sidebar | life and training 2.16 – 2.22

From 83 degrees to 38 degrees in two days. Ah, Florida in February.

And we’re under a fire weather warning due to our massive drought and the approaching dry conditions. Granted, this morning it’s only gone down to 45, but the wind is picking up by the hour and the high is only forecast around 58. Winter refusing to release its vice grip!

I attempted a run this morning, my second since the marathon. It went well until about mile 2, then my knee once again cramped up. I managed to keep it under control for the rest of the run, though, and it didn’t hit an equivalent pain level to last Monday. As I sit here at my table now, the knee isn’t inflamed and sore. I call that progress.

My plan this week is to keep up with my 4x gym routine – I’ve been enjoying it despite my usual reluctance with strength training! – and trying another run on Wednesday. I might run-walk it to be safe, and no longer than 3-3.5 miles assuming I don’t have a random flare-up of the knee. I’m pretty sure the cause is a very tight and weak hip flexor, so this morning, Monday, I did a few PT moves in the gym to help mobilize the area and hopefully restore some strength.

Last Monday, after my pretty much failed run, I took myself out for a “you tried” ice cream at Chill Bros. The hazelnut crunch flavor was my choice of the day. So good.

Friday was National Muffin Day (shoutout to mom for pointing it out because I had no idea!) so I headed over to Shortwave for an afternoon latte and the hope that I’d come across an attractive option for a treat. Oh my god, did I. The chocolate muffin was gooey, soft, crisp atop, and three times the size of Little Miss Ba! Totally divine dunked in my coffee. We ate half and gave the rest to J to enjoy.

Saturday J ran the Gasparilla 15K and had a dope race. Yay! We visited Gulf Coast Sourdough for sandwiches and cinnamon rolls after I finished up a project in the morning. The sandwich itself was fine but the bread?! Holy shitnuggets. I ordered my spread on a rosemary garlic sourdough and it was out of of this world. Would definitely buy the bread for my own lunches. The cinnyroll was okay, I definitely prefer the gooey poofy style to the crisper spirals.

Truly, it was a quiet week here. I’m thinking about maneuvering my work schedule a bit just to jazz things up and encourage myself to release my chokehold on my routine. While I enjoy having a predictable schedule, I think I need to practice a little more flexibility, and quite honestly I’m looking for a change of pace that working a different time of day might help. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll switch back!

I’m looking forward to continuing my coffee bar revamp! I’m ordering a couple prints today and might invest in a new desk this week as well. I think those are the main pieces I’d like to add, with some accessories here and there. SO excited for this little home redecoration I have planned this spring.

That’s all for now. Happy National Banana Bread Day! Go get yourself a slice. I sure am.

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…A cozy, creamy white chili.

…Fun springtime cupcakes!

…A healthy fruit smoothie.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Espresso bar…I’m working on spiffing up my espresso area and added this mug + saucer and these steaming pitchers to my ensemble. Going for a bubbly pink scheme. They look adorable – I’ll share a photo once everything comes together!

Pasta salad…Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad on repeat around here. Looking forward to new pasta salad concepts I have in mind, too, in the coming months!

Epsom baths…Every Monday and Saturday I’ve indulged in a warm bath after my morning workouts. Since I’m off those days I have the extra time and it feels like a simple self-care act that’ll also benefit my healing legs. I always throw in lots of Dr. Teals lavender magnesium soak for the scent and the extra muscle-relaxing properties.

Notable Food Holidays

This is a good week in food holidays!

Monday, 2.23: National Banana Bread Day…A perfect excuse to make my Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread!

Tuesday, 2.24: National Chili Day + National Tortilla Chip Day…How about some Easy Smoky Chili Con Queso?

Wednesday, 2.25: Pancake Day…Blueberry Lemon Curd Pancakes are a great option here.

Friday, 2.27: National Strawberry Day…So many options but my favorite might be the Strawberry White Hot Chocolate from last year or Strawberry Sweet Rolls for brunch.

