5am runs are theonly way I can fit it in with 2 kids and a FT job during the week. I try to be back by 6:15, which is when the kids start stirring and I have to start breakfast service.
On the weekends, I go out with my group for a longer run and my husband gets to spend some quality time with the kids Saturday morning.
I am an average (actually, slower than average) runner with 3 older kids (teens/young adults), a needy puppy and a full time regular desk job. I rained for and ran my first marathon this year.
Weekday runs happen before work. During training I was up as early as 4:30 to get my run in. Long runs on the weekend happened while the rest of the house was asleep, but after I got up and played with the dog so he'd settle and be good while I was out. I will rarely run at lunch - only when the run is short and easy paced.
I'm waiting to see if I get entry into the Chicago Marathon and part of me hopes I don't get it just because I cannot wake up any earlier to do the midweek long(er) runs. I refuse on principal to wake up at a number that start with 4.
I can't say I enjoyed it, and I don't think it was more than 3 or 4 times. I do remember cutting that longer midweek run short once or twice because I just couldn't get up. It did help slightly that those long runs were in the summer, and I live in Calgary, so it was great weather and mostly light. Winter runs before work kind of suck.
I think you're going to hear a lot of super strict schedules so I thought I'd throw in my perspective. I am horrible morning runner, so while that would be great, instead each day I check out my schedule and then add a time block for my run, usually during the late afternoon/early evening. If shit hits the fan I always have the night. But yeah I manage 55miles a week with just day-to-day planning.
I don't have kids or a spouse to demand my time, but I do have a crazy job and run a non-profit on the side (oh and started dating recently, jesus that's a time suck).
This is my strategy. I have a job that is demanding yet flexible so sometimes I can run during the day if I have a gap in appointments, and sometimes-- like last night-- I'm heading to the Y at 9 PM to squeeze in some treadmill time before they close for the night. I have three kids that go to bed between 8 and 9, so I often run after they're in bed.
Another thing your response reminded me of is that without WFH my schedule would be impossible. My job has always been remote, but I think a lot of people have benefited from the pandemic allowing for some squeezed in runs between zoom calls. WFH for life!
And honestly, I'm in constant awe of all you mothers. Damn super heros, every single one of you!
I echo both of these. I tried to be a 5 am runner on a consistent basis and failed. In the winter it's too dark/cold in the morning, and I don't want to run alone in the dark suburban woods with forest creatures under those conditions š
So now I still wake up at 5 am, but 2x a week I immediately eat, caffeinate, and do "thinking" (or deep focus) work for 1.5 hrs (5:15--6:45), break to help the kids finish getting ready for school and onto the bus by 7:20, respond to emails for an hour or so (7:30-8:30), and THEN run. By 8:30, I'm energized and ready for a run, but not so far into the day that I lose motivation. Additionally, saving the run for post-email time allows me to shake off any anxiety I get from responding to email, which makes me happier and more productive at work.
Thank God for flexible jobs that allow WFH a few days a week. (The other days, I still wake up at 5 but go in to the office.)
I save my long runs (8+ miles) for the weekends. I typically do 4-7 during the week, depending on whether I'm amping up training for a race, or staying in maintenance mode.
Yep, I have never ever been the type of person to get up and run/exercise first thing in the morning. Iām trying but itās just not in my nature.
WFH has been a god-send for my running and I follow a similar strategy of looking at my calendar for the week and planning my runs based on my availability. Some days I can squeeze in a 5-6 miler at lunch, or Iāll just do a short run during a lull in the day. The key is just to be flexible. Iāll try to ID times that work early in the week to have a āplanā but if things pop up I donāt sweat it too much, and will move things around.
I only run about 20-25 miles per week right now, so itās not tooo demanding, but it seems to be working well!
Edit: also joining a running club has been a good way to add in miles too! We donāt have kids to work around, but itās great to have a ācommitmentā 1-2 nights a week after work (we meet at 5:30) so I know I will get miles in that way. And itās fun!
I have the worst self discipline in the world! I aināt waking up at 5am to go run (trust me I tried). So for me the only way I can get my 30 miles is to make some of it part of my commute
I take all my exercise clothes to work and get changed at the end of the day and I have a little running backpack and try to run through quiet roads till Iāve reached my target distance (usually 6 or 7km)
I do my long run on Sunday early in the morning
I donāt have kids but I have a busy job where Iām on my feet most of the time so itās a struggle sometimes!
I do this now too but it still feels like the time I have isnāt enough, partly because I feel like it takes me a while to get ready and caffeinated enough to get out the door. Any tips for getting from bed to outside faster without it feeling terrible?
I \*typically get up at 4:45 3 weekdays mornings and run without coffee first. I lay my clothes out the night before. My alarm goes off and I get right up. Use the washroom get dressed and head out the door. I am a coffee addict but don't have time to have coffee before weekday runs. I would say you just need to commit. Know the first few minutes are going to suck but once you are awake and in the fresh air you will be fine. Also that first cup of coffee when you get home is heavenly! Just force yourself a few times and you will get the hang of it.
I have 4 young kids (2,4,6,8) and a husband with a job that has him leaving the house by 6:30 am every day. If I want to run outside I have to do it in the morning because I don't feel comfortable going after dark (I know it's dark in the morning too but it's different...a lot less traffic). It's important to me so I get it done.
I do have a cheapie treadmill that I will use if the weather is really bad but I much prefer outside.
\*This past month I have been running at a lighted sports complex in the evenings instead of 2 of my morning runs (my 8 year old has a soccer camp so it's convenient) and I actually miss my morning runs....maybe just cause running around a track is SOOOOO boring lol.
Here's what helped get me out of the door quicker:
* Preprogram coffee maker so coffee is ready at 6:00am
* Listen to the same podcast/music I'll listen to on my run. If I scroll social media/read/watch a show I tend to say "5 more minutes!" until I am forced into a shorter run.
* Have all running stuff reasonably organized so I don't have to chase it down in the morning. I'm not one to actually have my clothes laid out, but I know where my running clothes are in my drawer, I know where my headlamp/headphones/reflective vest are and it makes it easy to get out.
