Lurker w/ question

[paperclip]

Hi there -

I lurk (a lot) on this board, and really enjoy all of the information I have taken from it. I have question for all the runners with kids: how do you fit it in your schedule?

I have two young kids, ages 5 and 2.  I have a full time job and I go to school (online) full time. My husband leaves the house at 5:30, and is home around 4:00. The only time I have to run outside is if I take that time away from the fam, or I run in the dark (a little weird for me).

Thanks for your input!

[coconutbug]

Hello and welcome!

I squeeze in a workout when I can - before work, at night, during lunch - whatever happens to work for my schedule. I also push my kids in the double jogger quite a bit; I often stop at a park near the end of my workout so the kids can play and I can either stretch or finish my run by jogging in circles around the playground.

[gt7301b]

Can you run at lunch or make the big one ride a bike with you and push the little one in a jogging stroller?

I don't have kids, so I don't really know what I'm talking about:) But I wanted to say it is okay to run outside, even if it takes time away from the family. Taking time for you and being active sets a positive example for your little ones.

[CallingAllAngels]

Feb 26, 2014 15:15:10 GMT -5 coconutbug said:

I squeeze in a workout when I can - before work, at night, during lunch - whatever happens to work for my schedule.

This is what I do.  I meet a group to run at 5am Tuesday morning.  It sucks, but it's one of the only times it works. I swim during my lunch hour.  I usually try to run on Thursday evenings after work - I can take the kids to child care at the gym on run on the treadmill if need be.  I usually run both Saturday and Sunday morning.   It really stinks trying to fit it in but I do the best I can. 

[naeljun]

I'm a single mom, work full time, take online classes and I work out at night after work at the gym. As much as I would love to be able to run outside, it just isn't possible for me. Unfortunately, I do miss out on some quality time with DD but it is what I have to do to stay healthy.

[andrealynn]

That's the gazillion dollar question, lol. There isn't really a stock answer, but honestly, almost every answer I have seen involves infringing on sleep or family time. There honestly isn't a magic solution.

I work, so during the week, I workout during my lunch. On the weekend, I get up super early on Sundays to run.

[Susie]

Most of my friends with kids (I am the only one without) run in the wee hours of the morning, dark or light. Head lamps, reflective vests and singlets, and just getting used to it help.

When I was doing AM workouts for swimming, I also found that I need to adjust my schedule full time, I can't get up at 4:30am to run a couple days a week and sleep meaningfully later the other days. It goofs up my perception of bed time, and I end up not sleeping enough. I need a consistent routine, as hard as it is to adopt the morning workout routine.

[Wines Not Whines]

I work out early in the morning and also on my lunch break at work. With your husband's schedule, I think you have three options: run early in the morning on a treadmill at home, before your kids get up; on your lunch break; right after work, while your husband is with the kids. I'd probably opt for #3 with occasional lunch time workouts, if you can. Daylight savings time is coming in 2 weeks!

[sassystace]

I run on a treadmill after they go to bed on weekdays and on the weekends in the morning when my DH is home.

[breezy8407]

I am very lucky to have the set up I do...I get a free gym membership through work and it's across the street. I also have a treadmill at home and a double jogging stroller for the warmer months. (My kids will be 2 in April fwiw).

Typically I will run 2x a week or go to yoga at the gym over lunch. Otherwise I will run on our home treadmill after the kids go to bed, or H and I will trade off running after the kids eat dinner before they go to bed.

Weekends I usually do a long run one of the days and a shorter run one of the days during their nap time.

The jogging stroller opens up more options once we can finally use it. We will do family runs with a stop at the park or I will sometimes take them after they eat on weeknights. It's not great quality time, but they are outside enjoying fresh air, seeing sights, people, etc.

[emuni04]

Lunchtime runner here (when I'm training for a race), otherwise I squeeze in a HIIT workout/video after my daughter goes down to sleep. I also always try to make my weekends count since I have a little more time for a longer run/extended workout. Thank goodness for naptime!

My H travels quite a bit and on weekends that he's away, I use the jogging stroller to get a workout in.

[melodramatic26]

My dh travels every week, usually leaves really early Tuesday morning, home late Thursday nights.

I have a 3.5yr old and 1.5 yr old and I work full time.

Dh and I are both training for our 6th half marathon.

We both do a long run on Sunday mornings, him around 7am, me around 9am.

