The end of May? Excuse me, what?
Yet outside, it reeks of mid July. Seriously, our morning lows sit around 76-78 with full-blast humidity. The only real saving grace is that the wind hasn’t quite died yet (even though it’s rather annoying when running speed intervals) so there’s still a bit of movement in the air. Still, this is certainly one of the hottest Mays I’ve experienced in recent years.
Gotta love climate change. (Said no one ever).
But, happy Monday, good people. I just finished sweating through a threshold run that went extremely well, and am now showered, snack’d, and sitting at my screen writing this bad boy up for you to skim through. I’ll say, I enjoyed a pretty good week, and that’s always refreshing to notice and share.
Monday I scooped Little Miss Ba up for another beach day. ‘Twas a glorious afternoon, full sun with a breeze that quickly picked up by later in the afternoon. I definitely dozed off at one point. The water was clear and bright and I’m pretty sure I saw a stingray flapping around in the shallows! I become so calm and regulated when I visited the sea; I think all of the blue space, the gentle lapping, and the sounds both natural and manmade collectively settle the banging construction crew in my head.
I strode through the workweek pretty easily, then Friday J and I wandered to Predalina hoping to score their Happy Hour specials. SIKE! They end their Happy Hour at 5pm. What?! Isn’t that when fucken Happy Hour is supposed to start? The whole point of the ritual is for folks to get off work and grab drinks before heading home to unwind. Ridiculous.
We wound up having a great meal, though. Started with their bruschetta, then moved onto a giant kale Caesar salad and a pair each of salmon and beef tenderloin skewers. So good. We sat in a little corner overlooking the sidewalk, in the shade, so the alfresco experience was comfortable.
Saturday I sat by the pool for awhile, where it was surprisingly and blessedly quiet. A few folks lounging around, but no wily parties or annoying speaker music to disrupt the vibe. I think most people headed to the beach or elsewhere for the long weekend and left my complex pretty bereft, which is hey, fine with me.
Of course, I gotta show off my good noms from the week! A crispy tofu and avocado sandwich with caprese salad and a classic “girl dinner” of Caesar salad and French fries. Can’t go wrong with that combo.
This coming weekend we’re hosting a pool party, and I’m quite excited! Social gatherings are never easy for me nowadays, but I’ve wanted to plan one for over a year and we’re finally getting around to organizing our people for an afternoon. I’m making a new pasta salad that I’ll definitely share if it turns out how I’m picturing it will.
That’s all for now, peeps. Until next week!
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…The easiest fresh fish tacos.
…A light yet feisty summer pasta salad.
…A fun colorful fourth of July cocktail!
A Few Things I’m Digging
Pies…I think I’ve overcome the pie hurdle these past couple months. I HATE working with crusts but I think I figured out a decent method to make them easier to deal with. If you haven’t already, check out my Molten Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie Pie (omg) and Easy Taco Pie!
Quiet Sunday mornings…I used to sleep in more often than not on Sundays, but I found that made me really lethargic at work and I stopped enjoying it. Now, I wake up at my normal time, whip out a quick recovery spin on the elliptical and enjoy some quiet worktime. I manage to get more done and enjoy a slower pace than if I slept in, then had to rush to get ready.
Notable Food Holidays
Thursday, May 28: National Hamburger Day (not a burger, but my Roasted Tomato Chickpea Caprese Sliders are top-notch nibbles.)
This Week’s Menu
Memorial Day Munch…Poolside Pickle Snack Mix
Taco Tuesday…Crispy Buffalo Jackfruit Tacos
Wednesday…BBQ Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad
Thursday…Sheet Pan Honey Orange Salmon Bowls with Spicy Mayo
Friday Patio Hour…Fresh Watermelon Lemonade
Saturday Baking…Frosted Animal Cracker Sugar Cookies
Sunday Brunch…Garden Caprese Bloody Mary
Five Saucy Summer BBQ Dishes
1. Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Sliders with Dill Pickle Slaw
3. Honey BBQ Salmon and Asparagus with Creamy Polenta
4. Spicy Chipotle BBQ Jackfruit and White Bean Burrito Bowls
5. BBQ Pulled Mushroom Tacos with Tequila Mango Salsa
Beach Resortwear Moodboard
Week in Training
Monday, 5.18: 9 miles, 10:05 pace + 30 minute upper body & PT
6 x 800m at 5K pace, my dreaded workout. Honestly, I did great until the final rep, where I got slammed by the headwind and my legs just stopped working. I found it irrationally demoralizing considering how much my pace dropped off during that interval. I ran 7:18, 7:18, 7:19, and 7:21, then turned and eeked out a 7:23 and a 7:27, all on 2:15 recovery. I hate positive splitting a session and am trying to assure myself that 10mph winds are nothing to sneeze at and I would slow down no matter what!
Strength:
- 2 x 10/1 x 9 shoulder press 20#
- 4 x 8 triceps pushdown 28#
- 4 x 6 mid row 60#
- 3 x 12 triceps extension 30#
- 3 x 12 ea. split squat 15#
- 2 x 20 ea. banded hydrants
- 2 x 15 ea. single leg bridge
Tuesday, 5.19: 4.55 miles, 11:28 pace + 28 minute upper body & PT
Nice and easy this morning and only 144 bpm! Good to see my body adapting positively to the heat.
Strength:
- 3 x 10 biceps curl 20#
- 2 x 12/1 x 10 incline chest press 20#
- 3 x 12 hammer curl 15#
- 3 x 12 skullcrusher 30#
- 2 x 12/1 x 10 narrow lat pull-down 60#
- 3 x 10 ea. leg extension 50#
- 2 x 15 ea. lunge matrix
- :60 plank
Wednesday, 5.20: 9.2 miles, 9:25 pace + 29 minute mobility
Fabulous, confidence boosting workout. I ran 7 x 1k at *hopeful* 10K pace and averaged 7:42 for the session, right where I want to be given the conditions and timing. I felt really strong the whole time with progressively faster splits: 7:47, 7:46, 7:43, 7:42, 7:42, 7:39, and 7:40.
Thursday, 5.21: 65 minute elliptical + 35 minute legs
Strength:
- 3 x 8 ea. leg press 100#
- 3 x 12 diamond squat 50# SS 5 ea. side lunge 25#
- 3 x 10 ea. single leg deadlift 35#
- 3 x 12 ea. reverse lunge knee drive 25#
- 3 x 10 elevated deadlift 80#
- 3 x 15 ea. banded lunge hydrants 10#
- 2 x 10 kneeling leans
Friday, 5.22: 7 miles, 11:47 pace + 29 minute full body
Wowee a slow run. I felt good, wasn’t straining, but tired legs and a HOT morning (77 degrees) made for a slog of a trot.
Strength:
- 3 x 8 squat to curl to press 15#
- 3 x 6 ea. single leg deadlift row 30#
- 3 x 8 front raise 30#
- 3 x 12 OH front lunge 10# SS 10 jump lunge
- 3 x 12 ea. balanced side raise 10#
- 3 x 12 ea. reverse lunge cur l15#
- :35 ea. Copenhagen plank
Saturday, 5.23: 11 miles, 11:34 pace
Hot, tired legs, and a wind both refreshing and annoying all at once, but I’m not unhappy with this run as I felt pretty good the whole time and my heart rate stayed manageable.
Sunday, 5.24: 25 minute elliptical
Total running mileage: 40.7
