sidebar | life and training 12.1 – 12.7

66 miles, two coffee dates, and 30 hours of work. I am POOPED.

Happy Monday! I am a tired bean today. Last night we got a helluva cycle of storms, which is good because we direly needed rain (least that’s what the weathermen say), but not so great for little old me trying to push out an 8 mile pace run. The puddles – my bane during interval workouts post-deluge – weren’t so bad, but the humidity was incredibly elevated and I couldn’t exactly breathe.

Not cool.

I’d call last week my first big mileage week for marathon training. From now forth my workouts get much more specific to the distance. Not a lot will happen below 10K pace except some strides and hills here and there. Thus, my Monday and Wednesday sessions are getting lengthy and my 18-22 milers nothing to sneeze at. Basically, my days will be extra consumed by running, recovering from running, and planning my next run.

I really do not understand how folks run 2-3 marathons each year. Shit’s exhausting and time consuming, man. I guess some of these people are much faster than me and their daily sessions don’t take nearly as long as mine, but still.

All things considered, the 18 miler went really well. It was muggy, foggy, and a bit spooky at points, and the final two miles my body was just ready to not deal with this shit anymore. Otherwise, I had some really smooth sequences of miles and was really surprised to put together a sub 10;50 average overall.

My week was a blur, really. I got out twice with Little Miss Ba for coffee dates: once at Oxford Exchange, the second at Shortwave. I’ve been really disappointed with OE lately because the baristas don’t seem to much care about the craft anymore; the brand has become a bit too commercialized and similar to a big corporation we all know too well.

Shortwave, however, is always solid, though I wish they’d put out some holiday flavors! I grabbed a mocha that afternoon and it was really tasty, and a peaceful way to pause during a busy period.

Sunday, my mom, sister, and I had our annual FaceTime while making gingerbread houses! Funny enough, I was the only one to make an actual gingerbread house: my sis did a sugar cookie kit and my mom made a PopTart house. I was so pleased with how my silly little guy turned out. This tradition is one I love (I think we’re going on 4 years now?) though this year I opted to stay at my place rather than drive to mom’s since the forecast threatened storms right when I would’ve left to return home. I heated up a homemade cocoa to enjoy for the occasion as well. So festive.

I’m so excited for what I have planned this week, including the debut of my 2025 cookie box! All the recipes are officially complete and ready to be posted, and I might be doubling up on new writeups this week so keep an eye out for that. Two eyes, if you can spare them.

Not much else to say. Busy busy is the name of the game.

Take care, peeps! Until next week!

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…A cozy vegetarian tortilla soup.

…Our 2025 cookie box!

…A festive and fun holiday cheeseboard.

…A boozy hot cocoa inspired by a classic cocktail.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Jazz…Listening to a “Cozy Instrumental Jazz” playlist on Spotify recently – it’s especially hitting hard today as I type (Sunday) because it’s dreary and rainy out.

…Hallmark movies…Yep, I’m one of them. Baking Christmas cookies for my 2025 cookie box with these easy-watching films in the background always makes me feel present in the season. The fact that they’re so hyperinflated and unrealistic is what makes them charming this time of year.

This Week’s Menu

Meatless Monday…Leftover Stuffing Stuffed “Meatballs” and Gravy

Tuesday…One Skillet Cranberry Braised Salmon

Wednesday…Easy Smoky Chili Con Queso

Thursday…Shredded Brussels Sprouts Apple Salad with Spiced Maple Walnuts

Friday Happy Hour…Christmas Rum Punch

Saturday Baking…Chocolate Dipped Bourbon Peanut Butter Cookies

Sunday Brunch…Country Apple Fritter Bread

Shops & Wish List

Fashion

Target…Love this festive Christmas soldier boy pullover, could be fun for an ugly sweater party (even though I don’t think it’s ugly)…Also really like this fair isle henley, it looks super cozy…This velvet halter would be really nice for a New Years party, if I were into that sort of thing…

Kitchen & Dining

Target…Some REAL cute stocking stuffer ideas: gingerbread measuring spoons, snowman rolling pin, geometric champagne flutes (love the gold stem detail), Christmas tree salt and pepper shakers, and this gingerbread spatula. So many more but these are a good start!

Week in Training

Monday, 12.1: 13.25 miles, 9:18 pace + 15 minute full body

First BIG marathon workout in the books! My body has no idea what to do with marathon pace yet and I also think I’m not fully back in action after Thursday’s 5K effort, so this felt way harder than I think it will down the line. I also hit some nasty headwind which did not help. Either way, I ran a good workout and am proud of what I managed! 3 x 5k at marathon pace was the protocol: averaged 8:38, 8:37, and 8:36, so a nifty little negative split. I took a Maurten Gel100 after the second rep though to be honest I don’t think it helped much.

Strength:

• 2 x :30 ea. Copenhagen plank
• 3 x 10 sumo squat 65#
• 3 x 10 shoulder press 15#
• 3 x 10 ea. single leg squat 25#
• 20 BW lunge

Tuesday, 12.2: 6.2 miles, 11:05 pace + 5 minute core

Easy miles, very sticky out after some overnight rain – which we desperately needed!

Wednesday, 12.3: 10.3 miles, 9:10 pace + 4.8 miles, 10:31 pace

Strong and fun workout this morning! Ran 4k at half marathon pace, 4 x 1k at critical velocity, and finished with 2k at 10k effort. Averaged 8:15 for the 4k, then ran 7:35, 7:38, 7:35, and 7:37 for the 1ks, and 7:55 for the 2k. The temp was perfect and there was minimal wind so I was super happy with this outcome. I really enjoy these pace changer workouts – they help keep my legs guessing and the slower paces always feel more manageable after a bit of faster running.

Afternoon miles were beautiful and chill at a 153 bpm heart rate!

Thursday, 12.4: 8.25 miles, 11:14 pace + 15 minute lift

Lovely easy miles in a cozy hoodie!

Strength:

• 3 x 10 leg press 180#
• 3 x 10 mid row 50#
• 3 x 10 OH triceps extension 25#
• 3 x 10 deadlift 80#

Friday, 12.5: 5.05 miles, 11:05 pace + core work

FRIYAY indeed! Nice run but MUCH warmer than yesterday.

Saturday, 12.6: 18 miles, 10:47 pace

Not a pleasant morning by any means: 71 degrees, 70 dew point, sticky, still, and foggy as hell in the middle. However, I think my mini carb load the night prior paid dividends because aside from the final two miles (where my legs just wanted to be done done done) I felt really strong and controlled. Took a Honey Stinger before the run and four Untapped gels during, plus a few SaltSticks to keep hydrated. My route got annoying at the end since they closed access to one of my planned water stops, but honestly, I’m really happy otherwise with what I achieved. I think in better conditions I would have felt even more satisfied, but for what it was, I can’t complain at all.

Sunday, 12.7: 25 minute elliptical

Total running mileage: 65.8