Weeknotes #130: vegan bites and gold medals

Quizzes, feedback, Tai Chi, food, athletics, and celebratory medals.

Week commencing Monday, 14 July 2025

A group of male runners compete in the 800m race at the London Stadium during the Novuna London Athletics Meet. The athletes are running along the curved section of the red running track, with runners spread across multiple lanes wearing various team colours including red, white, and other kit designs. The stadium is packed with spectators in the background stands, and the bright green infield is visible alongside. Electronic timing displays and event branding are positioned around the track perimeter
The men’s 800m field spreads across the track during Saturday’s Novuna London Athletics Meet.

Quantified Self

  • This week: Stand 4/7; Exercise 6/7 and Move 6/7. (76%). Morning walks: 0/3 (days in the office don’t count). Office days 2/5. Total steps: 60,489

Life

  • Pub quiz with an extended group as B & A joined us. We did quite well, but not in either of the winning groups.
  • I had to write some performance reviews. I find this one of the most challenging work-related tasks, and I am only ever asked to do it as a colleague. I don’t know how managers do it at scale. It’s difficult to provide constructive feedback.
  • Relatedly, I asked ChatGPT to review my words and give me constructive feedback on what I’d written. When I was told that I “stay in my lane”, I thought the AI and I might have crossed a line I was unprepared for.
  • I’ve been struggling to get to my Wednesday night Tai Chi class. So, for this term, I’ve switched to the online Tuesday evening class. It’s not as good, but at least I can make it.
  • On Thursday, I went to Club Mexicana, a 100% plant-based restaurant in Kingly Court, Soho. I hadn’t known about it before we went. I had the sticky glazed ‘ribs’ bowl, which came with BBQ sauce, pink onions, pickled cabbage, garlic mayo, salsa verde, pickled jalapeños, and rice, along with extra beans and guacamole. It was delicious in an “I want to come back tomorrow” way. It’s a quick-bite place, not a long-dinner place, but with that in mind, I recommend it.
  • Later, I found a few scathing reviews which did not match my experience in any way. However, one review stated that the place “decided to imitate various meats instead of using plant-derived proteins … [it’s] cultural whitewashing to ignore a potent pre-existing vegan-friendly culinary tradition in favour of contorting plants to resemble the flesh that you’re rejecting”. I’ve always disliked the way some plant-based meals try to recreate the meat element, but it’s a trend that is here to stay and, in this case, it was particularly delicious. So go, eat, ignore the reviews, but understand I didn’t try the tacos.
  • On Saturday, I went to the 2025 Novuna London Athletics Meet at The London Stadium. The rain was terrible for the opening races, but gradually improved through the day. There were seven personal bests recorded in one race alone (women’s 5000m), but a predicted world record attempt in the men’s 800m didn’t materialise.
  • The event also featured a moment where Britain’s men’s 4x400m relay team from the 1997 World Athletics Championships finally received their gold medals. Seb Coe presented the medals in a ceremony recognising the team’s elevation from silver following the disqualification of the USA team. Getting a gold medal after 27 years is quite a thing.
  • Later, drinks around the Olympic Park, ending in the bar at the Everyman cinema, where, bizarrely, they don’t serve crisps.