sidebar | life and training 3.25 – 3.31

If you haven’t taken a day to yourself in awhile, I highly recommend you do. It’s quite rejuvenating.

Many years ago, my mode of operation was basically moseying around finding interesting places to go and things to do. I’d often occupy my days off driving sometimes an hour or two to find a new coffee shop, landscape, or museum to check out. I took weekend trips sometimes for those purposes as well. I liked adventure, I enjoyed exploration, and sometimes you gotta ignore the price of gas in exchange for life experience.

To no fault of anyone’s, really, I dropped away from that habitual yearning and became a reliable homebody. Nothing wrong with that, obviously, but “doing random shit”, as my friend says, was an integral part of my personality. I became a slave to routine, I missed out on some aspects of life one can only embrace if he or she leaves the comfort zone.

Lately, I’ve been far more apt to these wanderings, and it feels like welcoming myself home. This past Saturday I spent my day off in St. Petersburg with a few quality pit stops in my itinerary.

I started at the Imagine Museum, which houses an impressive display of glass art. I spent maybe an hour-hour and a half plodding through the galleries, enjoying the unique sculptures. That time of morning it wasn’t too busy so I was able to get through everything rather quickly and without much interruption.

Around the corner sits Tombolo Books, a cute little indie shop with a surprising amount of well-known titles. I bought The Winners by Fredrik Backman (he also wrote Anxious People, which seemed like a polarizing plot but I thoroughly enjoyed) and took my loot to Crescent Lake Park to eat my lunch and read by the water for a spell. Our weather lately has been downright lovely, especially in the shade. After reading for a bit I took a stroll on the footpath around the lake. So peaceful.

I felt so blissed out by the close of my adventure that I didn’t even care much about how shit the traffic was on the way home due to the air show.

Sunday involved a capirinha and fajita lunch at Lona, a favorite haunt of mine, while watching the Rays get destroyed by the Blue Jays. Good going, guys.

I’ll say, though, both outings made for a pretty solid weekend.

Sometime during the week (Thursday, maybe?) I visited Sparkman Wharf for an afternoon beer. Again, blue skies, gorgeous conditions, nothing short of a lovely little hour by the water.

If you celebrated, how was your Easter? I don’t much observe the holiday except to surprise my coworkers with some candy-filled eggs. I do love the fun and colorful facets of the day, like dyeing eggs and hiding treats, but being not so religious (and having to work anyway) the bulk of Easter isn’t something I hold too tightly in my repertoir.

This week, I’m not sure what madness I’m getting into. Something or another. I don’t usually figure it out until the day of anyway. I do have plans with a friend on Wednesday and might coax another friend to leave his house, but otherwise the schedule is fluid. Just a little cooking, a little baking, and hopefully more than a small share of fun.

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…Some kind of funfetti cake with some kind of fun twist.

…Easy, cheesy stuffed shells.

Shops & Wish List

Skincare & Wellness

Vitamasques…Interested in the birthday cake lip mask. Never tried a lip treatment before my mine have been so chapped lately I’m getting kinda desperate.

Naturium…In the market for a new face wash and might try their vitamin C cleansing gelee. Typically use the niacinimide formulation (which is dope) but eh, kinda want to branch out.

cocokind: I like the idea of the chlorophyll discoloration serum; random redness is an issue of mine. Haven’t loved most of this brand’s products but I’m willing to be proven wrong.

Week in Training

Monday, 3.25: 9 miles, 10:17 pace + 11 minute lift

Very windy morning, tired legs, and felt extra allergenic, but the air was nice and a little crisp so overall a pleasant session.

Strength:

• 3 x 8 triceps extension 35#
• 3 x 8 Arnold 15#
• 3 x 8 straight arm pulldown 37#
• 1:30 core work

Tuesday, 3.26: 6.2 miles, 9:56 pace + 14 minute lift

Somehow felt okay (until the final mile) despite the 86 degree temp at 1 pm. Brutal. The breeze felt wondrous though and I’m not sure I could’ve pulled off this session without it.

Strength:

• 3 x 8 ea. single leg deadlift 70#
• 3 x 10 ea. standing calf raise 60#
• 3 x 10 front squat 60#
• 1:30 core work

Wednesday, 3.27: 7 miles, 9:59 pace

So damn muggy but not unpleasant, a little breeze to break up the humidity.

Thursday, 3.28: 7 miles, 10:31 pace + 11 minute lift

Ran in the morning since I needed plenty of time to finish up these cinnamon rolls once I got home from work. My legs were vaguely annoyed and it was so humid, but manageable, and I was kinda glad I got it done.

Strength:

• 3 x 9 triceps ext. 35#
• 3 x 9 Arnold 15#
• 3 x 9 straight arm pulldown 37#
• 1:30 core work

Friday, 3.29: 7.05 miles, 9:56 pace + 13 minute lift

Glorious, sunny, breezy afternoon, and I got to see a little glimpse of the airshow going on at the base.

Strength:

• 3 x 9 ea. single leg deadlift 70#
• 3 x 8 jump squat 40#
• 3 x 6 ea. single leg press 110#
• 1:30 core work

Saturday, 3.30: 8 miles, 10:39 pace + 10 minute core

Nice brisk morning but I felt like the fucking tin man. Legs were quite stiff, so foam rolling after felt REALLY nice surprisingly.

Sunday 3.31: 6.2 miles, 10:32 pace + 10 minute core

Fairly nice miles this morning, felt good to get them done. I think I might be warming back into the pre-work morning runs depending on what I’ve got going on in the afternoon once I’m home.

Total running mileage: 50.3