Hello and happy Friday! I’m feeling especially perky this morning. It’s my rest day and I slept in for an extra, glorious hour and a half. I had some speed work yesterday that was especially challenging due to the wind, and it’s also been a busy week in my non-running life. Lots to do, lots of places to be, and lots of wet weather to contend with. I’ve been biking to work, which isn’t as heroic or taxing as it sounds (it’s a 10 minute ride), but it’s taken some extra planning and time to properly suit myself up to ensure a dry arrival. To not make myself sound like a martyr, I would have to purchase a rather expensive parking pass to be able to utilize parking options near my office, and since I’m fortunate to live so close to work, the cost seemed unnecessary. Sometimes I take my local husband taxi (shout out to the mister), but otherwise I enjoy walking or biking.
Today feels like a bit of a brain dump. I’ve been pondering good luck charms lately. Do you have one? I used to have a lucky hat to race in, but sadly the bill cracked after almost a decade of use. I’ve been sticking the timing chip from my first marathon in my bag when I go to races. Yes, when I first started this whole shebang we had to tie a chip to our shoes, and in the bigger races they let you keep it as a souvenir. I’ve pondered wearing it in some kind of braceleted way, but it’s not small or flat. Still, I like the idea of having a totem to serve as a daily reminder of my goals. I do tend to adopt mantras, so I completely understand wanting to create a physical representation of it to wear, or to be a visual reminder in some other way. When you’re undertaken something that takes months to come to fruition, e.g. training, I suppose it’s one more way to enforce the dailiness of your actions. I know I’m far from alone, and there are certainly plenty of options out there geared towards runners, so I don’t think I’ll have any problem finding something that speaks to me.
This week has been all about the food. My latest obsession? Gravy! I’m not sure how it started. I cooked some chicken and spied the delicious fat in the pan. Sometimes I do a quick mustard-based pan sauce, but then I had a Thanksgiving flashback and before I knew it I was whisking in some starch to make it happen. The stove top juices weren’t as delicious as pan drippings from a roasted bird, but it was good enough to satisfy the craving. Roasted chicken will be on the menu this weekend, for sure. Baked fries and gravy? I think so. I’ve been really craving fats in general. Nuts, nut butter, coconut butter, creamy curry dishes, chicken thighs in lieu of breasts, beef, guacamole, mayo. Oh my…mayo. My stomach just growled in consent.
Per usual, I’m gearing up for a long run tomorrow morning, and also per usual, I have no other formal weekend plans besides running, eating, and reading. How about you?
Riding the gravy train,
Sarah
*Featured photo credit: Crispin Semmens
