Week 6: Runners are annoying

(I am a runner.)

I’m training to run the TCS NYC Marathon this year! This newsletter is a weekly recap of the highs and lows of training, and my best efforts to stay mentally and physically healthy through it. This is week 6/36. 

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Runners are annoying. I know this. The internet knows this. Other runners know this. Like a lot of hobbies x exercise, there’s some cult adjacency, earnestness, competitiveness, an irritating amount of humble bragging, diet culture, moral policing, and a sprinkle of hyper-consumption when you get into shoes, gear, travel, and tech. 

Also, runners love to talk about running. To people who do not run, this is, understandably, incredibly boring. If you’re not in it, it’s not interesting to hear about it. I like to think that I have some degree of self-awareness. But I know that around friends who aren’t runners, I still fail to temper my enthusiasm about training. 

All this to say, it was rejuvenating to meet up with a few other runners on the Upper West Side also training for their first NYC Marathon. Sharing training plans, talking through what we’re most nervous about, swapping physical therapist recommendations, our favorite apps, songs and podcasts that have gotten us up the notorious Harlem Hill—it was so motivating to chat through it all with people working toward the same goal.

I’m generally a solo runner, and have never been big on running in groups or in run clubs. But it was a great reminder that you can’t get better at anything in a vacuum. Community makes just about everything easier, more rewarding—and more fun, when you can all be annoying and earnest together.           

How I’ve Been Training:

• Monday: Vinyasa Yoga (loved it) 

• Tuesday: Leg day (fun)

• Wednesday: Upper body day (mentally, I’m here)

• Thursday: Cycle Power (awful playlist)

• Friday: Restorative Yoga (basically nap time)

• Saturday: Nothing

Miles run: 0

Tomorrow, I ease back into running after 19 weeks off. Huge! I’m so excited, and nervous, and I feel like my muscles are buzzing with unused energy—big clawing-at-the-walls-of-my-enclosure vibes, especially after a week of working entirely from home.

I bought new running shoes in preparation, retiring my beloved Asics for a pair of Brooks. I always feel sentimental about old running shoes. Those Asics are disgusting and completely dead, but I ran all nine races in them last year for the 9+1 program and love them more for it. RIP to a real one 😔  

What I’ve Been Eating:

I didn’t go into the office which meant way more home cooking (good!) and way more dishes to wash (bad!).

My friend and I recently read Crying in H-Mart. For our two-person book club meet-up, we visited H-Mart and picked up kimchi, mango ice cream mochi, and fried chicken, and made this Kimchi Udon With Scallions. 

I cooked this Midnight Pasta With Anchovies, Garlic, and Tomato, a pantry pasta you don’t really need a recipe for. I assembled a lazy-girl bibimbap with Fishwife/Fly By Jing salmon spooned over rice with leftover kimchi, scallion, and sesame oil. I made creamy beans and scooped it up with flatbread fried in copious olive oil. On Thursday, I made buttermilk pancakes and ate it for all three meals of the day. 

This Sheet-Pan Halloumi With Avocado and Citrus was my favorite of the week: Even though the recipe doesn’t call for it, I took the time to supreme the citrus because it was a soothing, meditative thing to do with my hands while I listened Cowboy Carter for the first time.

do people still like seeing food pics? is this fun? should i do more of this? sound off in the comments.

Friday, I decided at 10 p.m. to make Vegan Banana Brownie Cookies from one of my favorite easy dessert cookbooks, Snacking Bakes. Other treats: Smoothies, popcorn at the Angelika for a showing of Perfect Days, huevos rancheros from Community Food and Juice, a pint of Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ben & Jerry’s, a gluten-free tahini cookie and latte from Plowshares Coffee, a skillet of macaroni and cheese from The Smith, and pizza from Rosetta’s Bakery.

What I’ve Been Writing:

No new bylines this week, and likely not for a while. But I’ve got a lot in the works! As the kids say, ✨watch this space ✨