Running on Fumes (and Firecrackers)

Written July 5, 2025

Reviewed 7/20

Hello Dear Readers,

We had a great time at the party last night, but let’s just say we rolled in about 30 minutes later than ideal. Not a huge deal, unless you’re someone (like me) who runs on a strict internal clock and a slightly wobbly energy meter.

My wife, the human embodiment of discipline, woke up this morning like it was any other day—well, almost. She admitted to hitting snooze a little more than usual, getting up 30 minutes late. No surprise there; we did go to bed 30 minutes late. The math checks out.

But here’s where things get interesting: while she nodded off the moment her head hit the pillow, I spent a solid chunk of the night listening to our neighbors’ amateur fireworks show. Think of it as the sleep-deprivation remix of the Fourth of July.

Still, I tried to stick to my routine. I laced up and headed out for my usual 10k… and promptly called it quits at the halfway mark. My body wasn’t just politely whispering, “Maybe not today”—it was staging a full-blown protest. No energy. No spark. Just a very firm nope from my muscles.

Meanwhile, my wife? She powered through her usual workout and tackled 90 minutes of yard work like a caffeinated superhero. By the time she was done, she looked more refreshed than when she started. And then she casually transitioned into business mode or housework—honestly, I lost track. She’s kind of unstoppable.

As for me, my energy levels tend to drain faster than a phone with too many background apps. My doctor reminds me regularly that my body doesn’t bounce back the same way a healthy adult’s does. A little push can feel like a marathon. And today, that 5k was all I had in me.

Tomorrow’s our designated rest day—at least for me. My wife, of course, plans to get back out there in the yard. I’ll offer to help, but let’s be real: a slow walk sounds more my speed. We’ll see what happens.

If the weather behaves, I’m eyeing a proper 10k comeback on Monday. But first, sleep. Beautiful, uninterrupted sleep. Time to recharge the system and stop running on leftover firecracker fumes.