sidebar | life and training 5.30 – 6.5

Oh hey. Didn’t see you there.

Welcome to June. Been a fitful month over here with plentiful frustrations, but also some newfound stability. It seems since I’ve cut my cardio down, my brain’s been a bit more even-keeled. Sure, anxious moments and some irrational thoughts seep past the filter, but I think I’ve stabilized over the recent weeks.

One catalyst of the less-graceful moments is what running I do. I decided to cease operations starting after the Monday I write this (June 6), excepting a 5k this coming Saturday since I paid for that shit so I’m gonna give an honest go. Clearly, my body is not getting along with running right now and I’m finishing each session with a big hole in my self-confidence. So, I’m calling it a day until I feel I can start again. Kinda like I did with swimming.

What will I do instead? Hopefully I can convince J to set up the bike trainer again so I can see how horrific I’ve become at spinning. My two-per-week swims, probably a good amount of brisk walking, and my gym sessions. I don’t know how much a complete severance of running will do, but it isn’t going to hurt anything since my fitness is virtually nonexistent anyway.

Aside from that, been a quiet start to the month. We’re still getting a bit of a sea breeze so the heat is less intolerable than it will be in a month, I’m keeping a good routine, summery recipes are filtering out of my imagination and onto the backdrops. Flowers are plentiful. J is finally on the mend from the virus so I’m hoping we can get him out of the house a few times, maybe longer walks and little dates. Trying to stay afloat, as usual.

What I’m Up To This Week

Reading…The Complete Salad Cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen. So much color and inspiration for summer plates, beneficial since this season calls for lots of filling and nourishing salads.

Testing…A picnicky spin on a classic sandwich, deep dish pizza, some fresh and zesty salmon bowls, and a deeply chocolate treat.

Loving…Pineapple. I don’t know why I bought so much, probably for a cocktail, but any leftovers I’m happy to chow down upon! Jerk Shrimp Fajitas with Tequila Pineapple Salsa use these juicy fruits with a kick of spice alongside.

Attending…Game 4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s conference final bid…assuming J’s tests come back negative. Hoping the rapid tests bring good news so he can emerge into the big world in the coming week. We skipped out on Sunday’s game so hopefully at least he’ll be up to go Tuesday. If not, we’ll enjoy a cozy evening watching the action anyway.

Eating…All kinds of pasta salads. I made one that might become my favorite earlier last week and am really into all varieties of the diverse dish. Also, grain salads. Nothing heartier than throwing in some carbs with plenty of vegetables and fresh herbs. Not sure where to start? BBQ Chickpea Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad is a good one to try!

A Few Things I’m Digging

Magnolia…Ordered some goodies from Magnolia brand that I’m really thrilled to put into action, specifically this precious little serving board.

Cereal... No secret I’m a cereal fiend – I’ve been eating two bowls every day with yogurt and fruit as a snack. I know some will poo-poo cereals but honestly, as long as they’re part of a well-balanced diet I don’t see anything wrong with enjoying a serving or two, even daily. Right now I’m into all kinds of Cheerios, especially Honey Nut and the limited edition Chocolate Strawberry.

Bar glasses…Bought these lovely Lucia Tulip Double Old Fashioned glasses for summer mixing. Debuting a new sip next week, by the way!

Tacos…Summer definitely puts me in a taco mood. My favorite right now? Anything salmon, but I think these Chili Honey Sweet Potato and Quinoa Tacos are pretty craveworthy too!

Quote…This guy is a great reminder for those of us easily trapped in a catastrophizing mindset myself included.

