a cross between baklava and coffee cake. So amazing. I could eat a whole wreath of it if left to my own devices.
Whiskey sour…Edison’s Swigamajig at Sparkman Wharf mixes up this cool little version of a sour that’s topped off with a float of cabernet. It was really unique so I had my sister copy the general idea on Christmas Eve. Drank two. Worth it.
Serum…Whenever I drink I always apply the Versed Sunday Morning serum to my skin. It plumps and hydrates and certainly makes me look less dead.
Shops & Wish List
Fashion
Target…Enjoy this woven cropped tee and this cute heart sweatshirt. Love the pastel colorway of this sandwash pullover.
Week in Training
Monday, 12.18: 10.01 miles, 10:02 pace
Brisk outside, but not as cold as I thought so I definitely overdressed. 4 minute run/1 minute walk split, felt pretty good except I got quite tired at the end – not used to double digit runs now! But, glad I can still do them when I want.
Tuesday, 12.19: 7 miles, 9:53 pace
Beautiful 60 degree afternoon, felt great to get the legs moving after work.
Wednesday, 12.20: 6.2 miles, 9:49 pace
Felt a little weirdly frantic on my run, but it went okay overall. Way too fast, but as I’ve said 100 times I have issues with pace control on afternoon trots. Body probably doesn’t love that, but it is what it is.
Thursday, 12.21: 6.2 miles, 9:44 pace
Good trot before heading out for some friend time.
Friday, 12.22: 6.63 miles, 9:48 pace
Despite making this a run/walk I still struggled to slow down. Probably was running on fumes and horrible sleep, but hey, got it done, and it felt okay I suppose.
Saturday, 12.23: 50 minute full body strength
Gym felt good, albeit I always recognize how quickly I weaken since I barely lift anymore.
Strength:
- 3 x 15 squat 70#
- 3 x 15 incline press 40#
- 3 x 10 ea. single leg deadlift 50#
- 3 x 12 ab rollup 15#
- 3 x 8 ea. shoulder press 20#
- 8/10/12 triceps extension 40/35/30#
- 4 x 10 ea. single leg press 100#
- 3 x 30 standing oblique crunch 30#
- 12/10/12/10 reverse fly 20/25#
Sunday, 12.24 (MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!): 6 miles, 10:01 pace
Gloomy day. Hour run before ducking into the grocery store for some last-minute snack goodies.
Total running mileage: 42
