sidebar | life and training 4.14 – 4.20

Another week, another…red flag warning?

Today, Monday, we actually don’t have any advisories, but Sunday we did, and I tell you what, this weather truly has been baffling. I think it’s unwise to question most phenomena now since any quality scientist can tell you why this shit is happening, but as it unfolds it’s still an interesting trend to behold.

Case in point: it has been dry here. We are under serious drought conditions overall (we maybe had one decent rain in the past two or three months) and the air has maintained a crispness uncharacteristic of April. Mind you, it’s hot, and most afternoons have touched the 80s this past week, but the dryness is unmistakable and is crackling my skin pretty noticeably. This time of year, if I remember historically, we’re usually seeing the humidity climb, the wind ebb, and more summerlike conditions inching through.

I don’t mind the milder air, but it gives me the heeby jeebies to see a fire warning on my weather app.

I had more than my share of socializing this past week, and honestly, I’m looking forward to being a hermit this coming one (at least to the extent I can working in the service industry). I’ve been training a newbie at work and even though talking to people is part of my job, having to yap at a trainee is a totally different story, not to mention the necessity of breathing down their neck at all times. This will be my reality, though, for the next three weeks at least, so I guess I’d better get used to it.

Saturday I visited Boulon for a quick afternoon cappuccino and croissant. It was a lovely albeit windy day and nice to get outside after finishing up a recipe all morning. Ba missed out on her Friday treat – we were getting our pavement redone and the whole shittery of finding parking and smelling tar rendered me rather anxious all afternoon – so I knew I had to make it up to her the following day.

I hosted a garden party/Easter picnic later in the evening at a park in St. Pete. The whole affair was rather clunky – I’m not the most experienced host and coordinating logistics for anything takes some finesse. It was also massively windy and shit kept blowing around on the table. Can’t be helped. I made some cute little BLT crostini and brought the cupcakes I tested earlier in the morning; both were a hit. Everyone else managed to bring desserts. The biggest trouble for me was the fact that the park locked all their restrooms, which I think is obscene to do during operating hours. I spend the final hour of our gathering rather caught up in my protesting bladder.

Excepting the self-proclaimed organizational problems, it was nice to see friends and be outside.

Sunday after work I wandered to mom’s for our weekly catchup and lots of snacks! She did a wonderful job with the spread, simple but interesting, and I brought over some leftover crostini and cupcakes for her to try. Easygoing, lovely afternoon, felt springlike and festive.

I’m struggling right now with a bit of a groin snafu so my training is very day-by-day. Ironically, the faster and/or longer I run the better it tends to feel (maybe less severe flexion, that seems to be the trigger), and in normal movements it doesn’t give me a whole lot of trouble. It’s not the same hip issue that I’ve dealt with before, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it was related in some way.

Ah, the joys of getting old.

How was your week? Any highlights from Easter? Aside from my lunch with mom I don’t really observe the holiday, but it was kind of nice seeing folks all spiffed up and pretty for their Sunday church services. I particularly loved one girl’s dress, it was a ruffly lavender hue and I could definitely see myself wearing it. Wish I could find a dupe.

Enjoy this last week of April, folks!

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…A comfy cozy springtime risotto.

…Chocolate chip cookies with a salty, summery twist!

…My favorite buttermilk biscuits.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Roses…I adore hydrangeas and they’re typically my photographic trademark, but pink and red roses have just been so pretty lately! I keep a vase or two on top of my bookshelf.

Cookies…Honestly, I’ve been eating Starbucks’ chocolate chip cookies like no one’s business lately. They do sell a damn good cookie. I usually make tea in the afternoon and dunk a chunk into the hot beverage; so tasty.

This Week’s Menu

Meatless Monday…“Bacon” Cheeseburger Soup

Tuesday…15 Minute Brown Butter Shrimp Scampi

Wednesday…Feta Caesar Pasta Salad

Thursday…Mango Crunch Salad with Spicy Cilantro Ranch

Friday Happy Hour…Grapefruit Rosé Sour

Saturday Baking…Lavender Lemon Layer Cake

Sunday Snack…Spicy Buffalo Chickpea Sliders

Shops & Wish List

Fashion

Target…Trying to boost my array of cozies and I like these mid rise leisure shorts (the pink color). This pleated teal skort and scalloped lace minidress are super cute.

