sidebar | life and training 3.4 -3.10

We crossed the Canadian border, yo! Buuuut not without some hitches.

I haven’t travelled a whole awful lot since Covid, but I’m pretty sure none of my airport escapades have passed sans a flight delay of some duration. I think that just might be customary of air travel nowadays.

I may have invited some wonky juju after a Friday evening of looking after and eventually chauffeuring a very delirious, underslept friend from my Tampa Bay Brewing haunt (not drunk, just exhausted I’m pretty sure). That was an event that thankfully ended pretty harmlessly.

Saturday morning was a pretty quick, painless process. Woke up, worked out, slurped down some coffee, packed up any shit I set aside the prior night, and was off to TIA by 7. Security was a breeze and I had a couple hours to kill at the gate…where I realized of all things to forget to pack, I neglected a PEN. A FUCKING PEN. I bought an overpriced one at the convenience store only to discover it was blue ink. HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE SELLING BLUE INK PENS OVER BLACK? Jesus.

We boarded the plane early, everything looked great…then we sat there for an hour before deplaning. Strong storms wove over the panhandle and the airspace was closed – I’m not really sure why it took so long for them to configure this plan, but what do I know.

I grew pretty stressed as a result since we didn’t have a concrete departure time and my sister’s flight was scheduled to be in Toronto by 12:30 or so. I meandered back to the bar I sat at before an ordered a vastly overpriced but very tasty bourbon cocktail. I must recreate it soon. The booze was mixed with guava juice, lemon, and mint, and kind of boosted my spirits a bit (whether from the alcohol content or the innocent enjoyment, one cannot say). I also stress-ate a bunch of trail mix.

I was on the verge of ordering a second drink when I opted instead to refill my water and visit the lavatory. Glad I didn’t throw down the money: we started boarding about 5 minutes after that. The attendants herded us on board fast and we took off around noon. Woooo!

The flight was painless, customs was easy, and finding my sister actually wasn’t so bad. We took the UP to downtown and walked maybe 10 minutes or so to our hotel. Let me tell you, I’m shite at navigating, but actually did a pretty swell job moseying from the Union Station to our destination without any data or WiFi access. We didn’t get lost!

The first night was fairly, well, eventful and uneventful. We found dinner at Fox on John, this cozy, dimly lit haunt with a huge menu and a pretty bitching old fashioned. I ordered fries, a fish taco, and a tofu taco, all delicious.

Aaaand then the fun began. We found the liquor store and bought a bottle of Josh cabernet, drank that for a couple hours and had some weird conversations. I probably laughed like a maniac several times. I guess somewhere around 9 my sister tried to talk to me and found me fast asleep sitting up on the chaise of the hotel couch. Fucking graceful.

There were other factors at play here, too, but I’ll spare those details.

I woke up cotton-mouthed and stuffy-headed (but not really hungover) on Sunday morning and ventured down to the hotel gym for a run. Folks have polarizing opinions about exercising on vacations – to which I say, why do you fucking care what other people do and don’t do – but I find the structure and movement very comforting when I’m otherwise out of whack. Got 7 miles and a sort core workout in. Felt good and busted out the griminess from the [prior night’s wine party.

Followed up with my first Tim Horton’s experience! Most people claim it’s like Canada’s Dunkin’ but I think the drip coffee is a bit better. I bought a 10 box of Timbits – doughnut holes – also. Actually quite tasty.

We spent Sunday at the CN Tower, looking down upon the city from over 1,000 feet up. Quite the vista. We found our hotel amongst the sundry buildings, too, which was oddly satisfying. The cars, trains, and boats all looked like little Hot Wheels figures from so high up. Like you could pluck them from the board and stuff them in your pocket.

After a quick pit stop at the hotel we walked down to the St. Lawrence Market, a bustling food hall with an inane amount of cheese shops? We met up with a good friend of mine who moved to Toronto last summer (she’s a dual American-Canadian citizen) and it was so lovely to have a little catchup session and wander around her city with her. The market was busy and tightly-packed, which got overwhelming after awhile. I did walk out with a box of maple stroopwafels, though. Right up my culinary alley! My sister bought a block of Guinness-infused cheddar that we plan to put on a cheeseboard once we’re back in Pennsylvania.

Dinner was Smoke’s poutine. I ordered the veggie nacho variety. So fucken excessive, but so good. One of those institutions I think everyone should try while in Canada.