I run 3 times during the week- the treadmill is my bff right now. I either run late after the girls are asleep (8pm) or during my lunch hour when dh is gone. If he's home, I'll skip lunch and leave work early, go home and run and he picks up both girls and then I'm usually done around the time he gets home.

It's hard, really hard. But you have to make it priority otherwise life will ALWAYS be in the way.

[kams]

Because I don't work outside of the home, I don't feel totally qualified to answer. But, I will say that early am/after bedtime are prime times, and a jogging stroller is a great help for me. Also, just want to reiterate that it is ok to take time away for yourself sometimes - I know it's really hard to do. A few weeks ago I was out on a ride and missed breakfast with my family and I cried for 30 minutes of the ride. Sometimes it's hard. But then I come home, DD asks me how my "race" was and tells me about all the fun she had with Daddy, and I feel so much better about it.

eta: my H travels quite a bit as well, and those weeks are all jogging stroller/bike trainer and gym childcare

[Brit]

My H travels a ton, I work full time, and I have a two year old. When H is in town, he works in the evenings. When he is here, I often run after bedtime in the dark. When he is gone, I pick DD up from daycare in the jogging stroller packed with her dinner and feed her dinner while I run - I do this two or three times per week, then run both weekend days for four or five runs in a week. I don't feel like I miss that much time with DD that way because she is usually a monster at dinner time anyway. We get home from running with enough time to play/read/whatever for an hour or so before bedtime. It isn't ideal, but not working out a few weeks per month wouldn't be either.

I don't know how a five year old fits into the equation, but it sounds like your H can be on kid duty for a short time while you run. When H is gone I am mainly focused on just getting in as much distance possible in 30 minutes.

[pag41989]

My H and I both work full time, H travels quite a bit and I also go to school in the evenings after work two days a week. I normally run on either my lunch breaks or at night after DD goes to bed. Running in the dark makes me nervous but I have gotten used to it and I honestly enjoy my evening runs because they are so peaceful.

[daisybuchannan]

It's not easy, but it's doable!

I'm a fitness instructor and he goes to the daycare while I teach. Before we had that setup, I'd do workouts (of my own design) at home while he either played in the same room, or napped.

I'd focus on strength based circuit training. I post workouts on my blog that you can do as many rounds of as you have time.

[skwcm80]

I workout whenever I can fit it in. I'm lucky that my job is pretty flexible so I can run out for a hour or two if need to. In the past I used to go to the gym after the kids went down for the night.

[paperclip]

Thank you all so much for responding. I really like how people are going through the exact same thing as I am, but they are making it work. Thanks for making me see that I can do, if I put my mind to it.

I used to do Insanity in the am before the kids woke up. I got really good results, and loved it. Then I broke my foot... and haven't worked out since I love to run, so I think I will focus on Insanity in the am, and getting a few runs in the evenings and weekends.

My 5 year old loves to ride her bike, but doesn't like to go long distances. I will soon try to push the stroller while she rides her bike though. Good idea!

The other issue I deal with is getting my husband into it with me. He says he wants to run, etc., but as an electrician, he doesn't have the energy to come home and work out. And he doesn't want to get up at 4:00 a.m. to fit it in in the morning. I am trying to get him to run with me, then one could push the stroller and one could ride her bike! We will see...

Brit - I love the dinner in the stroller. I am a fan, and will totally do that. I think its great time, you are getting what you need, and she is enjoying the sights!

Daisy - thanks for turning me to your blog. Coincidentally, I am starting Whole30 on Monday (heard about it on this board), so I truly appreciate your updates and recipes. I will also be doing some of your workouts!

Thanks again to all for the input!

[schitzengiggles]

I am in your boat - I have 2 kids (ages 5 and 7), my husband and I both work full-time, and we are both also full-time grad students (online programs). As it is, I get up at 5:00 am and DH gets up at 6:00 am. We're out the door by 6:30/7:00 and don't get home until 5:00. Then it's dinner time and family time and all that good stuff.

I have a treadmill, so even though it is not ideal I do try to utilize that. Something is better than nothing! Otherwise, I end up carving out time, depending on what I have for school that week, after the kids are in bed (7:30pm or later) to run. In the summer I can usually make it out before it's too dark.
I also make sure to take advantage of weekends and get up early to get my run out of the way. That way I still have the rest of the day to spend with my family.

It's not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing, but no matter what I think the key is to make it one of priorities and to be flexible.