I don’t like how fast the days are moving.
Happy Monday, all! The sun is dazzling this morning as I sit at my dining table, all golden glitter. The temps are down and the humidity too, and while I can’t say anything nice about my run itself this morning, at least the weather cooperated and the sunrise gave me something to observe.
This week was a bit of a struggle. Creatively, I felt a little unmotivated. The inspiration is there, but the execution not so much. I feel like transitional periods are challenging with regards to recipes: fall is ebbing, but it’s too soon for Christmas (or is it?). I’m at a stuck point on whether I want to stick to some conventional timeline, or just blow it all up and go with whatever mental calendar I feel like following.
Too, I’ve had many incomplete ideas floating around. I can picture some elements of the concepts and others are a black chasm in my mental camera. I struggle to execute ideas if my brain hasn’t drawn up an aesthetic, and for whatever reason lately, my brain runs out of ink in the middle of a sketch.
So, that put a damper on my week on a bit. Running also hasn’t been great, even though I’m trying to bump into marathon training. It’s hard to justify giving up since I’ve already paid for this race and can’t defer again without paying a gross fee – even if I can defer at this point – plus there’s that big stubborn part of me that hopes one day I’ll suddenly turn a corner and things will feel right again.
This past weekend I also felt like a blob. Saturday was a pleasant day weather-wise once morning passed into afternoon, but I didn’t really want to do anything. J and I skipped to Whole Foods in the afternoon so I could return some packages, so it was nice to get out of the house at least.
I also tried Athletic Brewing’s Winter Wonder. Pretty good stuff!
Sunday I spent my whole workday overstimulated, then tried to get a mocha at one of my favorite shops only for them to put the drink in a to-go cup rather than a mug like I requested. When you’re having a rough day, even one small oops can throw the rest of it off kilter.
Yeah. One of those weeks.
A bright spot, though, was my Friday double run with Little Miss Ba followed by a trip to Elevenses for a ginger spice latte. Elevenses NEVER fails and all of their drinks are delicious and special. I took home two of their chocolate chunk cookies as well and boy were they fabulous.
Some weeks are just off. It happens. I’m hoping the day redeems itself once I have breakfast and get myself moving.
Good eats…Sheetpan chicken sausage with apples and sweet potatoes; crockpot BBQ St. Louis ribs and Caesar salad; one pot olive chicken and lemon rice (SO GOOD); and a breakfast rice and beans bowl with eggs that actually hit all the right notes on Sunday morning.
That’s all for now, folks. Have a gentle week!
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…A hearty dumpling stew!
…A jazzed up version of my current favorite protein shake!
…Cute little Christmas cookies.
…The prettiest holiday cupcakes!
A Few Things I’m Digging
Resistance bands…Maybe a weird thing to “dig” but much of my strength training is now isolated band work, focused on stability and the small powerhouse muscles that often lead to my running issues (e.g., as of now, my glute medius). I don’t enjoy heavy lifting but find these sessions HARD but extremely satisfying. I feel like I’m doing something good and sustainable for my body when I finish.
One pot dinners…Effortless, filling and tasty. If I don’t have to use more than one major pot or pan, I’m in. Some of my favorites of late are my Rosemary Pesto Salmon and Wild Rice, Broccoli Cheddar Rice Casserole, and Apple Cider Glazed Salmon and Butternut Squash Pilaf!
Notable Food Holidays
Tuesday, November 10: National Pork Belly Day (why not add some pork belly to my Spicy Vegan Kimchi and Mushroom Ramen?)
Wednesday, November 11: National Sundae Day (Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae Layer Cake. Yes.)
Saturday, November 14: National Pickle Day (meal prep some Dill Pickle Chickpea Salad Sliders for the week.)
This Week’s Menu
Meatless Monday…Basic-Ass House Salad with Crunchy Italian Croutons
Tuesday…Easy Smoky Chili Con Queso
Wednesday…From-Scratch Green Bean Casserole
Thursday…Sheet Pan Sticky Pomegranate Salmon
Friday Happy Hour…Caramel Apple Margarita
Saturday Baking…Reese’s Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies
Gameday Snack…Garlic Herb Baked Feta and Olives
Week in Training
Monday, 11.2: 10.5 miles, 11:34 pace
Hands down one of my top 3 most miserable runs ever. Rainy, windy, puddly – and then my hat was so soaked the structure was compromised and thus wouldn’t stay propped on my head. I hit the headwind on the return trip and had no choice but to carry my hat, thus exposing my eyes and face to the pelting rain and 15-20 mph gusts. Absolutely fucking awful. I couldn’t see super well and my feet dragged through several inches of rainwater. A very stressful event and not the most fun way to start a marathon training cycle.
Tuesday, 11.3: 4.05 miles, 11:31 pace + 26 minute lift
Okay miles, nothing interesting to report.
Strength:
- 3 x 10 ea. banded hover donkey kick
- 4 x 8 biceps curl 20#
- 3 x 10 banded straight leg hip lift 20#
- 3 x 10 banded reverse goblet squat 20#
- 3 x 10 ea. bird dog row 20#
- 3 x 10 ea. banded split squat touch
- 20 ea. calf raise
Wednesday, 11.4: 9 miles, 10:10 pace + 35 minute elliptical
Flop of a workout once again. Attempted 3 x 3k at 8:30-8:40, ended up with 2 x 3k/1 x 2k at 8:49 getting progressively slower. Felt hard, very demoralized, and my ham was not happy by the end.
My hip was very locked up after work so I took Ba on a spin. She likes being outside better but felt very amused by all the moving parts of the machine!
Thursday, 11.5: 7 miles, 12:16 pace + 24 minute lift
I managed to unlock my hip somewhat the previous night, so this run was slow in starting but by the end I felt more normal in my stride. It was gross out, 100% humidity just like summer.
Strength:
- 2 x 20 ea. banded clamshell
- 3 x 15 ea. banded leg lift bench tap
- 2 x 15 banded deadlift 40#/1 x 15 ea. single leg deadlift 40#
- 3 x 12 ea. bridge chest press 20#
- 3 x 12 skullcrusher 20#
- 3 x 10 ea. single leg hop
Friday, 11.6: 4 miles, 12:06 pace + 4 miles, 11:06 pace
Double Run Friday since I had an early-ending shift and missed my Wednesday double. Hip was tight but loosened up well by the end of the first run, and the second felt better than earlier. Only hitch was how HOT it was, around 85. That was also Little Miss Ba’s longest run! So proud of my tiny friend.
Saturday, 11.7: 13 miles, 11:50 pace
Hot and muggy, honestly kind of a blessing that my 10k race didn’t pan out this year because it would’ve been miserable no matter how good of shape I was in. Needed more fuel on this run but I ran out of non-caffeinated gels (ordered some immediately when I got home!). Still felt encouraging that my leg held up fine with this distance!
Total running mileage: 51.6
