Many of you have asked, “What is a day in the life like for Shut Up and Run”? That’s bullshit. No one asked. So bear with me.
No two days are the same. I work for myself. I have no set hours. That’s good and bad. That means I have lots of time to run my miles, sit with the kids while they have a snack after school and catch glimpses of the Real Housewives while I eat leftovers for lunch in the living room. It also means I work nights and weekends and can be reached most any time of day by clients (although I don’t always answer). I like the trade off.
Today:
6:00 a.m: Woke up. Out of bed by 6:30 a.m. I’ve been sleeping like crap since my gum surgery, so last night I took an Ativan. These precious pills are supposed to be for when I fly. I hate to fly. I always think it will end in death. The little white pill plus a vodka tonic is just what the doctor ordered (well, not really, she said don’t mix, but WTH?). Threw on some running clothes, put in a pad, brushed teeth, checked the gums: swelling’s gone down! Score.
6:30 a.m.: Downstairs. Ken was already at the counter eating cereal. Kissed him, sleepily mumbled “Hi.” Started the coffee. Fed the dog. Fed the guinea pig. Listened for child #1 to start his shower. Check. Took multivitamin, calcium, penicillin (for post surgery infection) and a probiotic (to counter-act evil antibiotic).
7:00 a.m.: Woke up child #2. She’s not a morning girl. “Mom, I need to skip school. Mom I’m tired.” I gave her the proverbial, “Can’t skip school. It’s illegal. I’ll go to jail and so will you.”
7:15 a.m.: Ate some raisin bread with lots of butter and cinnamon sugar. First cup of coffee. Made the same for Sam minus the coffee. Briefly checked email. Made English muffin for Emma (again, butter and cinnamon sugar).
7:30 a.m.: Dump #1
7:35 a.m.: (Yes, I’m a quick dumper) Sam and Emma are arguing. Sam didn’t put back Emma’s iPod. He uses hers because he lost his on our RV trip. He found it with his drum stuff downstairs. I tell him to put back stuff he borrows. He gives me that sassy, attitude-filled, insincere, “Sooorrreeee” which I hate so much. I yell at him to say sorry nicely. He tells me to stop yelling. I lecture for a bit then get tired. He begrudgingly tells me goodbye (no kiss) and leaves on his bike for school. Sigh. I hate goodbyes like that.
8:00 a.m.: Put Emma’s hair in ponytails (down low, in the back). Drove her to school and reminded her about choir practice. On the way home, listened to Gayle King talk about Muslim extremists.
8:20 a.m.: Dump #2!
8:25 a.m.: (Quick dumper!) Shoes on. iPod charged. Fuel belt loaded with Accelerade, water, orange GU, phone, TP, money. Strapped on Garmin. Low battery. Dang it.
Interjection: Damn! A lot happens before 8:30 a.m.!
8:30 a.m.: Started what I like to call my Chariots of Fire run. Headed out for a medium length run of 11 miles, planning to run comfortably so that I don’t deteriorate. Listened to all of my bathtub music that Ken and the kids hate like Elton John, Josh Groban, Jackson Brown, Norah Jones. My pace was averaging 8:30 and I was lost in the mellowness and peace of the music. I usually listen to much more upbeat stuff, but sometimes on these quiet morning runs I like to get introspective and to flow with the music. I’m so deep.
The air was a perfect 50 degrees, the morning sparkling and clear with much of the smoke from the huge forest fire blown away. I was totally inside my head, but not thinking of much at all. At 5.5 miles my Garmin died. I stopped for an orange GU and took in the day. I had run east of town and was afforded an amazing panoramic view of the Rockies. Camera phone doesn’t quite catch it, but you get the idea.
9:15 a.m.: Made the turn around for home. Noticed aching in my hamstring, which has become commonplace. Swigged some Accelerade. Felt pretty achy for the rest of the run, but still kept up the pace.
10:10 a.m.: Arrived home. Rolled on the foam, stretched. Drank some more Accelerade. Showered. Headed to Starbucks for my reward: Grande bold coffee, extra cream. Gave the cashier at the drive thru a box of Junior Mints because I read in the employee profile binder (doesn’t your Starbucks have one?) that she liked them. Noticed my mom called to check on me and my gums. Tried to call my brother. Not there.
11:10 a.m.: Checked emails. Read blogs.
11:15: a.m.: Dump #3!!!
11:50 a.m.: Chiropractor appointment. Trying to figure out why my hand is still numb. Loved this guy. I haven’t been to chiro in 12 years. Appreciated how he rubbed my shoulders, zipped me through some x-rays, educated me about my Ts and Ls. Found out some discs in my neck are quite compressed, causing the numbness. Going back for an adjustment tomorrow.
1:15 p.m. : Home and famished. Ate some rice/veggie casserole mixed with last night's pork. And cantaloupe. Watched 30 Minute Meals with Rachel Ray who looked like she had put on a few. Must be those relationship problems I’ve read about.
2:03 p.m.: That’s now. 57 minutes until kid pick up time. Then it will be the mad rush to the orthodontist and library. There will be dinner to cook (BLTs or bean/cheese quesadillas?), homework to supervise, instruments to be practiced.
Nothing spectacular, and yet it is all spectacular. All of the little things that make up our days and make us grateful. Kisses hello and goodbye. Home made and nourishing foods. Three dumps. Songs that make you cry while you run. Songs that make you feel invincible while you run. Candy given to strangers (not in a creepy sense). Calls from people who love you. Nature displaying itself to you in its finest. You being alive and aware enough to appreciate it all.
Life is in the details. Don’t miss a thing.
Consider yourself “it.” What’s a day (or morning or night) in your life look like, you 740 followers? I’d love to know all the little stuff (workouts, food eaten/cooked, books read, things observed). Blog about it and send me the link. I’ll share it on the blog. Ask others to do the same. We can learn a lot from each other by what our days contain.
And don’t miss my $80 CSN Giveaway. Ends September 15.
