Fall feels like 82 degrees at 4am.
Happy Monday, pals, and Happy Labor Day? Is that a thing people say? I don’t generally work Mondays so I guess I’m observing the federal holiday. The only bummer is that I’m missing out on time and a half.
This morning I opted to scrap my planned intervals and run some long slow miles instead, with strides at the end. I woke up to an 82 degree start and just noped right out of the 500s. I made a good choice: the run felt okay, my surges were strong (though I cut one out because my heart rate was climbing a bit higher than I wanted), and I got in some extra mileage to start off the week.
I’m trying to configure a balance between keeping 40+ miles in my repertoire jar and inserting the shorter sprint workouts that I’ve been enjoying. My body is responding to brief bursts of speed – stamina is the struggle bus that keeps bowling me over. Until the trend reverses itself, perhaps this style of running is what I need right now to maintain some semblance of morale.
I’ve become curious enough about, and maybe slightly concerned with, my lack of fitness prowess, so I wound up seeking a primary care doc to get a physical and maybe some bloodwork done. I haven’t had a primary since I was a child and, with some nudging from my counselor, I decided it was about time, as a 32 year old woman who is no longer a boisterous bouncing buffoon. Just an achy, breaky buffoon.
Aside from landing appointments and working out my time off requests from work, this was a pretty busy week for me. Little Miss Ba and I squeezed some time to visit Willa’s and try their blueberry pancake latte before it departed for the season. I was surprised at how good it was! Quite sweet, though.
On Wednesday, I convinced Little Miss Ba to join me on a midday 5k! We had so much fun! On my drive home from work it POURED like the dickens and I was afraid our plan of run + coffee and treat would be derailed, but thankfully the skies cleared enough for us to get some sunshine (and humidity, dear god the humidity) and enjoy the water views. Ba did so well!
It’s probably weird, but having Ba with me felt like running with a companion and was oddly motivating. I think too that I focused heavily on keeping her in my hand, and such distraction let time pass more quickly.
As I promised my wooly pal, we dropped by Shortwave for an apple pie latte and a big chocolate chip muffin to celebrate her accomplishment. I enjoyed an enlightening conversation with the baring about shaving our heads, and saw an old coworker who now works at that shop. The barista tried engraving an apple shape into the top of my latte, which I think was utterly precious.
Polly got a nice little spa day on Saturday. Long-awaited and well-earned! Gotta take care of my #1 wheels.
Wrapped up the week with a Sunday walk to Chill Bros for Cafe con Leche Chunk ice creams for National Coffee Ice Cream Day. Aside from ending the day with a sweet treat, these walks are a lovely way to catch up with J since, despite living together, we don’t see one another all that much when our brains are mutually functional. The woes of a night owl and a day lark cohabitating, with various levels of braindead infiltrating our waking hours.
Good eats…chili cheese chicken thighs (chili recipe coming soon!); pesto provolone chicken sandwiches; pepperoni pizzas for National Cheese Pizza Day on Saturday; and gorgonzola gnocchi with chicken sausage, mushrooms, and spinach.
First week of September? Check. Now, can we just get some autumn temps around here? Probably not for another month.
Talk next Monday pals!
The Fuck We Cooking This Week?
…A cozy 30 minute tortellini skillet.
…Another pumpkin pie cos I want that shit perfect.
…A warm and comfy autumn latte.
A Few Things I’m Digging
Chai…Trader Joes’ Chai Concentrate is bomb! Hard to find a good chai blend in stores that isn’t too sweet – this one is on the spicier side but isn’t too jarring. I used it in an upcoming recipe, so stay tuned!
Pumpkin lantern…I bought a pumpkin cage lantern a couple years ago and it remains one of my favorite investments! The lighting is so cozy and seasonal. I found mine from Michaels for a fraction of this one, but it’s a worthwhile search if you need a nice morning light.