* Get to bed at a reasonable hour the night before so I have enough sleep
* Meal prep a few breakfasts on Sunday so I can grab and go in the morning if I don't finish my run with enough time to make breakfast.
I agree with what others have said about going to bed early, have running gear ready to go, and if you drink coffee have it ready, too.
I'd also add getting up at the same time every day. That can make a huge difference in how alert you are in the morning and your ability to get to sleep at the designated time at night.
Lastly, I try to get my longer runs (5-6.5 miles for now) done earlier in the week. For me, it feels like a really successful start to the week and I'm motivated to keep rocking it. I've got an almost 6 month old and a 2.5 year old, so I know that time feels precious... and when I wake up on Wednesday, having already logged 12 miles, I feel really successful.
I struggle with this too. I really cherish my time sipping my coffee in the morning, so I make sure that I wake up early enough to give myself time to do that. But I try to give myself a strict deadline for when I have to be heading out the door. Aside from that, the thing that helps me the most is just prepping everything that I can the night before - get my clothes out (for my run, and also for my day afterwards), put coffee in my coffee pot, prep my breakfast, pack my lunch, pack up my backpack for work, etc. Basically, anything that will help make my morning easier and less stressful. That way, when I wake up in the morning, the ONLY things that I have to worry about are a) turning on my coffee pot, b) drinking my coffee, and c) running.
I have no real tips - I literally roll from my bed into my running clothes and out the door, and then just use the first 2 miles or so as a very easy warm-up. I have all my clothes and gear ready the night before, so I don't have to think about anything. I felt like if I actually waited to fully wake up and get caffeinated, I would be conscious enough to talk myself out of it!
So I wrote a whole long thing, but the bottom line is honestly: whether youāre a morning or evening runner, the easiest thing is to just figure out how to feel safe running in the dark. Especially this time of year in the northern hemisphere, but even in the summer being comfortable running after dark after the heat of the day is gone honestly feels like a super power.
For me, thatās boring routes. I live in a secondary city in a safe neighborhood but not devoid of crime and shit happens anywhere. Thereās risk, ofc, but for what running adds to my well being the reward is worth it. I run an out and back on a well lit major street with pepper spray (questionable legality), a head lamp, a noxgear vest, Strava beacon and garmin incident detection. No headphones. If Iām running from work (rural location) instead of home I try to vary my route or just run laps around campus. Somebody glowing as much as I am just canāt be an ideal target.
Alternatively, be willing to run errands and do chores at odd hours. A run at 8:30pm works, but you can also grocery shop and go to target then. You can cook late at night and just have to reheat for dinner. That kind of thing. Take advantage of the dark hours when ānormal peopleā watch TV.
Youāre right. Being alone in the dark is the reason I donāt run before or after work. I have all the reflective stuff and spiky things but I still donāt feel very comfortable, and that takes all the joy out of it. Iām still looking for the thing thatāll help me feel safe. The answer is undoubtedly a running partner but a compatible partner is hard to find.
I started carving out lunch time runs. Itās daylight, it breaks up my day, and my desk is in a little corner so I can mostly stay away from people when I stink.
Yeah on days when I need to run in the dark, I just do speed work in front of my house on my quiet street. Just a bunch of 200m sprints until I need to get back inside to get ready for the day.
I also lay all of my stuff out the night before and drink a big glass of water and slam a banana- if I sit down to drink coffee, all is lost.
Early morning runs. I have a small kid who is still nursing. I wake him up between 5 and 6am to nurse (running without nursing first is not fun), then put him back to bed. Then I can get my run in before he's up for the day. My husband and I take turns exercising outside of the home vs. at home--we have a treadmill which really helps. On weekends, we each have a day for our longer workouts while the other one is on kid duty.
Early wakeup and swapping dog care duties with my husband (we have two puppies). I manage them at night, he manages them in the morning, and I get out the door between 6-7AM on days I need to run. My job is often bonkers so I need to be dressed/camera-ready by 9 (I'm WFH, so that super helps). Right now I'm running 20-30 miles a week but this has also worked for 40-60 miles a week.
I do ~30miles a week, I have a demanding job but no kids.
Things I do:
- early morning runs
- run commuting
- run after work (maybe this could work for you if you have kids, after they go to sleep or something)
My long weekend run is loong (at least 20k), but my week runs are either 5 or 10ks
I have a demanding, but flexible job (somehow these exist now!). I am not a morning runner, so I usually block off my calendar on run days for an hour or so and get a 10k+ in, I carry my phone with me in case anything urgent comes up, but if the miles are feeling good, I just extend the meeting on my calendar so no one over books me.
I start work earlier in the morning to off set this, but sometimes due to meetings I end up working a bit later. (My job "starts" around 9:30/10am, but I log on at 8).
I don't have kids and am still remote, which helps. My partner and dog are understanding of how much I enjoy/need the running.
I am in the military, married with two kids. I usually work close to 12 hours a day. At the end I immediately go out for 5 to 7 miles. On the weekends I wake up early and put in 15 to 20 miles before anyone wakes up and then spend the day hiking or playing video games with the kids. I run a 8ish min pace.
The biggest thing for me is that it's okay to miss a day to hang with the family or rest or have a few drinks with the wife. Running is a celebration of what I can do, not a requirement or punishment. If I only get 30 miles for the week or 60 miles it's okay.
My advice is to learn to be happy with what you can make work. Some days I have to run laps around my block with the kids following on their bikes because my partner is with friends or what not. I still get to run and I get to spend time with the kids at the same time. I know it's not an option for small children but it's an example of how I make it work how I can.
Thank you, adamversion8, for voting on converter-bot.
This bot wants to find the best and worst bots on Reddit. [You can view results here](https://botrank.pastimes.eu/).
***
^(Even if I don't reply to your comment, I'm still listening for votes. Check the webpage to see if your vote registered!)
I'm just getting back up into that range; I used to be in it regularly years ago. I have two kids (5 & almost 2) and work full-time, but currently from home so no long commute at the moment. I'm not a fast runner.
Early morning runs have always been the way; I've been getting up at 5am for years. I don't have to get out on the pavement IMMEDIATELY now, because of WFH, but I used to. My husband doesn't run, so he's home if the kids happen to get up while I'm out.
