sidebar | life and training 7.29 – 8.4

Shit has finally calmed down, and I’m feeling motivated again.

Nearly a month has passed since a big ole flip turn occurred in my life, and while I certainly have not forgotten nor neglected to think about things, I’m starting to settle into a comfy, busy routine that is serving my days pretty nicely so far. How relieving. When something big happens you fall into the thinking trap of “this will never get better, it will never get less prevalent.” I’m certainly a victim of that catastrophizing pattern.

But, time and again, I’m proven that yes, the hours will improve, and yes, whatever is ballooning in your world will take on less importance.

I find that whenever something telling and tumultuous springs up in my life, I eventually find this rapidfire determination to switch my direction, find a potential new road. Sometimes these newfangled revelations persist, and sometimes they fizzle out, but I think this time my goals are penned into my calendar and I’ll end up following through with them.

I’ve tossed around the idea of testing for a Florida teaching certification in English, grades 6-12, and finally I’m going to do it. I bought a study guide last week (should arrive Wednesday) and plan to buy some cute school supplies to urge me on. By the way…who else loves shopping for school supplies? I browse the aisles every year just to see what neat stuff popped up in the inventory. Anywhoozles, my goal is to test out in October sometime and, in the meanwhile, strive to start substitute teaching to dip my toes in the world of education.

Having that goal excites me. Gives me something to anticipate down the line, and right now I really need that, especially since October could be a very big month in general. Here’s hoping.

Kept pretty busy otherwise this week. Support group Monday, therapy and ice cream Tuesday. Wednesday I called my sister and we chatted for over an hour about various things. I’m not typically a phone call person, but lately texting exhausts my patience and since we always have a bevy of topics to cover, speaking over the phone feels more personal and satisfying. Very cathartic. We discussed vague plans for me to go up and visit in October/November, depending on my exam schedule, her clinical schedule, and the price of flights.

Thursday marked the first day of August, the end of that crudmuffin month of July, so I celebrated with another walk to Bright Ice and a combo of salted caramel and marshmallow cookie ice creams. Joyful. I determined that August had to start off on a decent note, and I figured I couldn’t go wrong with another ice cream.

Friday I finally received some good, concrete news after another phone call with a friend’s mom. Again, almost an hour of babbling, which felt nice. My AirPods decided to shit out mid call though and I was on a walk at the time, so I had to tire out my arm and mess up my stride by holding the phone to my ear. Fuck, man, how did people ever do it back in the day before headphones? First world problems.

My first real adventure in awhile occurred Saturday, as I took myself on a date out to St. Pete for the afternoon. I stopped by Pistil House for a coffee and a much-craved chocolate croissant – shared with Little Miss Ba, of course – and spent some time writing a letter. The buzz and bustle of the endearing space was welcome, especially as the sky clouded over and the first arms of Tropical Storm Debbie reached onto the coast. I only got rained on en route to my mom’s a bit later.

The storm blew through en force on Sunday. Really, Debbie’s tantrum resembled a prolonged severe summer storm – as most tropical systems around here do, really – but it was still unsettling to drive home from work with the wind whipping and feeder bands threatening to swirl into the area. Once I was home from work, though, I stayed put aside from embarking on a treadmill walk. Very cozy afternoon – I even enjoyed a hot chocolate and pretended it was cold outside. Which it most assuredly was not.

Here, Monday morning, the atmosphere still holds plenty of gloom, the wind is fierce at points, and the rain intermittently absent then swooping down in droves. The fire alarm in the building across from me got triggered at 4am, so when I trudged outside towards the gym for a tread-run a bunch of residents were crowded outside wondering what the fuck was going on. I’m glad I don’t live in those condos – the buzzer goes off at least once a month.

This upcoming week is quite packed. Usually Monday-Tuesday shebangs, work, oil change, hair buzz, and a Saturday 5K! Just what I need right now: a loaded schedule. Stay safe and comfy, friends, and always take time for rest if you need it.

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…A chocolatey pumpkin treat because I’m being influenced okay?