It’s Monday now, 6:57 am and counting. I followed yesterday’s chain of events – run, lift, shower, Tim Horton’s – and once we get breakfast down we’ll be on an all-day tour of Niagara Falls. Gonna be a very long but fun day methinks, especially since our escapade involves a stop at a winery. My friend’s birthday is also today so I’ll be sure to drink a glass for them while I’m at it.

Phew. Long-winded post here, but hey, this is the first real adventure I’ve had in a long time and I’ve got much to say. If nothing else, enjoy the photo dump. Toronto is a clean, beautiful city, the weather’s been cold and windy and at times speckled with snow flurries. I’m bummed to be leaving tomorrow already, but trying not to really think about it. Though I obviously thought about it the minute I wrote such a fact down…

What did you get up to last week? Anything fun? Any vacations planned for the upcoming days or months? Whether you’re at home or out and about, I hope you have a fabulous start to the week!

PS: celebrated two birthdays last week! My good friend’s fell on Tuesday, and I met up with her, her wife, and a couple of her friends for dinner that evening. J’s birthday followed Wednesday, and I semi-surprised him with a Rays-Yankees spring training game and homemade margherita pizza later in the evening. Of course, a cake was baked for all of these occasions. Recipe coming later this week!

The Fuck We Cooking This Week?

…Probably pizza because I won’t have much time for anything else.

A Few Things I’m Digging

Shops & Wish List

Skincare & Wellness

Pacifica…People have been talking about these types of facial massagers. I think they kinda look inappropriate but apparently work? I’m curious. Interested in the Future Youth facial serum as well.

Tree Hut…The Tropic Glow shimmer body mist sounds lovely, though I’d fear it comes out more like a glitterbomb. Would have to see. Did pick up the Rainbow Sherbet body scrub – smells amazing and spring-like.

Home

Twinkling Tree…This brand popped up on my Instagram and I am obsessed. Bought the enchanted book lamp but also really love the enchanted lunar lamp. Cool brand that plants a tree with every purchase made on their website.

Week in Training

Monday, 3.4: 9 miles, 10:30 pace + 12 minute lift

VERY humid but coolish, so a pleasant run overall after not much sleep the night prior. I seem to have good sessions after not sleeping a whole lot.

Strength:

• 3 x 10 narrow press 20#
• 3 x 10 front raise 15#
• 3 x 10 straight arm pulldown 32#
• 1:30 planks

Tuesday, 3.5: 5 miles, 10:03 pace

Little shorter today since I had a cake to decorate and little time to do it. Humid, sticky day but felt alright overall.

Wednesday, 3.6: 8 miles, 10:39 pace + 14 minute lift

Holy God, the amount of pollen on the ground after the rains last night. Insane. Felt like I was being slowly throttled on my run but my heart rate was really good, surprisingly – 152 average, the lowest I’ve seen it in ages. Another night of 5 hours of sleep after a friend’s birthday dinner.

Strength:

• 3 x 8 reverse lunge 70#
• 3 x 10 diamond squat 60#
• 3 x 10 calf raise 190#
• 3 x 12 leg press 190#

Thursday, 3.7: 6.2 miles, 9:51 pace

Warm but not all that bad out. My allergies, however, made shit way worse than it should’ve been. Foggy heat all day and running wasn’t much of a help on that front. Still, some nice fresh air before proceeding with the rest of the day.

Friday, 3.8: 5 miles, 10:02 pace + 12 minute lift

Scorcher today. Definitely a nice tomato face to boast once I finished. Did okay until the very last mile when the heat certainly got to me.

Strength:

• 3 x 11 narrow press 20#
• 3 x 11 front raise 15#
• 3 x 11 bent front raise 25#
• 1:30 planks

Saturday, 3.9: 8.01 miles, 10:32 pace + 14:30 lift

Pre-departure miles on an extremely sticky, humid morning. Felt good to get some movement in, though, before whisking off to my flight.

Strength:

• 3 x 8 ea. single leg deadlift 60#
• 3 x 8 diamond squat 70#
• 3 x 15 calf raise 190#
• 1:30 planks

Sunday, 3.10: 7 miles, 10:42 pace + 7 minute core

Toronto hotel run! After *way* too much wine I was happy to sweat some of it out in the gym (the cotton mouth was not fun, though.) Walked over to Tim Horton’s after for a much-needed coffee – and because it’s a fucken institution here, you know?

Total running mileage: 48.2