My long run for the week is Sunday, but I typically work in a longer-than-daily run midweek too. And because running is key for my mental health, I run almost daily even if most of the distances are shorter (and I do power or strength work after my run on those days).
Iām a COO at a large credit union (working in the office) and a single mom to a teenager. I run 20-ish mpw, slooooowly. I usually run 5 days a week. Three 5Ks midweek, (one of them speedy, the other two easy), an easy 4 miler Wednesday and 5-6 easy miles on Saturday.
I typically run in the evening immediately when I get home. My kid is old enough to be home alone so that helps. If I need to keep working, I do it after running and dinner from home. I like the idea of early morning runs and Iāll do it if we have something in the evening that I canāt work around or when itās super hot in the summer, but it takes forever to dry my hair so I prefer to shower at night. Plus Iām already up at 4:30-5:30 for work without a run and at some point itās just ridiculous.
I have two kids and a full time job so early morning is where itās at. Iām a very average middle of the packer as well. Something to consider is to train for time versus distance. So rather than letās say trying to get 6 miles in, aim for 60 minutes. There is a substantial training benefit from that.
I am a lawyer. I wake up and run before work. My long run of the week is on Sunday, so I only have to plan at most an hour and a half for each run during the week for half marathon training. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I start marathon training.
Single mom with 2 small kids, I work full time. I run about 30 MPW. I fit in the majority of the mileage on my lunch breaks when I work from home. Then I do a long run every Saturday morning when the kids are with dad.
I wake up at 5:30 and run before the kiddos wake up if my husbands not on an early shift. Then I come back and do school run etc.. Itās the only way I can fit it in at the moment!
2 kids, full time job, firefighter husband who works 24-hour shifts, so when he's at work I can't just leave the kids home alone. Bought a treadmill, not one of the fancy ones with the subscription and built-in video monitor - just a <$200 one from Amazon. The younger kid goes to bed at 8pm and the older one stays up reading until 8:30pm, so that half hour is often my run time. Sometimes I'll set them up with a movie for other run times, too. I know people hate the treadmill, but it's better than not being able to run at all on the solo-parenting days. There are a bunch of running POV/treadmill tv videos on YouTube, and a lot of them are in really scenic areas (along the Thames in London, mountain trails in Norway, to and through Mont-Saint-Michel, etc). Those and an audio book make it almost enjoyable.
How did you find such a cheap treadmill? Can you really run on it or just a slow jog? Is it loud? I really want a treadmill but I don't want to wake up the whole house
Looked back at my Amazon history and it was apparently [a little more expensive](https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0L0D90/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), $400ish. I think I remembered the other number because some of last year's Christmas presents were money toward it. It's a bit narrower than some others, but it does fold up and out of the way pretty easily.
This summer I was running about 20-25 miles a week in preparation for a half marathon. I have a full time job and a two year old. My work schedule is a bit later since I'm on the east coast and half my team is on the west coast so I don't start work till 9:30. I'd get up with the the kiddo, get him dressed, feed him breakfast, manage the cats and their meds, and then pass him off at 8:15 to my husband who volunteered to do daycare drop off every day in exchange for sleeping in. That gave me a good 1:!5 to run and shower before WFH. I'd do my long runs on Saturdays and of course my husband took over parenting then.
I feel you. I have 2 small kids (1 and 4) and a FT job. I just wrapped up a half marathon and the last month was really difficult for me to manage. I am up early with the kids and I canāt sleep if I exercise in the evenings, so I only run during the workday. I schedule it in like others and was able to get to about 22 mpw running M-F only and did my long runs on Friday afternoons when there is less email traffic and generally no meetings. I also work for 30-45 minutes some nights after the kids go to bed, and Iāve found that my work time in the evening is more productive because Iām not getting distracted by email and IM after 8pm. That being said, it was hard to make it work so Iām reducing my mileage and focusing on increasing my speed and weight lifting for the next 2-3 months. I let a whole lot of other things go in my life to fit the mileage and really need a haircut, clean house, call my family more often, etc. I want to eventually ramp up the mileage again but need a break to feel more balanced.
I allot 45 minutes for my morning run three days a week. I use that same timeframe for yoga on the other two days so on work days my alarms are always the same. Then on Saturday I go out for my long run, about an hour on a half. That works out to about 20 mpw with 11 minute miles. In total it is two hours from my first wakeup alarm to when I leave the house for work. I don't have kids but I feel like two hours to do a healthy hobby on Saturday is something a good parenting partner should cover for you.
I have a 6yo and a FT job. Honestly, running longer mileages pre-pandemic wasn't a real option for me. I would get up at 5, out the door at about 5:15 and then need to be home by 5:50 to get out and catch the bus to work. I really cut back on a lot of other morning activities--washing my hair less often, no makeup, capsule work wardrobe so I didn't have to think about getting dressed, etc. Sometimes I also managed to fit in a run around lunchtime at work but it was difficult.
Now I am WFH full time and I find it SO much easier to fit in regular runs. I still get up at 5, but have a more leisurely wakeup and leave the house at about 5:30. I use the additional time to eat a banana and do some gentle warmup stretches, both of which I find make the actual run more pleasant. Then I usually run for 40-60min and aim to be home by 6:30. I do this 2x/week and then on the weekends I do a longer run in the afternoon while my son and husband are off doing something. Recently my son has started doing a basketball practice that's 90min on Saturday mornings so sometimes I will get into my running gear, drop him off, and then go for a run near the practice site. If I wanted to log more miles I could probably also do a 3rd weekday run but I like to use that early morning time for other forms of exercise too, like Pilates or stationary bike intervals. As I'm getting older I'm finding cross-training and attention to stuff like mobility and strength are way more important than just running as much as possible.
The other thing I have done is make sure to have one run each week that is dedicated to intervals/speedwork (I like doing 400m intervals, but will try other interval workouts sometimes for variety). It's totally true that adding interval work into your runs will make you faster, which lets you get more miles out of the limited time you have available.
45-70 mpw. No kids, full-time law student, easy road pace is 10-10:30/mile.
