OP - what you are doing is simply taking the long way to where you're planning to go anyway. There's nothing wrong with that but it isn't a MR.

A MR is going nowhere for no reason other than miles. Many of us no longer actually want the RDM but are actually after the EQM to maintain our status.

My longest MR ever was last Feb. 2-3. IAD-ORD-FRA-ORD-IAD, into FRA at 6 am and out at 8am on the same plane.

And yes, MRs are a bit tough to explain to my wife.