sidebar | life and training 6.12 – 6.18
My week definitely peaked on Monday.
We celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a very lowkey, yet lovely and fulfilling day. As the years pass with us I at least find that the togetherness itself is the most important part of observing a special event. Our first year anniversary we took a big ole trip to Atlanta and ate at the most fabulous restaurant I’ve ever visited, Canoe. I don’t even remember 2020, because it was 2020.
This year, we started out as local tourists by perusing the Riverwalk and reading all of the head statues lined up along the 2+ mile stretch. We first grabbed pastries and coffee at Boulon, the dangerous French bakery a few minutes away, before a three hour trek along the water. It started out as a pleasant morning, but once the sun rose up we felt steam sizzling off our skin, and the AC in the grocery store on the walk back was a glorious drink of cold refreshment.
The afternoon we lazed around largely. J started a batch of homemade pasta sauce, I made a big charcuterie board and some Aperol spritzes, and somewhere in there we both took a nap. Old age at its finest.
I underwent something of a panic when I couldn’t locate my Kitchenaid pasta attachment, but luckily it turned up in the furthest corner of my cabinet, so we made homemade fettuccine to go with dinner! It was fabulous. Fresh pasta is something else: though the recipe we used kinda sucked as far as accuracy goes, we got some good noodles out of it eventually and the process itself was quite fulfilling. It’s really enjoyable to roll out the dough and laugh at myself while I very unevenly sliced the noodles with a pizza cutter.
For dessert, we prepped a batch of tiramisu the prior Saturday. Amazing. We swerved away from using raw eggs and instead used a recipe that makes the filling with heavy cream and mascarpone. Maybe not “authentic” but certainly addicting.
So yes. Monday was great, a true treat, as any day I get to spend with my dude is. The rest of the week was uninteresting. I’m a bit in awe of and disturbed by the fact that we’re already nearing the end of June (and my half birthday. I’ll officially be closer to 30 than 29 after June 30th). Summer is breezing by, even though we haven’t even nicked the surface of our horrendous weather. Not to mention, summer hasn’t officially started yet. GREAT.
We did enjoy a very rainy Sunday yesterday, leastwise overnight. When I crawled out of bed the drops were still pattering down the roof, though the heavier stuff ceased quickly and when I embarked on my run. What remained of the storms yielded to tiny, satiny raindrops that barely got me wet, but refreshed the air. I love those types of quiet mornings, where the rain is gentle but present, and the air isn’t totally still since a few birds chirp and flap about. A non-oppressive silence.
That run was most helpful after a very rough mental shutdown of a Saturday. Needed a little soul cleansing. Sunday proved much gentler, and I had enough energy to start a batch of really cute little doughnuts. Doughnuts always make me happy.
How was your week? Oh, and happy belated Father’s Day to those inclined to celebrate. I haven’t spoken to my father in 12 years, so the day has pretty much 0 relevance to me, but I recognize and respect all the dads out there who genuinely love and care for their families. I guess I can wish my mom a happy father’s day, since she is effectively both parents for me!
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…A fun, happy little doughnut.
…A simple summer salad with a DOPE vinaigrette.
…A fresh toast appetizer.
…A peachy one-skillet wonder. Or tomato-y. Depends on if peaches are good or not.
A Few Things I’m Digging
Basil…I’m a basil ho and buy a new plant every week, it seems. I know they’re supposed to thrive in hot weather but the dudes I get generally don’t love our house. Any tips for helping them flourish?
Gouda…Really loving the Red Apple Smoked Gouda on my evening cheese platters. It’s smooth and slightly sweet, and goes nicely with the crackers I buy.
Tee…I wear this boxy elbow sleeve shirt all the damn time, and wish my local store would get more colorways in! It’s very comfortable and fits me well, but isn’t so cropped that I feel like too much of me gets exposed.
Shops & Wish List
Skincare/Wellness
Naturium…Bought their niacinimide serum by mistake (meant to get the hyalauronic acid) but interested in trying it since I love the face wash. They’re also launching an SPF50 sunscreen which I’m curious about because I’m hard-pressed to find a facial sunscreen I like.
Home
Target…Haven’t smelled most of these candles but I love the designs on their lidded jar scents. Judging by reviews and instinct I’d freshen up my home with Paloma Popsicle, Tiki Coconut, or Paradise Hibiscus.
Kitchen & Dining
Target…Seems a few new organizational pieces have come in and I’m into them. Thinking about this butter dish since microwaving small pats of butter every day is getting kinda old. Really like this ribbed glass pitcher for sangrias or pitcher cocktails/drinks otherwise, and for outdoor entertaining their melamine sets are quite nice. Like the peach colorway in these mini bowls and spreader set.
Week in Training
Monday, 6.12: 5 miles, 11:28 pace + 23 minute push
5 miles for our 5 year anniversary! It was a pretty shit-ass morning, hot as all balls, but I actually felt okay. Got hungry halfway through, though, which doesn’t usually happen but kind of made me a bit grumpy during my lift.
Strength:
- 4 x 12 pullover 40#
- 4 x 12 ea. upright row 25#
- 4 x 12 triceps push down 28#
- Core work + 40 second deadhang
Tuesday, 6.13: 6.66 miles, 11:16 pace
Teehee, devil’s mileage. Felt alright considering my festival o’wine and lots of food the night before, though the still heat was brutal after about 3 miles. Hardly a breeze to be found; full blast summer furnace, yo!
Wednesday, 6.14: 5.17 miles, 11:36 pace + 23 minute pull
Phew, that humidity was rough to deal with. Didn’t feel very good on this run.
Strength:
- 4 x 12 behind back lat pulldown 50#
- 4 x 10 ea. cross curl 20#
- 4 x 10 ea. row 40#
- Core work + 40 second deadhang
Thursday, 6.15: 3.5 miles, 11:27 pace
A little better weather-wise, much better run. Nice breeze and the dew point was only 68!
Friday, 6.16: 4.17 miles, 11:40 pace
Oof, my legs (and my brain, for that matter) were not working today. I spaced out this whole run and don’t really remember any real detail of it, just that it kinda sorta happened?
Saturday, 6.17: 6.3 miles, 11:33 pace + 23 minute legs
Yeowzas. It rained Friday night so the conditions at 5 am on Saturday were atrocious. It was 82 at 5am with a 78 dew point, and I only had the wind against me for half the run. Awful. I was really surprised my heart rate and pace weren’t worse!
Strength:
- 4 x 10 ea. leg press 100#
- 4 x 12 ea. calf raise 110#
- 4 x 12 sumo squat 65#
- Core work + 40 second deadhang
Sunday, 6.18: 3.29 miles, 11:15 pace
A very lovely, lightly rainy morning. I craved this run after a difficult Saturday.
Total running mileage: 33.5