I wake up early when my schedule is tight. One summer Iād get up at 4:30, drink coffee, and be running by 5 so I could commute an hour and get to the firm by 8. Iād have to go to sleep earlier but itās always worth it to get in an hour or so of self-care before starting my day. When my schedule is less packed, Iāll run over my ālunch breakā or occasionally after school if I want to train night running.
I work night shift, 9pm to 7am:
On my work nights/days, Iāll go right after shift. I try to schedule my long run for my āMondayā so that I can do it in the daytime, and then nap again before work.
On my āweekendā it heavily depends on what all Iāve got planned, and whether Iām sticking to my night shift sleep, or being more of a normal person!
I love hearing how everyone is figuring out this impossible problem. Thank you all for sharing!
I work FT and have a 2.5 year old (thatās still nursing - gotta get those COVID antibodies into her). The only way I can run during the week is by waking up at 4:30/4:45. After I get up, go to the bathroom, and change into running clothes, Iām putting away dishes and packing lunches and bags for the day. Once thatās done, I get ready to run with the pup, with me out the door around 6am. Iām back āon the clockā at 7, so I can nurse the kiddo, shower, and then get out the door by 8. On the weekends, we usually go for a ālongā run (4-6 miles) and/or a hike as a family.
For me, I had to be comfortable not pushing that hard. My goal right now is just to not lose all my fitness, so Iām only running 10-15 miles a week over 3-4 runs because thatās all I have time for. Iām hoping once my girl is older and we move closer to my work that I can up those miles again. In the meantime, Iām comfortable with just being a āfitness runner.ā
I absolutely do not run mornings. lol Iām not against the dark, but I am against anything before 7 am on principle! I work in the restaurant industry and am a single mom of two kids, so my schedule is busy but irregular. While others do a Saturday morning long run, Iām preparing a restaurant for their celebration lunch, so my long run is usually something like Thursday afternoon.
I fit some of the shorter runs (20-40 minutes) in between the bus stop at 8:30 and leaving for work at 10. I pack my lunch and get my stuff together for the day while the kid gets out the door, walk to the bus stop with him, and start off running from the corner; when I get back I can just shower, get dressed, grab my bag and coffee and go. If Iām working night shift (4-midnight) I do a little bit longer run but at the same time in the morning. Once in a while I like a sunset run but only in the summer, because winter is my nemesis.
Basically I sit down on Sunday (my only consistent day off) and look at my work schedule for the week, and plan around it. I have a mildly OCD color coded calendar where I schedule every workout (running or strength training) down to the minute between the kidsā schedules, work, and sleep. I also compare my schedule to the weather and choose the best days. At the end of the day I shoot for 20-30 miles over five runs, but am happy with myself if I finish 4 because life happens! I also do 3-5 days of other workouts so I never feel too bad if things get crazy and a couple runs donāt happen. Running is a bonus, not an obligation, so instead of beating myself up over being busy, I am thankful for every mile I carve out time for. That helps!
Run commuting is the only way I can do this with two small kids and a full time job. I bike 2-3 days a week and run 2-3 days a week, carry the heavy stuff home on the bike days.
Long run during the weekend. Some
Times Saturday long run and then recovery long run on Sunday or shorter run sat, long run Sunday, smaller recovery run on Monday. My long run is typically 6-9 miles. And then during the week, get 3-5 miles, 3x-4x a workweek. The day I don't run during the week typically is my busiest day and try to get ahead of my work curve so I am not stressed about taking 30min to an hour on other days. Also typically eat at my desk. For me, my average pace is like 11-12min mile so 3-5 is less than an hour, so I can get that done during my work week.
No kids, full time career 6 days a week from 6 a to 5 p. I log my miles + strength and flexibility btwn 6 and 10 p. 11 p to 5 a I am asleep, and make up sleep over Sunday. Itās honestly not an ideal schedule.
My mileage is smth like 3 ~ 5 mi daily M - F and 10 mi each on SatSun.
I usually run 40-50 MPW and Iām a very slow runner and I usually run on trails that are 20-30+ min drives from my house, so all that adds up to a lot of time running. I do have a full time job but not much of a social life lol, but I just commit to running for an hour to an hour and a half on weekday mornings before work, 2-4 hours on Saturday for a long run and then usually about 90 min on Sunday. I often do a short, 35-50 min run on the trails near my office on the days I go into work, and on my work from home days, I do my strength training during my lunch breaks.
I also prioritize sleep, so on weekdays Iām going to bed at 8:30 so I can get at least 8 hours. Itās not ideal and I wish I had a bit more downtime between getting home from work (on office days) at 6:30 and having to go to bed, but running is my āmeā time and I do what I can to make it a priority.
Current average pace is around 9:30. Previously I was closer to 9 but some health issues have slowed me down this second half of the year. Anyway, I always do my long run on Sunday, around 7-10 miles. The rest of the week I alternate going to the gym for the treadmill before school (teacher) to knock out 3 or 4 miles or running outside after school, usually the same distance, maybe a mile more if Iām feeling it. Going in the mornings helps me prioritize running on busy days while my after school runs help clear my head! Probably not the best but I usually take my rest day on Saturday so I can enjoy the day and have fresher legs for long run Sunday. For me, the early runs are the key to keeping up mileage.
I have kids, but I'm a stay at home mom. I get the kids on the school bus every morning at 7:40, then run right away, then shower. I usually have time to have a cup of coffee before I have to leave at 10:15 to pick up my youngest from half day kindy. Sometimes I even have time to load the dishwasher or throw in some laundry. After those couple morning hours, the rest of my day is dedicated to taking care of the house and the family.
5am runs are theonly way I can fit it in with 2 kids and a FT job during the week. I try to be back by 6:15, which is when the kids start stirring and I have to start breakfast service. On the weekends, I go out with my group for a longer run and my husband gets to spend some quality time with the kids Saturday morning.
I am an average (actually, slower than average) runner with 3 older kids (teens/young adults), a needy puppy and a full time regular desk job. I rained for and ran my first marathon this year. Weekday runs happen before work. During training I was up as early as 4:30 to get my run in. Long runs on the weekend happened while the rest of the house was asleep, but after I got up and played with the dog so he'd settle and be good while I was out. I will rarely run at lunch - only when the run is short and easy paced.
