2319: Blocks of time
Week 8 of 10 in my second half-marathon training block is here, and the target is locked in: Run the Rainbow for Children’s. Last week I previewed the course with the Fleet Feet training group during a 10-mile long run. It’s a hilly one. But instead of feeling intimidated, I left encouraged. Knowing the terrain now gives me something I didn’t have during my St. Jude block: a strategy.
This training cycle has not been easy. It’s been compressed and demanding. Ten weeks instead of sixteen meant we started pushing early, building mileage quickly and introducing tempo work sooner than I was used to. The workouts were tough and honest, the kind that force you to negotiate with yourself mile after mile. Then, right around week six, I came down with a bad cold. At first, I worried the shortened timeline wouldn’t leave room to recover and still chase the fitness and pacing I wanted. But I stepped away, rested fully, and trusted the process. When I returned, I felt better than expected. Sometimes progress looks like patience.
In the middle of the block, I also traveled to New Orleans for Mardi Gras with friends and family. Growing up, I thought Mardi Gras was mostly about beads and king cake. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized it’s about something deeper. It’s about community. The whole city seems to move with one shared rhythm, people celebrating together regardless of what’s happening in their personal lives or in the world around them. It’s a reminder that joy can be intentional.
And in other news, one of my favorite seasons has arrived: Formula One is back. A new year, new regulations, and the opening race in Melbourne always bring that sense of possibility. I’ll be pulling for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton this season. Between that and longer spring days arriving after what felt like a Mississippi deep freeze just weeks ago, everything lately feels like forward motion.
This week I also listened to a podcast conversation between Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Alok Kanojia (Dr. K of HealthyGamerGG). One idea stuck with me. Dr. K suggested that social media feels draining because it constantly spikes the nervous system. In just a few scrolls you can move from celebration, to concern, to outrage, to comparison. Your brain is shifting gears faster than it can recover. Whether or not it’s the full explanation, the thought has made me more intentional about how I spend my attention.
Training, travel, racing, rest, celebration, reflection. This block has been all of it. And as race day approaches, the goal feels simple: stay steady, stay patient, and trust the work.
Peace,
Zechariah Davis
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🎵 Song of the Week
Cherish the Day - Sade
🗣 Quote of the Week
📖 Scripture of the Week
Sources & Further Listening
- Dr. Alok Kanojia (HealthyGamerGG)
https://www.healthygamer.gg/dr-alok-kanojia
Harvard-trained psychiatrist and founder of Healthy Gamer, known for his work on mental health, motivation, and the psychological impact of digital life. - Dr. Andrew Huberman (Huberman Lab)
https://www.hubermanlab.com/about
Stanford neuroscientist whose research and podcast focus on stress, performance, neuroplasticity, and practical brain science for everyday life. - Huberman Lab Podcast: Huberman x Dr. K (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G2MRFs4vac&t=3942s
A thoughtful conversation on attention, dopamine, social media, and how modern stimulation shapes the nervous system.
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zechariahdavis.ghost.io/2319-blocks-of-time/
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