A cold front in JUNE?!
You know, the weather folk claim that cold fronts in June are “rare”, but I swear for the past few years we’ve experienced a week where the stickiness suddenly drops and the dew points sit in the upper 60s. Before, of course, Satan turns up his hellish humidifier until September. That week, of course, always lands before my first summer 5K of the Watermelon series I run.
Go figure. Mother Nature’s always got a fuck you waiting for me. I guess she’s entitled.
As per, I’m nervous about Saturday’s race. 5Ks are unforgiving in their urgency: if I get my pacing wrong from the outset, there’s no way I’ll run the sub-23 I’ve sought for the past year. Too slow and I won’t catch up; too fast and I’ll fly and die. Never mind that I’m inevitably wheezing from 200m forward.
Still, I’m hyped to get back to the start line. The energy of racing is fulfilling. Plus, I get to test out my new prescription sunglasses from a fitness standpoint – it might be nice to not wear a hat during a hard effort.
I look forward to the week ahead because of that little event, plus packet pickup on Friday since riding out to Lakeland means I can drop by one of my favorite coffee shops for a latte and *maybe* a pre-race treat. I feel a certain festivity in preparing for the race, despite my anticipatory worry.
This week was quiet. I spent Saturday by the pool after baking up a bomb-ass strawberry dessert – you can see a lil sneak preview on my latest Instagram reel! Pretty sure I dozed off. And, I finally remembered to pack an umbrella so Little Miss Ba could enjoy the sun without getting her wool too hot.
Sunday was National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, so naturally J and I wandered over to Chill Bros to get our fix. I chose the Belgian Brownie flavor and he got Double Down Oreo (which I guess isn’t *technically* chocolate ice cream, but I’ll allow it since it’s not vanilla either). Summer weekends wandering to the scoop shop are a favorite pasttime of mine, one I hope we can repeat over the course of the season. A drippy cone on a hot day always feels whimsical.
We had a ton of leftovers from our pool party, so lots of my random eating stemmed from needing to use that shit up. I made hot dog mac one night and franks and beans with some veggie links, and enjoyed a dog with dill pickle potato salad another night. Should I share that potato salad recipe? We will see. On Saturday we ordered pizza from Motorworks and watched The Phoenician Scheme. Weirdass movie.
Exciting week up ahead. Can’t wait to share next Monday – wish we luck on my 5k, will ya?!
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…Hot and spicy elotes!
…Flavorful grilled mahi burgers!
…A patriotic treat for the 4th.
…A fruity and refreshing iced tea.
A Few Things I’m Digging
Mint syrup…Using this in SO many summer pitchers, like my Guava Mint Lemonade and Coconut Mint Limeade.
Matching sets…ALWAYS in, I think. Eyeing this gauze triangle top + pull-on shorts set, and Quince always hits with their European linen pieces.
Fun bathing suits…Bought this banana triangle top + cheeky string bottom set for our weekend getaway in a couple weeks. Kinda loving this strawberry bikini top + bottom as well. Can’t get enough of fruit prints on swimwear.
Notable Food Holidays
Wednesday, June 10: National Iced Tea Day (grab a cold glass of Sweet Peach Iced Green Tea!)
Thursday, June 11: Corn on the Cob Day (currently craving White Street Corn Dip Pizza.)
Friday, June 12: National Peanut Butter Cookie Day (Chocolate Dipped Bourbon Peanut Butter Cookies on deck.)
Saturday, June 13: National Cupcake Lover Day (S’mores Cupcakes, yes please!)