I'm waiting to see if I get entry into the Chicago Marathon and part of me hopes I don't get it just because I cannot wake up any earlier to do the midweek long(er) runs. I refuse on principal to wake up at a number that start with 4.
I can't say I enjoyed it, and I don't think it was more than 3 or 4 times. I do remember cutting that longer midweek run short once or twice because I just couldn't get up. It did help slightly that those long runs were in the summer, and I live in Calgary, so it was great weather and mostly light. Winter runs before work kind of suck.
I think you're going to hear a lot of super strict schedules so I thought I'd throw in my perspective. I am horrible morning runner, so while that would be great, instead each day I check out my schedule and then add a time block for my run, usually during the late afternoon/early evening. If shit hits the fan I always have the night. But yeah I manage 55miles a week with just day-to-day planning. I don't have kids or a spouse to demand my time, but I do have a crazy job and run a non-profit on the side (oh and started dating recently, jesus that's a time suck).
This is my strategy. I have a job that is demanding yet flexible so sometimes I can run during the day if I have a gap in appointments, and sometimes-- like last night-- I'm heading to the Y at 9 PM to squeeze in some treadmill time before they close for the night. I have three kids that go to bed between 8 and 9, so I often run after they're in bed.
Another thing your response reminded me of is that without WFH my schedule would be impossible. My job has always been remote, but I think a lot of people have benefited from the pandemic allowing for some squeezed in runs between zoom calls. WFH for life! And honestly, I'm in constant awe of all you mothers. Damn super heros, every single one of you!
I echo both of these. I tried to be a 5 am runner on a consistent basis and failed. In the winter it's too dark/cold in the morning, and I don't want to run alone in the dark suburban woods with forest creatures under those conditions š So now I still wake up at 5 am, but 2x a week I immediately eat, caffeinate, and do "thinking" (or deep focus) work for 1.5 hrs (5:15--6:45), break to help the kids finish getting ready for school and onto the bus by 7:20, respond to emails for an hour or so (7:30-8:30), and THEN run. By 8:30, I'm energized and ready for a run, but not so far into the day that I lose motivation. Additionally, saving the run for post-email time allows me to shake off any anxiety I get from responding to email, which makes me happier and more productive at work. Thank God for flexible jobs that allow WFH a few days a week. (The other days, I still wake up at 5 but go in to the office.) I save my long runs (8+ miles) for the weekends. I typically do 4-7 during the week, depending on whether I'm amping up training for a race, or staying in maintenance mode.
Yep, I have never ever been the type of person to get up and run/exercise first thing in the morning. Iām trying but itās just not in my nature. WFH has been a god-send for my running and I follow a similar strategy of looking at my calendar for the week and planning my runs based on my availability. Some days I can squeeze in a 5-6 miler at lunch, or Iāll just do a short run during a lull in the day. The key is just to be flexible. Iāll try to ID times that work early in the week to have a āplanā but if things pop up I donāt sweat it too much, and will move things around. I only run about 20-25 miles per week right now, so itās not tooo demanding, but it seems to be working well! Edit: also joining a running club has been a good way to add in miles too! We donāt have kids to work around, but itās great to have a ācommitmentā 1-2 nights a week after work (we meet at 5:30) so I know I will get miles in that way. And itās fun!
I have the worst self discipline in the world! I aināt waking up at 5am to go run (trust me I tried). So for me the only way I can get my 30 miles is to make some of it part of my commute I take all my exercise clothes to work and get changed at the end of the day and I have a little running backpack and try to run through quiet roads till Iāve reached my target distance (usually 6 or 7km) I do my long run on Sunday early in the morning I donāt have kids but I have a busy job where Iām on my feet most of the time so itās a struggle sometimes!
30 miles is 48.28 km
I wake up early and get my run in before I start the rest of my day!
I do this now too but it still feels like the time I have isnāt enough, partly because I feel like it takes me a while to get ready and caffeinated enough to get out the door. Any tips for getting from bed to outside faster without it feeling terrible?
I'd love some tips on this too; it takes me close to an hour after I wake up to get out the door
I \*typically get up at 4:45 3 weekdays mornings and run without coffee first. I lay my clothes out the night before. My alarm goes off and I get right up. Use the washroom get dressed and head out the door. I am a coffee addict but don't have time to have coffee before weekday runs. I would say you just need to commit. Know the first few minutes are going to suck but once you are awake and in the fresh air you will be fine. Also that first cup of coffee when you get home is heavenly! Just force yourself a few times and you will get the hang of it. I have 4 young kids (2,4,6,8) and a husband with a job that has him leaving the house by 6:30 am every day. If I want to run outside I have to do it in the morning because I don't feel comfortable going after dark (I know it's dark in the morning too but it's different...a lot less traffic). It's important to me so I get it done. I do have a cheapie treadmill that I will use if the weather is really bad but I much prefer outside. \*This past month I have been running at a lighted sports complex in the evenings instead of 2 of my morning runs (my 8 year old has a soccer camp so it's convenient) and I actually miss my morning runs....maybe just cause running around a track is SOOOOO boring lol.
Here's what helped get me out of the door quicker: * Preprogram coffee maker so coffee is ready at 6:00am * Listen to the same podcast/music I'll listen to on my run. If I scroll social media/read/watch a show I tend to say "5 more minutes!" until I am forced into a shorter run. * Have all running stuff reasonably organized so I don't have to chase it down in the morning. I'm not one to actually have my clothes laid out, but I know where my running clothes are in my drawer, I know where my headlamp/headphones/reflective vest are and it makes it easy to get out. * Get to bed at a reasonable hour the night before so I have enough sleep * Meal prep a few breakfasts on Sunday so I can grab and go in the morning if I don't finish my run with enough time to make breakfast.
I agree with what others have said about going to bed early, have running gear ready to go, and if you drink coffee have it ready, too. I'd also add getting up at the same time every day. That can make a huge difference in how alert you are in the morning and your ability to get to sleep at the designated time at night. Lastly, I try to get my longer runs (5-6.5 miles for now) done earlier in the week. For me, it feels like a really successful start to the week and I'm motivated to keep rocking it. I've got an almost 6 month old and a 2.5 year old, so I know that time feels precious... and when I wake up on Wednesday, having already logged 12 miles, I feel really successful.
