A Fourth of July Un-Race Recap
The Fourth of July and running have gone hand-in-hand since I was a little girl. It is simply a tradition.
For as long as I can remember, the historic Peachtree Road Race – the world’s largest and most prestigious 10K – is how my family and I kicked off Independence Day. Before I was old enough to run, I was a spectator, eagerly waiting to turn 13 so I could join the 40,000 other people waking up at the crack of dawn to run the streets of Atlanta in red, white and blue. As we all got older, there were certainly years missed or races skipped, but not running the Peachtree on July 4 is like choosing to not watch the fireworks. It’s just part of the holiday celebration.
This year, you won’t be reading my Peachtree Road Race recap like you do every year (like here and here). Of course I registered, but my race bib will be one of those lonely numbers that never gets picked up at the expo. One of the coveted spots that will go unused.
The truth is, I choose running and racing a lot over other important things. Today, I decided the Peachtree Road Race and one of my favorite patriotic traditions will be more than fine if I take a year off.
Today, I choose family over racing and running traditions.
I choose to not construct my holiday schedule around a race (for once).
I choose to run with my husband and my mom and our family friends instead of with thousands of strangers.
I choose homemade blueberry breakfast cake over Salted Caramel GU. (Yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds).
I choose sleeping in over a 4:45 a.m. wake-up call.
I choose to not let running rule the day, for today.
Happy Fourth of July to all of my American friends who are celebrating today! How will you get active on this holiday?
Comments
Happy 4th and kudos to you for putting family first. I am working today, does that count as being active? haha
Happy Independence Day! Congrats on choosing family for the holiday. That being said, the Peachtree 10k road race is on my bucket list of races to run some day.
Any chance you will be posting pictures and a recipe for the blueberry cake with salted caramel GU? Almost anything blueberry gets a double thumbs up from me.
Francis,
Not sure if I will post it but I can definitely email it to you. It’s delish 🙂
My 4th plans were spin class this morning, relaxing and taking a nap, getting some blog stuff done, then a cookout, dog walk, and fireworks with family.
Sounds like you have a wonderful day planned too.
Happy 4th Jesica! Good for you for not choosing the race! It will be there every year! I did an 8 hour workout consisting of biking and running! I am actually glad that we did it yesterday so I could sleep in today!! 🙂
Wowsers! You must have been exhausted after 8 hours of working out. IM Whistler will be here before you know it and then you can get some much deserved rest! I hope the rest of your 4th was relaxing 🙂 xo
Sounds like you made the right decision! Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend!
I think running with your family is so much better than running with people you don’t know. My husband rode alongside me on the 4th of July and timed my 800m repeats on a really nice trail. It was the best run I’ve had in a long time simply because he was with me.
Your workout sounds great, Lacy! Your husband is better than the Garmin 🙂 Hope you had a happy 4th!
I love this. p.s. you forgot to send me some of those curly hair pictures 😉
Hope you had a great weekend!
I need to dig some up, Cori! They would make you laugh! How I went 23 years with my old hair is hard to understand 🙂
Growing up with running in your family must have made this a difficult transition but it sounds like you went with your heart. Admirable in my eyes.
Jesica, we only chatted for a short time at our dinner at FitBloggin’ but you seem like one smart and strong woman! Deciding between a sense of obligation and a heart’s desire isn’t easy but it sounds like you have made a way to satisfy a little of both with this one!
I’m pretty sure you’ll be out running races soon and when you do, it will be because you choose to do so…and it will be glorious.
I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July weekend.
Love that you chose to relax! I think you totally needed it:)