This Week’s Menu
Meatless Monday…Italian Chopped Olive and White Bean Salad
Tostada Tuesday…Quick and Easy Sesame Ahi Tuna Tostadas
Wednesday…Coconut Lime Crusted Salmon Bowls with Peanut Sauce
Thursday…No-Boil Spinach Artichoke Mac n’ Cheese
Friday Happy Hour…Hot Honey Watermelon Mojito
Saturday Baking…Blueberry Lemon Streusel Doughnut Bread
Poolside Sunday…Watermelon Caprese Skewers with Honey Mint Vinaigrette
Five Delightful Desserts for Cupcake Lover’s Day
2. Strawberry Vanilla Surprise Cupcakes
4. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes
The Pool Party Edit
Week in Training
Monday, 6.1: 8.5 miles, 9:51 pace + 27 minute upper body & PT
I have VERY mixed feelings about this session. On the one hand, I’m disappointed – I missed my goal range by 2 seconds, I just couldn’t seem to unclog my brain and focus mentally. On the other hand, I had A LOT of factors working against me – a headwind on the way out, which probably threw my pacing off, having to miss my final water stop before starting the intervals due to a dude butt-naked pissing right by the water fountain, and the 82 degree/77 dew point conditions. I averaged 7:24, which is 2 seconds off from the upper eschelon of my range, but is still a sub-23 time if I manage this during my race. Reps clocked at 7:24, 7:26, 7:24, 7:22, and 7:21, so at least I had a strong finish!
Strength:
- 1 x 5/1 x 10/1 x 9 shoulder press 25/20#
- 3 x 12 triceps pressdown 28#
- 3 x 10 mid row 60#
- 3 x 8 overhead triceps extension 35#
- 2 x 10 ea. windmill 10#
- 2 x 15 ea. single leg bridge
- 3 x 8 ea. split squat 20#
- :60 plank
Tuesday, 6.2: 4.55 miles, 11:41 pace + 27 minute upper body & PT
HOT morning, slow trot, what else is new?
Strength:
- 3 x 10 biceps curl 20#
- 4 x 6 incline chest press 25#
- 1 x 8/2 x 10 narrow lat pulldown 70/60#
- 3 x 12 hammer curl 15#
- 3 x 6 skullcrusher 20#
- 4 x 6 ea. leg extension 60#
- 2 x 15 ea. lunge matrix
Wednesday, 6.3: 9 miles, 9:49 pace + 31 minute mobility
Happy Global Running Day! Didn’t even realize it until later, and perhaps when I saw a rather large crowd gathered in their workout gear outside one of the local hotels. Workout day today and it went splendid, not to mention the air felt a little less stifling due to a random cool front blowing through. Indeed, “blowing through”, as it was very windy again. 3 x 2k at 10k effort, average of 7:45 with splits of 7:48, 7:44, and 7:45, all on 75 second recovery. Was hoping the final rep would land between 7:40-7:42 but the headwind kinda prevented that; I can’t say I’m upset by the result. I’d be very happy with a 7:45 average during my September 10k, and hopefully lower in November!
Thursday, 6.4: 65 minute elliptical + 31 minute legs
Strength:
- 4 x 6 ea. leg press 110#
- 3 x 6 diamond squat 60# SS 10 goblet squat 30#
- 4 x 6 ea. single leg deadlift 40#
- 2 x 10 ea. lunge kickback 20#
- 3 x 8 elevated deadlift 90#
- 3 x 15 ea. banded lunge hydrants
- 2 x 20 banded hamstring frogs
Friday, 6.5: 7.25 miles, 11:57 pace + 27 minute full body
WOW I don’t think I’ve ever run that slow in my life! 138 bpm, also surprising. I think I might need to adjust my strength training regimen since my body might just be a tad tired.
Strength:
- 4 x 6 ea. renegade row 20#
- 3 x 10 thruster 20#
- 3 x 10 front raise 30#
- 2 x 15/2 x 8 ea. balanced side raise 10/15#
- 3 x 10 front lunge 15# SS 10 bodyweight jump squats
- :35 Copenhagen plank
Saturday, 6.6: 11 miles, 11:42 pace
Getting real sick of how slow my runs have been! I’m not generally prideful but these paces are agitating me. Glad next week is a baby taper before my 5k race so I can give my legs some time to chill and come back after with a different lifting plan! Nonetheless, a lovely morning and felt fine overall at 143 bpm.
Sunday, 6.7: 25 minute elliptical
Total running mileage: 40.3
