How (Not) to Run 10 Miles

I had this post half-written during my failed 10-mile run, but got caught up in chores last night and never posted. So here’s a quick catch-up on my Labor Day weekend activities.

On Saturday, I decided to take a rest day so I could be fresh and ready for a 10-mile run on Sunday, my first at that distance in months (I still get happy chills when I watch that video!). But it’s like fate was working against me. Here are my list of instructions to NOT run 10 miles:

1. The night before your long run, have your husband pick you up Bombay Sapphire, tonic water and lime (hey — it’s a holiday!). Proceed to drink three heavy-handed gin and tonics in the span of three hours, right before bed. This is especially effective if you are a one-wine-a-week drinker and just one G&T will have you feeling loopy.
2. After partaking in aforementioned gin and tonics, be sure to set your alarm clock. Sure, you may set it for 6:30pm instead of 6:30am, but hey — it’s a holiday!)
3. When you wake up at 8:00am, decide to go ahead with your run, despite the fact that it’s already 90 degrees and climbing. Don’t actually start the run for another hour, though — find things to distract yourself before tying those shoelaces.
4. Run two miles in absolute misery, sweating, panting and cursing every footstep. Think about stopping for a rest (hey — it’s a holiday!), but push on.
5. Finish four miles and take a one-minute break. Once you stop, realize that it’s hopeless and way too hot to be running and start walking.

Now, as recently as a month ago, that would have crushed me … setting out with a goal in mind and failing to meet it. But something happened in between the Healthy Living Summit and today. I decided to accept myself — to celebrate my victories and forgive my shortcomings; to strive for perfection and understand that I’ll never get there.

So, instead of trudging home and being depressed, I decided to take the long way home — walking when I wanted, running when I wanted, listening to my favorite old-school songs — even using my iPhone to catch up on blogs, news and more! I ended up running a total of about 6.5 miles (which was ONCE an unattainable goal — or so I thought) and walking another three miles or so. And I actually enjoyed the me-time!

Came home and went a little crazy cleaning — although after the last post, I think I need to explain that I am NOT a clean freak. I couldn’t be, with two big dogs and two fat cats in the house. I just try and get one big cleaning pass done every season. I swept, mopped, vacuumed and then rewarded myself with a big, beautiful new bedspread. Which, of course, those fat dogs and cats enjoy as much as I do:

Today, we had some good friends over for a Labor Day BBQ and pool party. They brought beer, food and this:

Awwwwwwwwwwwww!

For lunch, I made veggie burgers and quinoa salad, and we grilled some amazing chicken sausages that our friends brought (thanks, Jim and Jackie!) and Lucas grilled some broccoli with coconut oil and roasted garlic. Mmmm, so good.

I had seconds on the quinoa! Then, even though I was stuffed, I found room for two pieces of heaven:

These started as two pies, but we gobbled them up before I could take a picture! The yellow is a lemon-lime tart and the one with whipped cream on top is a coffee custard … eye-crossingly delicious, and made even more beautiful because they were made by hand (even the crust!) by this stud:

That’s right, ladies — he bakes organic desserts AND does his own dishes … shirtless. I’m one lucky girl.

And with a weekend that was full of friends and fun times, it’s no wonder it’s ending like this:

And like this:

Happy Labor Day!

While you're here...

Why I'm Not Running...For Now"You Can Do Anything, But..."Read the Riot ActFive for Friday