sidebar | life and training 6.27 – 7.3
Hello. Howdy. Yo. It’s the 4th of July, yippedy do. What are you all up to?
Yesterday I visited mom and we enjoyed some salmon burgers and a few snippets of serious chat. I love reminiscing with her about the most random things, though sometimes they twist to rather sad memories. We talked about my childhood cat, Suntan (also known as Sunny, Sunbuns, Buns, Sunnytan, Sun) about whom I still have dreams on occasion. When I awaken, I’m near always stifled with tears and a bit perturbed as to why my brain decided to err in the direction of such a vividly real occasion.
The impact of pets is pretty amazing, akin to having a child for some, and I’d imagine that might be the case for me if J and I ever welcome a fur baby into our house. Sunny always will be my #1 girl. She was a totally obese orange tabby, couldn’t purr, wanted to be a lap cat but her girth prevented a comfortable seat – yet that lady had some lungs on her. She could hold a meow for a solid 10 seconds, and then start again straight after. No real metabolism issues or health maladies aside from what eventually took her from us.
I’m not sure why I decided to open with that narrative. I guess its part of everyday reality, living through less happy memories. I’m sure we all have plenty, and sometimes you need to let them flow. I wouldn’t call the present a joyous time for many if you peer through a wide aperture, and living through those realities brings out the introspection. Least for me.
Tell me about your pet(s). What do you love about them most?
Otherwise, an ordinary week. We’re grilling out and hopefully getting some splash time so I can garb up in one of my new swimsuits. All I really want, a simple, relaxing time of things, you know?
Summer Cookie Party
Here’s some of my favorite summertime cookies for all sorts of gatherings, or just for the hell of it.
Strawberry Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars
“Screwball” Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Cinnamon Almond Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Dunked White Chocolate Funfetti Cookies
What I’m Up To This Week
Testing…A reboot on some shrimp tacos, summer rolls, a fun take on shrimp and grits, and a gooey irresistible cheesecake that’s super easy to whip up.
Wanting…Any sort of woven purse or tote. Love this little round crossbody for a quick daytime outing or this clutch for nighttime.
Buying…A fresh batch of nighttime skincare treats, since I quite literally ran out of everything at once. I’ve loved Naturium’s Mixed Greens cleanser and their Retinol Complex Serum, so I’m considering trying out the niacinamide serum which is apparently good for uneven skin tone and pore size, and the Rich Moisture Cream for nighttime.
Burning…Threshold’s Applewood + Amber crackling wick candle. Love the gentle background sound of the fire clicking while I write in the morning, and it has a really lovely, woodsy scent.
Curious about…Cereal candles? Like what the actual fuq. General Mills released a line of cereal-inspired candles at Target and I’m a bit scared to encounter them, but also wondering what the hell they smell like. Someone wrote that they’re surprisingly nice, but I don’t know if I want my house to smell like a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.
Buying…50% off swimwear the other day was a dangerous find. Picked out this cute cutout top and a matching ruffled bottom, and a floral one piece. Love the single shoulder detail.
Wearing…these seamless bike shorts that are SO comfy for cooking and running basic errands. Maybe bike shorts will grow on me after all…
Trying…Mega Food’s Blood Builder supplement. I’ve been on iron for a couple weeks now and have noticed a bit of an improvement in my everyday energy levels. This one is formulated with vitamin C and folic acid to create a well-rounded blood health supplement. Only a few days in so we’ll see how it goes.
A Few Things I’m Digging
Chili oil…First introduced myself to the condiment with my Chili Crisp Curried Mushroom Ramen and now adore drizzling it on anything I can. Very useful to keep a jar in the pantry for quick-fix flavor amplification.
Board…Adore this marble inlay board. Used it for an upcoming concept I’m sharing probably this week!
Ice cubes…Funny header, isn’t it? Yes, I love me some fucken frozen water. No, but I froze some berries in an ice cube tray for the Star Spangled Sour this weekend and really love the idea of infusing ice cubes (or freezing different liquids) for cocktails and other goodies.
Salad book…Been flipping through America’s Test Kitchen The Complete Salad Cookbook for inspiration lately. Really feeling some serious salad action coming up soon.