Mini pumpkins…I’ve seen these dried pumpkins everywhere in the food world and I FINALLY got the intel of where they’re from! Super tempted to purchase them since I think they’d be great props for my autumn concepts.
Table runner…I’m thinking of going with a green plaid theme for my Thanksgiving tablescape this year and this runner would be absolutely perfect – probably with a few ceramic pumpkins and a simple eucalyptus arrangement.
This Week’s Menu
Meatless Monday…Chipotle Pumpkin Enchilada Chili
Tuesday…Spicy Sweet Pineapple Buffalo Cheddar Pizza
Wednesday…One Pot Cheesy Baked Pizza Pasta
Thursday…Autumn Harvest Quinoa Honeycrisp Salad
Friday Happy Hour…Cinnamon Pumpkin Tequila Sour
Saturday Baking…Marble Layer Cake
Gameday Snack…Dirty Martini Crostini
Cozy September Fashion Picks
Five For Labor Day Cookouts:
1. Jalapeño Street Corn Dip Chili Dogs
2. Dill Pickle Crunch Pasta Salad
3. Grilled Balsamic Hot Honey Peach Shrimp Bowls
Week in Training
Monday, 8.31: 10 miles, 10:44 pace + 17 minute legs
Big fat workout failure. I don’t know where this puts me in my training, but all I know is that reps over 800m are clearly not working right now. Tried to run mile reps between 8:10-8:15 and managed 3 x 1 mile (from 5 x 1 mile) at 8:31, 8:31, and 8:35. So bad. I scrapped the fourth rep after about 400m and just ran easy to reach 10 miles.
Strength:
- 3 x 12 sumo squat 60#
- 3 x 8 ea. single leg press 100#
- 3 x 8 jump squat 50#
- 4 x 6 side raise 15#
- :65 wall sit
- :60 tick tock lunge
- 5 minute stretch
Tuesday, 9.1: 3.75 miles, 11:46 pace + 17 minute back & bis
Actually not too bad a run today, heart rate only at a 148 bpm average!
Strength:
- 2 x 5/1 x 10 biceps curl 25/20#
- 2 x 10/1 x 8 mid row 60#
- 3 x 10 incline hammer curl 15#
- 2 x 8/2 x 6 narrow pulldown 66/72#
- 2 x 12 ea. standing banded hydrant
- 50 crunches
- 5 minute stretch
Wednesday, 9.2: 6.25 miles, 12:03 pace + 3.15 miles, 10:49 pace
Blah morning miles, felt sluggish, higher heart rate than I would like.
HOWEVER, in the afternoon I took Little Miss Ba for her first 5K! She suited up in a headband (aka a hair tie) and we ran through the sticky and VERY hot midday sun before dropping by a coffee shop for a latte and pastry. For some reason having her in hand was super motivating. Maybe she’ll come with me on future runs? I’ve enjoyed the couple midday trots I’ve completed despite the terrible conditions.
Thursday, 9.3: 4.5 miles, 12:49 pace + 25 minute legs & chest/tris
Short sprints this morning that felt good despite my double yesterday. 5 x 50m with 2 minute recovery, then 8 x :20 build to 60m around 95%. Topped out at a 4:54 pace and felt smoother than last week.
Strength:
- 3 x 10 ea. single leg deadlift 50#
- 3 x 6 runner’s press 20#
- 4 x 8 triceps pushdown 41#
- 3 x 10 machine chest press 60#
- 3 x 10 deadlift 90#
- :35 ea. Copenhagen plank
- 2 x 12 ea. kneeling lateral leg lift
- 5 minute stretch
Friday, 9.4: 5 miles, 12:14 pace + 16 minute mobility
I passed a guy I know from work without realizing it until 30 seconds later – I was apparently SO spaced out. I ran by him again and said hello and told him such, which he seemed to find funny.
Saturday, 9.5: 11 miles, 12:12 pace
Felt awful out, 80 degrees with practically 0 air movement. My hamstrings were super tight and I was really hyped for this to be over.
Total running mileage: 43.7
