August Deload

Hey everyone! Hope you’re dealing with the summer heat well. I’m enjoying the last throws of summer by soaking in the cool mornings and warm afternoons.

This August, what have I been up to?

How I’m Training & Going Outside

I’m trying to incorporate a daily walk into my mornings. Haven’t succeeded yet, but I’m optimistic for September!

I also started and paused training for a 5K. It’s difficult to do training like this because of my schedule with the gym and work, so I’m hoping to find some kind of balance with my other activities.

I had a magical moment on the water. After work, I hopped on my paddleboard for a bit of exercise. The golden sun lit up the water and illuminated the fish below me. All around me were schools of silvery fish. I began to recognize the water patterns as I paddled, and by the time I turned around I could accurately determine if a bit of water was river current or fish! It seriously felt like a movie moment to be gliding with fish flitting around underneath my board. Magical!

How I’m Eating

This month, I’ve also been making my own cold brew at home. Sometimes it’s too hot for a warm drink, and making my own also means I can use decaf grounds for an afternoon taster. Breaking down the cost of the coffee and not including equipment, I can make twice the amount of cold brew than if I bought my favorite from the store.

• Half gallon mason jar, wide mouth

• Coffeesock

• 5-6oz of ground coffee

• Water

When I finish or start running out of cold brew, I simply fill the jar back up with water one time to extend the life of the batch, then discard the grounds. After a day or two the cold brew also tastes a bit more like concentrate, so you can dilute that as well.

I found a recipe for Mexican Street Corn Salad that is rocking my taste buds. I’ve made it every week! Find the recipe here on Serious Eats!

Recs

Finally, here is a book that I read recently that I highly recommend, especially as the nights are getting noticeably longer. The End of Night is a book published in 2013 concerning light pollution, and the various ways it impacts humans and the world around us. Paul Bogard takes us all over the world to see how different areas deal with providing necessary lighting with or without regard to light pollution. Next time you’re strolling through a campground, use the Red light on your headlamp. You’ll be surprised at how well you can see!

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