This Week’s Menu

Meatless Monday…Spinach and Feta Pizza

Taco Tuesday…Dill Pickle BBQ Blackened Salmon Tacos

Wednesday…Strawberry Fields Avocado Quinoa Salad with Poppyseed Vinaigrette

Thursday…Creamy Herb Roasted Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

Friday Happy Hour…Bunny Trail Margarita

Saturday Baking…Coffee Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sunday Brunch…Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread

Five One Skillet Spring Dinners

1. One Skillet Rosemary Lemon Salmon and Dijon Orzo

2. One Skillet Greek Olive Shrimp and Rice with Marinated Tomatoes

3. One Skillet Tuscan Parmesan Salmon

4. One Skillet Creamy Coconut Lime Salmon

5. One Skillet Chili Cheese Frito Pie

Shops & Wish List

Home

Target…Love these Easter egg tealight candles and the carrot taper candles I was pining over last year…These carrot napkin rings as well.

Etsy…Going to snag this pink mug print and this graphic print to hang above my espresso bar!

Ikea…Eyeing this Kallax desk for my espresso setup.

Week in Training

Monday, 2.16: 3.2 miles, 11:48 pace + 20 minute upper body & mobility

YAY FIRST RUN BACK! WOW IT FELT AWFUL! At the start my hamstrings were SO tight I felt like I was clomping real awkwardly. They loosened up after about a mile…but then my knee took over and really felt unwell. I stopped to stretch and mobilize a few times but it didn’t really help. Definitely need to keep an eye on this and make sure I start doing some mobility exercises to strengthen my hip flexors, knee, and hamstrings, which are probably causing a lot of tugging in the area and the inflammation I’m experiencing. It’s good feedback to guide my training the rest of the week.

Gym workout felt really good though and I look forward to adding a few more sessions in per week!

Strength:

• 3 x 10 shoulder press 15#
• 3 x 12 row 25#
• 3 x 12 triceps extension 20#
• 2 x 20 ea. banded clamshell
• 2 x 15 ea. single leg squat
• 2 x 20 ea. standing banded hydrant
• 60 second plank

Tuesday, 2.17: 35 minute elliptical + 20 minute upper body & mobility

I decided during my elliptical sessions to try and emulate my outdoor route by increasing the resistance a bit at the time I’d normally be running up a bridge. This kinda helped time go back more quickly! Enjoyable spin and a good lift, and a nice 15 minute sunshine walk after work.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 biceps curl 15#
• 3 x 10 chest press 20#
• 2 x 15 ea. banded lunge hydrants
• 3 x 15 ea. banded bridge leg raises
• 3 x 10 ea. single leg extnsions 20#

Wednesday, 2.18: 45 minute elliptical + 10 minute mobility

Nothing interesting, just another slightly longer spin.

Thursday, 2.19: 35 minute elliptical + 20 minute legs & mobility

Kept the leg workout light since my legs are still a bit locked and very confused, focused much more on range of motion and quality movement. Felt really good to lay some bricks down for a solid strength foundation.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 ea. leg press 60#
• 2 x 15 ea. banded single leg squat
• 3 x 10 plie squat 45#
• 3 x 10 deadlift 70#
• 2 x 15 ea. banded abductions

Friday, 2.20: 35 minute elliptical + 25 minute full body

Friyay! Enjoyed my session today.

Strength:

• 3 x 12 thruster 10#
• 3 x 10 front raise 20#
• 4 x 12 alt. curtsy lunge press 5#
• 3 x 20 calf raise 50#
• :30 ea. Copenhagen plank

Saturday, 2.21: 65 minute elliptical

Simulated and envisioned my outdoor route while I spun and that helped this just fly by! Nothing interesting to report, just a whirl with some hills whenever I imagined I’d hit my bridges on my running routes.

Sunday, 2.22: 25 minute elliptical

Total running mileage: 3.2