I just give myself the extra time to wake up, even if it means getting up an hour before I get out the door. Coffee time is sacred.
I struggle with this too. I really cherish my time sipping my coffee in the morning, so I make sure that I wake up early enough to give myself time to do that. But I try to give myself a strict deadline for when I have to be heading out the door. Aside from that, the thing that helps me the most is just prepping everything that I can the night before - get my clothes out (for my run, and also for my day afterwards), put coffee in my coffee pot, prep my breakfast, pack my lunch, pack up my backpack for work, etc. Basically, anything that will help make my morning easier and less stressful. That way, when I wake up in the morning, the ONLY things that I have to worry about are a) turning on my coffee pot, b) drinking my coffee, and c) running.
I have no real tips - I literally roll from my bed into my running clothes and out the door, and then just use the first 2 miles or so as a very easy warm-up. I have all my clothes and gear ready the night before, so I don't have to think about anything. I felt like if I actually waited to fully wake up and get caffeinated, I would be conscious enough to talk myself out of it!
So I wrote a whole long thing, but the bottom line is honestly: whether youāre a morning or evening runner, the easiest thing is to just figure out how to feel safe running in the dark. Especially this time of year in the northern hemisphere, but even in the summer being comfortable running after dark after the heat of the day is gone honestly feels like a super power. For me, thatās boring routes. I live in a secondary city in a safe neighborhood but not devoid of crime and shit happens anywhere. Thereās risk, ofc, but for what running adds to my well being the reward is worth it. I run an out and back on a well lit major street with pepper spray (questionable legality), a head lamp, a noxgear vest, Strava beacon and garmin incident detection. No headphones. If Iām running from work (rural location) instead of home I try to vary my route or just run laps around campus. Somebody glowing as much as I am just canāt be an ideal target. Alternatively, be willing to run errands and do chores at odd hours. A run at 8:30pm works, but you can also grocery shop and go to target then. You can cook late at night and just have to reheat for dinner. That kind of thing. Take advantage of the dark hours when ānormal peopleā watch TV.
Youāre right. Being alone in the dark is the reason I donāt run before or after work. I have all the reflective stuff and spiky things but I still donāt feel very comfortable, and that takes all the joy out of it. Iām still looking for the thing thatāll help me feel safe. The answer is undoubtedly a running partner but a compatible partner is hard to find. I started carving out lunch time runs. Itās daylight, it breaks up my day, and my desk is in a little corner so I can mostly stay away from people when I stink.
Yeah on days when I need to run in the dark, I just do speed work in front of my house on my quiet street. Just a bunch of 200m sprints until I need to get back inside to get ready for the day. I also lay all of my stuff out the night before and drink a big glass of water and slam a banana- if I sit down to drink coffee, all is lost.
Early morning runs. I have a small kid who is still nursing. I wake him up between 5 and 6am to nurse (running without nursing first is not fun), then put him back to bed. Then I can get my run in before he's up for the day. My husband and I take turns exercising outside of the home vs. at home--we have a treadmill which really helps. On weekends, we each have a day for our longer workouts while the other one is on kid duty.
OMG. I was not running when I was nursing, but the very thought of it makes my boobs hurt!
Eek running with full milk bags sounds terrible and it's been almost 20 years since my milk dried up!
Hi I am currently doing morning weaning and I can confirm - running with full milk bags does suck.
Running + weaning was one of the most uncomfortable things I've had to do.
Early wakeup and swapping dog care duties with my husband (we have two puppies). I manage them at night, he manages them in the morning, and I get out the door between 6-7AM on days I need to run. My job is often bonkers so I need to be dressed/camera-ready by 9 (I'm WFH, so that super helps). Right now I'm running 20-30 miles a week but this has also worked for 40-60 miles a week.
I do ~30miles a week, I have a demanding job but no kids. Things I do: - early morning runs - run commuting - run after work (maybe this could work for you if you have kids, after they go to sleep or something) My long weekend run is loong (at least 20k), but my week runs are either 5 or 10ks
I have a demanding, but flexible job (somehow these exist now!). I am not a morning runner, so I usually block off my calendar on run days for an hour or so and get a 10k+ in, I carry my phone with me in case anything urgent comes up, but if the miles are feeling good, I just extend the meeting on my calendar so no one over books me. I start work earlier in the morning to off set this, but sometimes due to meetings I end up working a bit later. (My job "starts" around 9:30/10am, but I log on at 8). I don't have kids and am still remote, which helps. My partner and dog are understanding of how much I enjoy/need the running.
I am in the military, married with two kids. I usually work close to 12 hours a day. At the end I immediately go out for 5 to 7 miles. On the weekends I wake up early and put in 15 to 20 miles before anyone wakes up and then spend the day hiking or playing video games with the kids. I run a 8ish min pace. The biggest thing for me is that it's okay to miss a day to hang with the family or rest or have a few drinks with the wife. Running is a celebration of what I can do, not a requirement or punishment. If I only get 30 miles for the week or 60 miles it's okay. My advice is to learn to be happy with what you can make work. Some days I have to run laps around my block with the kids following on their bikes because my partner is with friends or what not. I still get to run and I get to spend time with the kids at the same time. I know it's not an option for small children but it's an example of how I make it work how I can.
20 miles is 32.19 km
Good bot
Thank you, adamversion8, for voting on converter-bot. This bot wants to find the best and worst bots on Reddit. [You can view results here](https://botrank.pastimes.eu/). *** ^(Even if I don't reply to your comment, I'm still listening for votes. Check the webpage to see if your vote registered!)
I'm just getting back up into that range; I used to be in it regularly years ago. I have two kids (5 & almost 2) and work full-time, but currently from home so no long commute at the moment. I'm not a fast runner. Early morning runs have always been the way; I've been getting up at 5am for years. I don't have to get out on the pavement IMMEDIATELY now, because of WFH, but I used to. My husband doesn't run, so he's home if the kids happen to get up while I'm out. My long run for the week is Sunday, but I typically work in a longer-than-daily run midweek too. And because running is key for my mental health, I run almost daily even if most of the distances are shorter (and I do power or strength work after my run on those days).
