sidebar | life and training 2.20 – 2.27

Woohoo, first pool day of the season!

To be fair, it’s still not *quite* prime time for dipping into the water, but the sun’s becoming bright and hot enough by midday to strip down into cute swimwear and lounge poolside. Which we did on Sunday. I had a random day off The Day Job due to thinking (ambitiously) that I’d run the Gasparilla Half Marathon that morning, and since I didn’t, we found ourselves with a rare Sunday together.

So, we bought day passes to the Wyndham Grand and spent the entire afternoon on the deck, sipping various drinks from the bar and nibbling on the hummus platter and lots of chips and guac. Dudes, those portions were impressive, I was definitely expecting ant food. The cocktails were surprisingly strong too, and not too sweet. I enjoyed a paloma to start, a strawberry basil rum smash, and finished with a mango mojito. One of those rare occasions during which I allow myself more than one drink. Spaced out over a few hours, mind you.

Not much actually swimming happened (actually, none) but we did pass awhile in the hot tub and, once it became clear the sun wasn’t poking out for more than a minute at a time, packed up our things and walked along Pier 60 for a short while. It was kind of brisk out, cooler than I expected, so a light cardigan would’ve been useful. I didn’t escape without a sunburn, either. I think I had a bit too much booze in me to consider putting sunscreen on my legs. Apparently protecting my face and tattoos was enough. Numbnuts.

A really nice, unusual change of scenery, really. In true Kellie fashion I passed out almost immediately when I got home, fuzzy from the drink, the sun, and the sodium. Probably the first time in ages that I got more than 8 hours of sleep.

Nice end to a quick week. I saw a friend a couple times, which is always nice, briefly on Friday to give her tacos after she and J visited the Gasparilla expo for their bibs, and a bit longer Saturday after their race for a Lemon Raspberry Whiskey Sour and a leg-dip in the cold pool.

In between, of course, all the usual doings with recipe testing, meal prepping, and trying to get some random things done around the house.

How was your week? Tell me something nice that happened! What goals do you have for March? I obviously need to get my taxes done, and would like to tackle some spring cleaning and plant a few more herbs for my porch garden. Right now, I’ve welcomed Marvin the Mint, and Bishop and Brad the Basils. Maybe some chives, thyme, and oregano are in my future, too.

Cheers!

The Fuck We Eating This Week?

A creamy, bright and super simple pasta…

A fun and festive sheet cake perfect for Easter…

A loaded Greek bowl…

Some crispy salmon tacos…

A Few Things I’m Digging

Soy milk…I know some people straight-up shit on soy milk, for various reasons, but I really like Silk’s Vanilla Soy for my coffee. I really think oat is overrated and if you compare ingredients, soy is much less alarming.

Running tank…Really obsessed with these active cropped tanks, I can’t mention them enough. They don’t chafe on me, are very simple in structure but flattering, and fit like a breeze. I wear a small and will probably own every color at some point.

Granola butter…I think I’m sold on Oat Haus granola butters. The Red Velvet is divine in my yogurt bowls with lots of fruit and crunchy granola. Mmmm.

Shops and Wish List

Fashion

Target…I missed the four-day sale last week but am in love with these Kathy mule platforms and might just buy them anyway. I’m digging the Gabby mules as an alternative (though every color in my size is sold out right now) and although I’d immediately fuck them up, I love the cream hue. I wear bike shorts around the house a lot and these seamless ribbed ones look very comfy, liking the coral orange especially.

Upwest…Stumbled upon this cotton swim coverup on sale – very cute and stylish. Maybe it’ll inspire me to get to the pool more over the spring and summer!

Kitchen & Dining

Crate and Barrel…Eyeballing the Argila dinner plates and salad plates, maybe more so the latter since I use smaller tableware more often. Really like this fluted acrylic carafe – spring sangria, perhaps?

Week in Training

Monday, 2.20: 9.11 miles, 10:59 pace + 15 minute full body

Whether my watch calls me unproductive or not, I enjoyed this run. Perfect temp, an ever-so-slight breeze, just grooved right through it. Pretty tired after, though, since I don’t do much over 90 minutes nowadays.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 single-single-double chest press 25#
• 3 x 15 row 25#
• 3 x 12 ea. balanced cross bicep curl 15#
• Core work

Tuesday, 2.21: 7.38 miles, 10:50 pace

Pretty nice morning, but my legs were kind of tight and weary.

Wednesday, 2.22: 7.02 miles, 10:58 pace + 25 minute full body

Woke up to very tight, gunky legs. Running seemed to loosen them up a bit and overall I felt really good. The sweaty weather is quickly making a return so I was rather soaked after a jaunt in the humidity, but usually I don’t really mind it. Makes me feel some warped kind of accomplished.

Strength:

• 3 x 12 ea. balanced shoulder press 20#
• 4 x 15 plie squat 50#
• 3 x 25 calf raise 50#
• 3 x 11 pullover 40#
• 3 x 15 narrow press 50#
• Core work

Thursday, 2.23: 4.06 mile walk (1:04:00)

Friday, 2.24: 7.37 miles, 10:52 pace + 20 minute full body

Good little run, knees are still a bit pissed off.

Strength:

• 3 x 12 ea. balanced upright row 25#
• 4 x 10 ea. triceps extension 20#
• 3 x 15 elevated RDL 50#
• Core work

Saturday, 2.25: 6.22 miles, 10:53 pace + 35 minute full body

Glad I opted for a slightly shorter session since I felt like ass during this run. My new pair of New Balance 1080s were pretty great, though, so at least those pulled through. Can’t really describe why I felt so poorly, maybe the weather or just an off day in my body. Some of the Gasparilla 15K festivities were underway on my return trip, and along my route the volunteers were setting up concessions and the post-race village. Kinda fun to watch every year.

Strength:

• 3 x 12 underhand front raise 15#
• 3 x 15 underhand row 50#
• 3 x 13 pullover 40#
• 3 x 10 ea. static lunge 40#
• 3 x 12 chest fly SS 12 chest press 40#
• 3 x 15 sumo squat 50#
• Core work

Sunday, 2.26: 5.06 mile walk (1:19:00)

Total running mileage: 37.1