Face mask…It’s no secret I adored Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Overnight Mask, and I finally got my hands on the Watermelon Overnight Mask. SO good. Smells clean and fruity and my face is soft as hell when I get up in the morning.
Week in Training
Monday, 6.27: 3.18 miles, 11:17 pace + 1 hour full body strength
Tried a straight run this morning. Felt okay, though my endurance is definitely shot to the ground and I may never get back to where I was pre-Chicago.
Strength:
- 3 x 12 curtsy lunge 70#
- 3 x 12 balanced curls 20#
- 3 x 11 pressdown 41#
- 3 x 10 ea. balanced arnold 20#
- 3 x 10 ea. single leg deadlift 50#
- 3 x 8 chest press 80#
- 3 x 12 elevated narrow squat 60#
- 3 x 10 narrow row 40#
- 15/12/10 triceps extension 35/40/45#
- 3 x 20 Russian twist 20# SS 20 deadbug 20#
- 3 x 20 toe taps SS 20 reach through situps
Tuesday, 6.28: 2.63 miles, 11:25 pace + 52 minute back & biceps + 1,050 yard swim (23:29)
Very sluggish day overall, couldn’t get my ass to wake up no matter what. Legs were heavy during the run and my arms did not work while swimming, but I got it all done and felt accomplished anyway.
Strength:
- 3 x 9 preacher curl 75#
- 3 x 11 underhand row 45#
- 3 x 12 incline curl 20#
- 2 x 10/1 x 8 straight arm pulldown 41/45#
- 3 x 8 waiter curl 45#
- 3 x 10 ea. single arm pulldown 37#
- 3 x 10 ea. balanced row 35#
- 3 x 12 bent over front raise
- 5 minute core
Wednesday, 6.29: 5.37 miles, 10:48 pace + 1 hour leg day
Felt stiff and remnant sore but the workout went well. Ran a simple 4 x 400 session – I busted out the gate way too fast the first rep and died the final 3, but leastwise picked up a good rhythm and ran a negative split for that trio.
Strength:
- 3 x 18 alt reverse lunge 40# OH
- 3 x 15 ea. B stance hip thrust 45#
- 3 x 10 ea. kickstand deadlift 90#
- 3 x 10 leg extension 140#
- 3 x 15 calf raise 180#
- 4 x 6 wide/6 narrow press 180#
- 3 x 10 ea. one leg elevated deadlift 70#
- 3 x 10 diamond squat 70#
- Various core and stability exercises
Thursday, 6.30: 4 mile walk (1:02:00) + 1,500 yard swim (31:43)
Really felt off this morning, just anxious and nervous for no real reason – probably some high-strung hangover from yesterday where I felt jittery and slightly manic. Really glad I’ve adjusted by schedule to have 2 rest days. This one came at a good time. The pool was really quiet after work and I got into a slow, steady groove, so I busted out a straight swim at 2:06 average. Really not bad for not swimming such a length consistently. The splash really helped my mood, too.
Friday, 7.1: 2.25 miles, 11:08 pace + 56 minute shoulders, chest & triceps
Not a terrible morning for a trot. Only 25 minutes to spare before my lift so I did what I could, and quite enjoyed it.
Strength:
- 4 x 10 bench press 35#
- 3 x 11 OH extension 45#
- 3 x 10 Y press 20#
- 4 x 6 pressdown 45#
- 3 x 16 alt dumbbell angled front raise 20#
- 3 x 10 + 5 incline press 30#
- 3 x 10 ea. single arm extension
- 3 x 12 press up 40#
- 5 minute core
Saturday, 7.2: 5.98 miles (really), 11:02 pace + 62 minute leg day
Felt pretty awful from the get go, graduated to “begrudgingly tolerate” by the middle. Not sure if it was my intake yesterday or just a really crummy day, but I didn’t enjoy the run at all. Thank God I’m not marathon training right now.
Strength:
- 4 x 12 sumo squat 70#
- 4 x 10 narrow stance press 190#
- 3 x 10 squat 70#
- 4 x 8 ea. SLDL 70#
- 3 x 10 ea. single leg extension 60#
- 3 x 12 alt squat step out 40#
- 4 x 20 toe walks 80#
- Mobility work
Sunday, 7.3: 3.54 mile walk (55:00)
Total running mileage: 19.41 miles
Total swimming yardage: 2,550 yards
