sidebar | life and training 4.24 – 4.30
Ever have one of those moments of existential awareness that makes you feel incredibly small?
I don’t even mean this in a sad or downtrodden way necessarily. Like, “I’m meaningless and the world’s meaningless and everything’s meaningless.” Just a thought of sorts, that each of us is just a morsel in a big bag of chocolate chips.
On Sunday I went for my usual morning stroll around 4:30 am. We were in a pre-storm limbo: the winds were insane and loud, but no rain fell yet, so I figured it was fine to head out and try to get something in. The result of this weather, though, was a pretty dead environment. Very few cars, no other folks out for exercise, not even a bird trilling. I was, quite literally, by myself.
When I reached the main path by the water, whitecaps whipped up over the seawall and I bent forward against these insane 30mph+ gusts that threatened to send my hat flying out of reach. Eventually I reached a point where the wind was lower and looked around. The usual folks I see walking or running weren’t out. No herons, no distant ships, no cyclists, not even a car.
I guess bad weather and a solo status combined to make me feel really lonely. And tiny. Like, the surrounding landscape looked upon me and thought “how peculiar, that little human in the rain coat and hat just trudging along”, merely observing but not with any particular emotion. I was just a little blip, a disruption in the weather pattern, a small person braving the big elements.
I dunno, sometimes these things occur to me. Call it a consequence of anxiety, or just of higher thinking. This happens usually when it’s early and I’m outside and the weather is less than great. I remember during my Big Sur Marathon training cycle last year a day of extreme winds (well, extreme for us) that quite literally blew me backwards. I was rounding a bend on my route and hit a huge wall of air, and I just wanted to go home. Similar sentiment on Sunday.
Some thoughts to carry with your this week. And, by no means saying that we as individuals are insignificant – each piece plays a part in the whole puzzle. But it’s humbling to know that a puzzle piece wanders around on its lonesome, it misses the company of the other pieces.
Weird week, but what isn’t? My allergies have been so ugly that my right ear completely clogged up on Sunday and I couldn’t hear shitall all day. My coworkers were asking things to me and I straight wouldn’t respond because my hearing didn’t work. Sucked. I’ve always had issues with ear wax – yes I know this is a delightful topic – but it’s been awhile since they acted up so much that I went practically deaf on one side. Real cool, self. Real cool.
J and I headed to our favorite haunt for date night on Sunday evening. Anchor & Brine switches up their menu pretty often based on seasonality and availability, and I don’t think we’ve ever disliked any of their offerings (even the calamari, which they serve with a yellow aji sauce, and we’ve both marinara purists through and through). I enjoyed a lovely peach margarita and their smoked crab soup was shockingly good – though nothing beats the cioppino when they have it – and as a main I ordered the grilled avocado again. Blustery and brisk once the sun dipped below the building line, but a lovely evening outside nonetheless.
This coming Sunday we’re participating in the Wings for Life World Run, my third! This special race benefits spinal cord injury research, and is unique in its communal 7am ET start time. Everyone starts at the same time regardless of time zone, so some folks start at 7, some at 8 or 9 and others in the middle of the night. You run until the “catcher car” catches you: you get a 30 minute head start, then incrementally the car (virtual or real depending on how you’re running the race) speeds up. I think I’ve made it 11 miles at the furthest before being caught. It’s a really fun event with a good cause, and a no-pressure way to race since everyone is a finisher regardless of how far you go.
As today is May 1, I’m starting up a May Wellness Challenge which I’ve hinted to on Instagram. It’s not a huge deal, but I’ve felt rather personally misaligned lately and need to thus take better care of my spiritual and mental wellbeing. First task today, Monday, is heading out for coffee and croissants somewhere. Simple, but likely to put me in a good mood.
Feel free to hop in with your own suggestions and make your own calendar! Think we could all use a big of slowing down nowadays.
By the way, I’ve got a sweet-ass discount for you! If your bar cart is missing a bottle o’ vodka, introduce yoself to Nightbloøm – it’s the perfect mixer for the Strawberry Hibiscus Ginger Fizz and the London Fog Martini, and for spiking the Fresh Strawberry Green Tea Lemonade! Use the code FOULMOUTHGOURMET15 for 15% off your cart. Check out their bottles here and start shopping!
The Fuck We Cookin’ This Week?
…A rich and chocolatey treat suited for Cinco and the Kentucky Derby.
…A tasty Derby Day julep!
…A creamy, springy salmon and polenta dish.