Week in Training

Monday, 4.14: 8.5 miles, 9:56 pace + 30 minute legs

Big ole 12 x 400m interval session! Goal was 5K effort, so I set my watch to a 7:20-7:30 pace range. Aside from my first interval (which averaged 7:44 and I think was pretty incorrect considering the GPS deadzone that is the area I started from) I nailed all of my times. Most were around 7:27-7:28 but for reps 4, 8, and 12 I performed “hammers”. Hammers are faster than pace and are meant to a) make the race pace feel more manageable overall and b) teach the body how to maintain the effort with fatiguing legs. I DEFINITELY felt the burn during the reps immediately following the hammers. Overall very pleased and it was a gorgeous morning.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 ea. single leg deadlift 70#
• 2 x 6/2 x 15 diamond squat 70#/60# (can’t get the 35# dumbbells onto my shoulders yet)
• 3 x 8 front lunge 70#
• 3 x 10 ea. single leg press 120#
• 3 x 12 ea. standing clamshell 25#
• Leg burnout

Tuesday, 4.15: 4.5 miles, 11:10 pace + 25 minute back & bis

Easy slooooow run followed by a morning lift. Working a bit later each day these next couple weeks so gonna try to get the strength out of the way so I can cozy up in the afternoon.

Strength:

• 3 x 12 face pull 37#
• 3 x 12 reverse curl 10#
• 3 x 12 reverse fly 20#
• 3 x 15 T row 50#
• 4 x 12 ea. crossbody curl
• Burnout

Wednesday, 4.16: 6 miles, 10:19 pace + 28 minute legs

20 x 30 seconds fast/30 easy today, one of my favorite workouts. Felt clunky, ranged from a 7:37 to a 9:04 pace so lots of variation and didn’t really find a decent rhythm until the second half.

Strength:

• 4 x 10 elevated front squat 50#
• 3 x 8 alt. reverse lunge 80#
• 4 x 6 pulse squat 60#
• 3 x 15 machine calf raise 180#
• 4 x 12 leg press 160# (moved the bench closer to the press)
• Leg burnout

Thursday, 4.17: 6.2 miles, 10:57 pace + 2.45 miles, 10:12 pace

Morning speed sesh, afternoon easy. I was SO tired all day today, for no discernible reason, so I was very happy when I got my workouts and work day done so I could lounge and be cozy all afternoon. 12 x 80m sprints, 2 minute recovery, worked on pace control and form; 5:11 top speed and intervals averaged 5:48-6:14 (which is debatable considering that slower interval was run in a known GPS deadzone).

Friday, 4.18: 4 miles, 10:59 pace + 25 minute chest & tris

Feeling some twinging in my groin area so definitely have to keep an eye on things there; lots of icing and gentle mobility in the forecast. The run felt really nice otherwise. I sort of rushed through my afternoon lift since I wanted to claim a parking spot in my complex should one open up: they’re repaving in front of our unit right now so it’s basically a fight to the teeth for the open guest areas.

Strength:

• 2 x 11/1 x 8 chest press 30# (just can’t seem to improve here)
• 3 x 10 shoulder press 20#
• 3 x 6 triceps pressdown 41#
• 3 x 12 chest fly 20#
• 3 x 8 narrow press 25#
• 4 x 12 lateral raise 15#
• Arm burnout

Saturday, 4.19: 12 miles, 10:51 pace

The groin is still bothering me but overall this was a very comfy long run! Was planning 11 but took an extra mile since I was genuinely enjoying myself. Slurped back a Honey Stinger gel beforehand and took water every mile and a half or so. Gonna miss these consistent double digit sessions over the summer.

Sunday, 4.20 (ayyy): 5 mile walk (1:24:00)

Total running mileage: 43.6