Burn It To Earn It: My First 5K

Two weeks ago, I did something I never thought I’d voluntarily sign up for—I ran a 5K. Now before you picture me gliding effortlessly across the finish line, let’s be clear: I am not a runner. However, it was on my bucket list and I really felt like I could do it. The race was the Shamrock Shuffle, which felt festive as an Irish girl and also oddly fitting, because what I was doing felt much more like a shuffle than a run.

I had two very important incentives: green beer at the finish line and new cookware I had already decided I’d be rewarding myself with if I actually completed the race. Call it what you want—incentive, drive, bribery but it worked. Because if I’m going to push through 3.1 miles, I’m absolutely coming home with something to show for it.

And complete it I did, in under 40 minutes which was the goal, in 35 degree weather. Maybe not fast, maybe not gracefully, but I did it. Now every time I cook with my minty green pots and pans, I’ll remember that day, the one where I proved to myself I can do hard things. Home design isn’t just about how things look or selecting pieces you love, it’s about the stories behind them.