Noms for Cinco de Mayo
Basically, all the tacos and margaritas. A few more recipes are dropping this week so keep your eyes peeled!
Eats
Crispy Salsa Verde Jackfruit Tacos
Crispy Chipotle Tempeh and Black Bean Tacos with Salty Avocado Crema
Crispy Buffalo Jackfruit Tacos
BBQ Pulled Mushroom Tacos with Tequila Mango Salsa
Mushroom Vegetable Enchilada Stuffed Poblanos
Crispy Baja Fish Taco Bowls with Chipotle Mayo
Chipotle Shrimp Tacos with Jalapeno Peach Salsa
Dirty Coconut Chai Tres Leches Cake
Dulce de Leche Stuffed Mexican Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sips
A Few Things I’m Digging
Coffee…This double chocolate coffee is very similar to the one Trader Joe’s sold for awhile, which I loved, but has since vanished. It’s not sweet but definitely has hints of cocoa, which is lovely in my midmorning cup!
Berries…All sorts. I enjoy berries yearly but this time of year they feel extra delightful. Want to think of some more berry-themed desserts but I remembered this Fresh Strawberry Layer Cake and ya’ll, it is well worth your time!
Shops and Wish List
Kitchen & Dining
Amazon…I ordered some fluted glasses from West Elm without realizing they were plastic, so I returned those and picked up this pretty glass set to work with. Also grabbed these salad servers recently to mix up my styling a tad. They grab greens really well, actually, and aren’t so heavy that you feel like you’re weightlifting when using them.
Home
Target…Always love a good wood wick candle and their Threshold brand has come out with a few nice-sounding new scents: Starfruit and Nectarine and Salted Driftwood are intriguing; also smelled the Cozy Nights candle from their Opalhouse collection and would love that one after I burn down my current bowl.
Skincare & Wellness
Pacifica…My hair is a frazzled wonky mess so I picked up the Coco Bond leave-in mask to try. Also interested in the Scalp Love rosemary mint treatment and, for facial care, the Alight BB Cream which has pretty rave reviews across the board.
Vichy…Came across the Aqualia Thermal overnight mask and am very intrigued by it once I run out of my trusty pumpkin mask from TJ’s fall collection.
Week in Training
Monday, 4.24: 3.1 miles, 11:13 pace + 3.1 mile walk (47:55) + 20 minute push
Woo, a run! Felt real weird and clunky and I wasn’t attired how I usually am (forgot my belt and had to carry my water bottle) but I actually got some productive thinking done. Not planning to overextend myself, probably only two more runs this week as my hammy is still tight, but I was happy to manage a 5K. Plus, a dude made my day by saying “it’s nice to see you running again!” as I passed. Felt good to be seen.
Strength:
- 4 x 10 ea. front raise 15#
- 2 x 8 single-single double chest press 20#/2 x 12 chest press 50#
- 4 x 12 skullcrusher 40#
- Core work
Tuesday, 4.25: 6.43 mile walk (1:40:00)
Something the prior night irritated my stomach and I was up intermittently wrestling with some stabbing pains. I felt a little better in the morning but still unstable, and on my walk I had to stop a few times to let some cramping pass. Was a lovely morning, though, with a nice breeze.
Wednesday, 4.26: 5.39 miles, 11:08 pace + 1 mile walk (15:13) + 22 minute pull
I had no reason to run for an hour but I dunno, just kind of felt like it. Can’t say it was the most stupendous run ever but it was nice, my cadence was total shit though. Not sure why that dropped off so much recently. Probably because I just run slow all the time nowadays, heh.
Strength:
- 4 x 12 ea. row (2 overhand 2 underhand) 25#
- 4 x 10 ea. around the world curl 15#
- 4 x 12 bent front raise 25#
- Core work
Thursday, 4.27: 4.1 mile walk (1:04:00)
Friday, 4.28: 5.36 mile walk (1:25:00)
Really crummy mood this morning but at least I got to see a big ole ship!
Saturday, 4.29: 5 miles, 11:30 pace + 40 minute walk + 21 minute legs
Felt like the brunt of fucken summer this morning. No breeze, very quiet overall excepting a police scene in which cops seemed to be talking to a very inebriated fellow on the trail. Didn’t really look like anything nefarious was happening.
Strength:
- 4 x 15 deadlift 50#
- 4 x 12 plie squat to calf raise 50#
- 4 x 20 calf raise 50#
- Core work
Sunday, 4.30: 4.06 mile walk (1:03:00)
Total running mileage: 13.49
Total walking mileage: 26.5 miles