Week in Training

Monday, 5.30: 3.08 miles, 11:22 pace + 1 hour back & biceps

Man, my endurance is gone. 2 minute run/:30 walk for 35 minutes, really struggled and I wasn’t even running anywhere remotely quick. I really hope this phases passes soon because it’s exhausting mentally.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 ea. bicep curl with hold 15#
• 5 x 6 mid row 90#
• 4 x 12 hammer curl 20#
• 3 x 10 narrow seated pulldown 71#
• 3 x 12 zottman curl 15#
• 3 x 8 ea. straight arm pulldown 20# SS 15 retractions 10#
• 3 x 10 preacher curl 55/50#
• 3 x 10 scarecrow row 25#
• 5 or so minutes of core

Tuesday, 5.31: 25 minute elliptical + 57 minute shoulders & tris + 1,200 yard swim

My watch shut off twice during my swim so I don’t even know how long the total was since some of it got cut off, but I know it was 1,200 yards. Performed 3 sets of 50 kicking and actually found a rhythm by the final trio! My legs ceased cramping and it just felt really relaxed. Wedged some freestyle and a breaststroke interval in between.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 shoulder press 25#
• 4 x 8 OH extension 40#
• 3 x 10 fly 25#
• 3 x 10 front raise SS side raise 15#
• 3 x 10 chest press 70#
• 3 x 8 skullcrusher 40#
• 3 x 12 ea. balanced arnold 15#
• 4 x 10 triceps pushdown 32#
• 3 x 10 incline press 20#
• 150 rep ab work

Wednesday, 6.1: 4.8 miles, 11:03 pace + 1 hour legs

Rough workout, really, felt really challenging compared to the paces I managed. I was really hoping for faster but my legs would not cooperate, probably from the volume of kickboard I performed during my swim yesterday. 8 x 200 with 6:21-6:39 range, 75 second walking recovery.

Strength:

• 3 x 12 elevated deadlift 100#
• 3 x 12 ea. single leg deadlift 50#
• 3 x 10 elevated sumo deadlift 90#
• 3 x 10 heel elevated narrow squat 90#
• 3 x 16 curtsy lunge 50#
• 3 x 8 ea. single leg press 110#
• 3 x 12 cable pull thru 54#
• 3 x 10 single leg bends
• 3 x 20 banded and weighted deadbug 15#
• 3 x 12 ab rollup 15#

Thursday, 6.2: 25 minute elliptical + 1 hour back & biceps

Wanted to swim after work but the pool was unexpectedly closed down, so I added in a couple miles of brisk walking while I was out.

Strength:

• 4 x 8 straight arm pulldown 41#
• 3 x 12 ea. cross hammer curl 20#
• 3 x 10 rope lat pulldown 71#
• 3 x 8 ea. concentration curl 20#
• 3 x 15 overhand row 30#
• 3 x 10 wide curl 20#
• 4 x 8 ea. single arm row 40#
• 3 x 10 underhand lat pulldowns 70#
• 3 x 30 oblique situp
• 3 x 30 sprinter crunch
• 3 x 20 plank rocks

Friday, 6.3: 3.12 miles, 11:13 pace + 57 minute shoulders & triceps

Felt better than the numbers imply, but still not a great run. No walk breaks because I felt presentably okay but maybe I should have taken a few.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 ea. kneeling press 20#
• 3 x 12 boat triceps ext. 30#
• 3 x 12 incline press 25#
• 4 x 10 underhand front raise 15#
• 2 x 12/2 x 8 narrow press 25/30#
• 3 x 10 wide bench press 25#
• 3 x 10 around the world 10#
• 3 x 10 ea. cross triceps pushdown 15#
• 3 x 10 bent arm side raise 20#
• 4 x 6 single arm pressdown 20#

Saturday, 6.4: 6.11 miles, 11:17 pace + 65 minute legs

A drizzly morning, which always makes me happy – I love running in the rain so long as it stays fairly tame, and this morning was no different. Felt pretty good, really.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 heel elevated squat 110#
• 3 x 10 ea. split squat 60#
• 3 x 12 heel elevated goblet squat 55#
• 4 x 10 leg press 170#
• 3 x 10 heel elevated diamond squat 55#
• 3 x 10 jump squat 60#
• 3 x 10 ea. leg extension to standing clam 15#
• 4 x 10 calf raise 120#
• 3 x 10 ea. double pulse knee drive
• 3 x 15 v situp 15#
• :45 side plank per side

Sunday, 6.5: 4.03 mile walk (1:03:00)

Total running mileage: 17.11

Total swimming yardage: 1,200