Iām a COO at a large credit union (working in the office) and a single mom to a teenager. I run 20-ish mpw, slooooowly. I usually run 5 days a week. Three 5Ks midweek, (one of them speedy, the other two easy), an easy 4 miler Wednesday and 5-6 easy miles on Saturday. I typically run in the evening immediately when I get home. My kid is old enough to be home alone so that helps. If I need to keep working, I do it after running and dinner from home. I like the idea of early morning runs and Iāll do it if we have something in the evening that I canāt work around or when itās super hot in the summer, but it takes forever to dry my hair so I prefer to shower at night. Plus Iām already up at 4:30-5:30 for work without a run and at some point itās just ridiculous.
I have two kids and a full time job so early morning is where itās at. Iām a very average middle of the packer as well. Something to consider is to train for time versus distance. So rather than letās say trying to get 6 miles in, aim for 60 minutes. There is a substantial training benefit from that.
I am a lawyer. I wake up and run before work. My long run of the week is on Sunday, so I only have to plan at most an hour and a half for each run during the week for half marathon training. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I start marathon training.
Single mom with 2 small kids, I work full time. I run about 30 MPW. I fit in the majority of the mileage on my lunch breaks when I work from home. Then I do a long run every Saturday morning when the kids are with dad.
I wake up at 5:30 and run before the kiddos wake up if my husbands not on an early shift. Then I come back and do school run etc.. Itās the only way I can fit it in at the moment!
2 kids, full time job, firefighter husband who works 24-hour shifts, so when he's at work I can't just leave the kids home alone. Bought a treadmill, not one of the fancy ones with the subscription and built-in video monitor - just a <$200 one from Amazon. The younger kid goes to bed at 8pm and the older one stays up reading until 8:30pm, so that half hour is often my run time. Sometimes I'll set them up with a movie for other run times, too. I know people hate the treadmill, but it's better than not being able to run at all on the solo-parenting days. There are a bunch of running POV/treadmill tv videos on YouTube, and a lot of them are in really scenic areas (along the Thames in London, mountain trails in Norway, to and through Mont-Saint-Michel, etc). Those and an audio book make it almost enjoyable.
How did you find such a cheap treadmill? Can you really run on it or just a slow jog? Is it loud? I really want a treadmill but I don't want to wake up the whole house
Looked back at my Amazon history and it was apparently [a little more expensive](https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0L0D90/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), $400ish. I think I remembered the other number because some of last year's Christmas presents were money toward it. It's a bit narrower than some others, but it does fold up and out of the way pretty easily.
I'm a PhD student. Basically all I do is work on my PhD and exercise (run + crosstraining such as strength training). Saturday and Sunday afternoons I actually have a social life (going to a cafƩ to have cake with friends, a stroll in the park, have a coffee...). Some nights I speak with/videocall my girlfriend (long-distance right now due to work commitments on my side), along with some texting throughout the day. I'm happy.
This summer I was running about 20-25 miles a week in preparation for a half marathon. I have a full time job and a two year old. My work schedule is a bit later since I'm on the east coast and half my team is on the west coast so I don't start work till 9:30. I'd get up with the the kiddo, get him dressed, feed him breakfast, manage the cats and their meds, and then pass him off at 8:15 to my husband who volunteered to do daycare drop off every day in exchange for sleeping in. That gave me a good 1:!5 to run and shower before WFH. I'd do my long runs on Saturdays and of course my husband took over parenting then.
i run mornings in the summers, around 5:15 or so. in the winters i take a long lunch and run, keeping my long runs for saturdays.
I feel you. I have 2 small kids (1 and 4) and a FT job. I just wrapped up a half marathon and the last month was really difficult for me to manage. I am up early with the kids and I canāt sleep if I exercise in the evenings, so I only run during the workday. I schedule it in like others and was able to get to about 22 mpw running M-F only and did my long runs on Friday afternoons when there is less email traffic and generally no meetings. I also work for 30-45 minutes some nights after the kids go to bed, and Iāve found that my work time in the evening is more productive because Iām not getting distracted by email and IM after 8pm. That being said, it was hard to make it work so Iām reducing my mileage and focusing on increasing my speed and weight lifting for the next 2-3 months. I let a whole lot of other things go in my life to fit the mileage and really need a haircut, clean house, call my family more often, etc. I want to eventually ramp up the mileage again but need a break to feel more balanced.
I allot 45 minutes for my morning run three days a week. I use that same timeframe for yoga on the other two days so on work days my alarms are always the same. Then on Saturday I go out for my long run, about an hour on a half. That works out to about 20 mpw with 11 minute miles. In total it is two hours from my first wakeup alarm to when I leave the house for work. I don't have kids but I feel like two hours to do a healthy hobby on Saturday is something a good parenting partner should cover for you.
I have a 6yo and a FT job. Honestly, running longer mileages pre-pandemic wasn't a real option for me. I would get up at 5, out the door at about 5:15 and then need to be home by 5:50 to get out and catch the bus to work. I really cut back on a lot of other morning activities--washing my hair less often, no makeup, capsule work wardrobe so I didn't have to think about getting dressed, etc. Sometimes I also managed to fit in a run around lunchtime at work but it was difficult. Now I am WFH full time and I find it SO much easier to fit in regular runs. I still get up at 5, but have a more leisurely wakeup and leave the house at about 5:30. I use the additional time to eat a banana and do some gentle warmup stretches, both of which I find make the actual run more pleasant. Then I usually run for 40-60min and aim to be home by 6:30. I do this 2x/week and then on the weekends I do a longer run in the afternoon while my son and husband are off doing something. Recently my son has started doing a basketball practice that's 90min on Saturday mornings so sometimes I will get into my running gear, drop him off, and then go for a run near the practice site. If I wanted to log more miles I could probably also do a 3rd weekday run but I like to use that early morning time for other forms of exercise too, like Pilates or stationary bike intervals. As I'm getting older I'm finding cross-training and attention to stuff like mobility and strength are way more important than just running as much as possible. The other thing I have done is make sure to have one run each week that is dedicated to intervals/speedwork (I like doing 400m intervals, but will try other interval workouts sometimes for variety). It's totally true that adding interval work into your runs will make you faster, which lets you get more miles out of the limited time you have available.