…A saucy, savory salmon bowl.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Pizza…This plant-based supreme pizza is one of my favorite storebought freezer staples now. Whenever I visit my mom I drop by her Target (it’s a Super Target so much bigger selection) to pick this up.

Salmon burgers…Target’s store brand salmon burgers are amazing, and I’ve been eating them for many dinners lately. I usually top it simply with homemade garlic sauce, lettuce, and tomato, but one evening I tossed some slaw with Caesar dressing and a few pickle slices. Delish. Love them atop the Dave’s Killer multigrain buns.

Sweet As a Peach

Let’s round off our peach recipe series with some desserts you need to try before summer’s favorite fruit exits the building. Check out the savory roundup and the cocktail roundup for more inspiration! PS: a really dope peach dessert is coming up in the next couple weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Bourbon Honey Peach Shortcakes

Baked Churro Peach Doughnuts

Cinnamon Sugar Peach Dutch Baby

Brown Sugar Peaches and Cream Puffs

Peach Melba Ice Cream Loaf Cake

Peach Ricotta Tarts with Lemon Thyme Honey

Shops & Wish List

Fashion

Target…I think I need to buy my sis this Corgi hairclip. Liking these wide leg gauze pants and I think they’d go nicely with a cropped off-shoulder top. Eyeing this square backpack for shuttling around supplies when I start studying for my exam this week.

Amazon cart…Grabbing this FTCE study guide, a new pair of my favorite New Balance Tempo running shoes, KT tape for my hamstring, and more of the Honey Stinger mini waffles for my preworkout snackage.

Week in Training

Monday, 7.29: 7 miles, 10:12 pace + 20 minute lift

Little speedy session to start the week. My plan was to hit 7:55-8:00 splits – my goal 5K pace for now – and I didn’t exactly do that. BUT, I did average 7:56 over the reps I planned, so I suppose it worked out in a sense. Ran a 2ish mile warmup, then 6 x 400: 2:01, 2:00, 1:57, 1:56, 1:56, 2:00. Finished with a 2ish mile cooldown. Hamstrings are SO crabby but overall this workout felt controlled, which was a secondary aim of the session.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 deadlift 90#
• 3 x 10 pullover 35#
• 3 x 10 ea. pistol squat
• 3 x 12 triceps extension 35#
• Core work

Tuesday, 7.30: 45 minute elliptical

The hamstring and hip are very inflamed and angry, and as a result so am I as a human being. Tried running for 30 seconds and my leg totally nope’d out, so I wandered into the gym for a hamster wheel spin. Wasn’t too bad, just boring, and the lights shut off after 15 minutes. Woohoo working out in the dark!

Wednesday, 7.31: 6.2 miles, 11:00 pace

Thankfully, a lot of mobility work with a baseball on the locked up muscle helped tremendously, and this morning I was able to run pretty well. Not 100% perfect yet, but definitely manageable and far better than I felt yesterday. A good positive turn of events.

Thursday, 8.1: 4.03 miles, 11:10 pace + 18 minute lift

Hip was about the same today, tight but manageable. An 80 degree temp at 4am, however, was almost not manageable.

Strength:

• 2 x 10/1 x 10 back lunge/front lunge 40#
• 3 x 10 shoulder press 15#
• 3 x 10 ea. single leg deadlift 50#
• 2 x 10 standing hydrant 25#
• Core work

Friday, 8.2: 4.08 miles, 11:02 pace

Hip and hamstring feel a *tiny* bit better than yesterday but there’s still work to be done. Not a bad feeling run overall.

Saturday, 8.3: 7 miles, 11:05 pace + 13 minute strength

A little breezy this morning thanks to a tropical system floating around near the Caribbean. The hip is feeling a little stronger, not 100% though. Need to get it right for my next 5K in a week!

Circuit x 3:

• 10 ea. single leg squat 40#
• 12 pushups
• :30 ea. side plank
• 30 Russian twists 20#

15 seconds rest between exercises, 20 between sets.

Sunday, 8.4: 3.22 miles, 10:53 pace

Calm before the storm. It actually felt really good out with the breeze! Also did a 5 mile walk after work on the treadmill while a feeder band from the storm passed over the area.

Total running mileage: 31.5