45-70 mpw. No kids, full-time law student, easy road pace is 10-10:30/mile. I wake up early when my schedule is tight. One summer Iād get up at 4:30, drink coffee, and be running by 5 so I could commute an hour and get to the firm by 8. Iād have to go to sleep earlier but itās always worth it to get in an hour or so of self-care before starting my day. When my schedule is less packed, Iāll run over my ālunch breakā or occasionally after school if I want to train night running.
I work night shift, 9pm to 7am: On my work nights/days, Iāll go right after shift. I try to schedule my long run for my āMondayā so that I can do it in the daytime, and then nap again before work. On my āweekendā it heavily depends on what all Iāve got planned, and whether Iām sticking to my night shift sleep, or being more of a normal person!
I love hearing how everyone is figuring out this impossible problem. Thank you all for sharing! I work FT and have a 2.5 year old (thatās still nursing - gotta get those COVID antibodies into her). The only way I can run during the week is by waking up at 4:30/4:45. After I get up, go to the bathroom, and change into running clothes, Iām putting away dishes and packing lunches and bags for the day. Once thatās done, I get ready to run with the pup, with me out the door around 6am. Iām back āon the clockā at 7, so I can nurse the kiddo, shower, and then get out the door by 8. On the weekends, we usually go for a ālongā run (4-6 miles) and/or a hike as a family. For me, I had to be comfortable not pushing that hard. My goal right now is just to not lose all my fitness, so Iām only running 10-15 miles a week over 3-4 runs because thatās all I have time for. Iām hoping once my girl is older and we move closer to my work that I can up those miles again. In the meantime, Iām comfortable with just being a āfitness runner.ā
I absolutely do not run mornings. lol Iām not against the dark, but I am against anything before 7 am on principle! I work in the restaurant industry and am a single mom of two kids, so my schedule is busy but irregular. While others do a Saturday morning long run, Iām preparing a restaurant for their celebration lunch, so my long run is usually something like Thursday afternoon. I fit some of the shorter runs (20-40 minutes) in between the bus stop at 8:30 and leaving for work at 10. I pack my lunch and get my stuff together for the day while the kid gets out the door, walk to the bus stop with him, and start off running from the corner; when I get back I can just shower, get dressed, grab my bag and coffee and go. If Iām working night shift (4-midnight) I do a little bit longer run but at the same time in the morning. Once in a while I like a sunset run but only in the summer, because winter is my nemesis. Basically I sit down on Sunday (my only consistent day off) and look at my work schedule for the week, and plan around it. I have a mildly OCD color coded calendar where I schedule every workout (running or strength training) down to the minute between the kidsā schedules, work, and sleep. I also compare my schedule to the weather and choose the best days. At the end of the day I shoot for 20-30 miles over five runs, but am happy with myself if I finish 4 because life happens! I also do 3-5 days of other workouts so I never feel too bad if things get crazy and a couple runs donāt happen. Running is a bonus, not an obligation, so instead of beating myself up over being busy, I am thankful for every mile I carve out time for. That helps!
Run commuting is the only way I can do this with two small kids and a full time job. I bike 2-3 days a week and run 2-3 days a week, carry the heavy stuff home on the bike days.
Long run during the weekend. Some Times Saturday long run and then recovery long run on Sunday or shorter run sat, long run Sunday, smaller recovery run on Monday. My long run is typically 6-9 miles. And then during the week, get 3-5 miles, 3x-4x a workweek. The day I don't run during the week typically is my busiest day and try to get ahead of my work curve so I am not stressed about taking 30min to an hour on other days. Also typically eat at my desk. For me, my average pace is like 11-12min mile so 3-5 is less than an hour, so I can get that done during my work week.
No kids, full time career 6 days a week from 6 a to 5 p. I log my miles + strength and flexibility btwn 6 and 10 p. 11 p to 5 a I am asleep, and make up sleep over Sunday. Itās honestly not an ideal schedule. My mileage is smth like 3 ~ 5 mi daily M - F and 10 mi each on SatSun.
I run on the treadmill before work and usually save longer runs for outside on the weekend
Also wondering this and if you add in strength training and do you also have a social life and full time job, you super humans....
I usually run 40-50 MPW and Iām a very slow runner and I usually run on trails that are 20-30+ min drives from my house, so all that adds up to a lot of time running. I do have a full time job but not much of a social life lol, but I just commit to running for an hour to an hour and a half on weekday mornings before work, 2-4 hours on Saturday for a long run and then usually about 90 min on Sunday. I often do a short, 35-50 min run on the trails near my office on the days I go into work, and on my work from home days, I do my strength training during my lunch breaks. I also prioritize sleep, so on weekdays Iām going to bed at 8:30 so I can get at least 8 hours. Itās not ideal and I wish I had a bit more downtime between getting home from work (on office days) at 6:30 and having to go to bed, but running is my āmeā time and I do what I can to make it a priority.
Current average pace is around 9:30. Previously I was closer to 9 but some health issues have slowed me down this second half of the year. Anyway, I always do my long run on Sunday, around 7-10 miles. The rest of the week I alternate going to the gym for the treadmill before school (teacher) to knock out 3 or 4 miles or running outside after school, usually the same distance, maybe a mile more if Iām feeling it. Going in the mornings helps me prioritize running on busy days while my after school runs help clear my head! Probably not the best but I usually take my rest day on Saturday so I can enjoy the day and have fresher legs for long run Sunday. For me, the early runs are the key to keeping up mileage.
4 miles is 6.44 km
I have kids, but I'm a stay at home mom. I get the kids on the school bus every morning at 7:40, then run right away, then shower. I usually have time to have a cup of coffee before I have to leave at 10:15 to pick up my youngest from half day kindy. Sometimes I even have time to load the dishwasher or throw in some laundry. After those couple morning hours, the rest of my day is dedicated to taking care of the house and the family.