Today’s Tuesdays on the Run topic is running/racing/life/work balance.
Do you ever get to a point in your race schedule and wonder what the heck you were thinking? Yeah I’m kind of there.
I seem to have overloaded October with races (a 5k, two 10k, two halfs), ALL after running a marathon. Is this a challenge physically? Yes. But I’m sure I was thinking I’ve done it before, so why not? And there I went over-stuffing October, like an over-eager kid in a candy store.
It wasn’t until I reminded the Caveman (who is typically very tolerant and supportive of my running habit) that I’d be road-tripping to St. Louis this weekend immediately after a 10k in Chicago, oh and could he help me snag a hotel room real quick? Cuz I hadn’t done that either.
That’s when I got the stink-eye. The “you’re doing what? When?? Did you not JUST roadtrip to Minnesota?”
That’s when I knew I had to pull the plug on RnRSTL. I’ll still do Run10Feed10 in Chicago this Saturday, but I need to cool my jets a little. Things are a little “unbalanced” here to say the least.
How do you balance your running and racing? Do you ever go overboard?
I am honored to be the new host of Tuesdays on the Run along with Erika and Patty and April. Join us for the linkup!
I’m a non-runner but have thought about this whole notion of work life balance of a lot recently.
My husband travels Monday morning Friday night and I’ve made the executive decision 🙂 there will be no balance for me. I am striving for harmony. All things no matter how discordant 🙂 somehow working together.
Welcome! We are so happy to have you join us.
I mentioned to Beer Geek that I still wanted to do one of the RNR races. He was not onboard. And he’s pretty tolerant, but it’s just been a crazy fall for all of us, so after Marine Corps, I’m taking a break until soccer season is over.
I think you made a wise decision–pulling out of RnRSTL. So many people are pushing their limits, and I get that, but the last thing you want is to be injured.
I’m doing a virtual 5k this weekend–but if my legs don’t calm down, I’ll be walking that one.
I agree with Wendy–I think you are making the right decision! October is a crazy month, which I always find kind of interesting, considering summer is so crazy. but everyone seems to get off balance in October!
Oh well, as long as you are having fun who cares if you have a couple more races than normal this month? 🙂 You enjoy it and it makes you happy!
I can’t overload, otherwise my body breaks down. I also need a break mentally, to be able to not workout on Saturdays and sleep in. To take my time and be lazy for a bit between races. That’s where I am this week and this weekend.
Oh gosh balance is SOOO hard!! There are mornings when I am just exhausted by 8am because of all the things that have to get done in the morning and most nights I am in bed by 9pm. You are truly a running machine. I told the Hubs I wanted to run Chicago next year– he was less then thrilled but I am going to keep talking about for the coming months!! Now that we are back in the work routine I have realized that 5am workouts just can’t happen 5 days a week so I give myself 1-2 rest days and my body THANKS me for that! life is all about balance
I hear ya about needing to cool the jets a little. After 3 weekends away and neglecting the blog for 3 days, I am feeling a little overwhelmed!
Balance? What’s that? Yup, I try to do too much!
I have definitely had that situation where I’ve got too much on my plate. I try not to schedule too many races in close proximity but sometimes it happens, or things have to be let go. I think once you’ve finally found your balance, it’s easy to lose it just like that!
Oh, I have received that stink eye a time or two myself! I do try to work hard at the balance but sometimes we do get over zealous! Good decision on pulling out, no one wants an injury! We all have Wonder Woman on the inside but sometimes we need to sit on her every once in awhile!
Welcome! I will be eagerly reading everyone’s posts on balance today because it is something I seriously struggle with. It all feels important and yet it is hard to make the choices to figure out how to fit in all in because, really, we can’t fit it ALL in. It’s great that you have a supportive partner who gives you that dose of reality when you need it. 🙂
Trying to find balance takes work- It has to be a priority though or else your physical health can suffer, derailing ALL of your efforts in every way that you are doing them! As a working mom, I have to constantly check-in with myself to make sure I am backing off if I feel stressed or pulled to do too many things. I have some crazy stories of trying to do too many things at once, and they are not pretty!!lol!
I actually don’t race a lot. I don’t have anything else on my schedule until December! There are probably a few smaller races I’ll do in November, depending.
Still, even *I* have to hold myself back sometimes.
Like I’d really, really, really like to do another half before the end of the year. I’m sure I could if I’m smart about it but Mr. Judy gets so balky about the possibility of bad weather. Not to mention whatever I do (if we drive) wouldn’t be close.
And I didn’t mention the rain all the way up to VT or the traffic that made the 3 1/2 hr return trip 5 hrs & Mr. Judy did all the driving (but in fairness to me, I offered & he didn’t want me to so it’s his bad).
I guess I feel like I have 41 halfs to do . . . I’m 53, closer to 54, at this rate I’ll never reach my goal . . of course truly the whole idea behind it is to keep me motivated/moving and seeing new places.And if I don’t do all 50, that’s ok (except it isn’t). 🙂
My life is always a little bit overboard, racing, volunteering, training, doing other fun things and traveling! I do appreciate the down time every once in awhile, but I like it when we are busy too!
I definitely struggle with run/life balance. It always seems like I end up doing everything at once (my October consists of two personal trips and two work trips) and it can easily get overwhelming.
I think it’s so easy to go a little race crazy in the fall – there are always so many races I want to do and somehow I seem to develop amnesia over how crazy the family/school schedule can be every October!
Its so easy to go overboard in registering for races, especially during the fall racing season. There’s so many great races out there, and I never want to feel like I’m missing out!
I’m right there with you as you can tell in my post I shared last week…. I have failed at blogging for not looking ahead to the topics of TOTR…. 🙁 Boo!
I am feeling like the kid with the “eyes are bigger than the stomach” syndrome sitting in front of a plate full of food, except the food for me would be upcoming races. OMG I have signed up for so many and just like you they are within a short period of time and UNLIKE you, I’m not sure I can do them all.
I guess no way to find out but to try….
So glad you are co-hosting this party, I hope I can participate more than I have in the past because of it! 😉
OMG, I am so guilty of overloading myself. I am starting to wait longer to register for things since I have a habit of overdoing it and then not showing up.
Definitely been there and done that. I get that runner’s high and register for ALL the races and realize how much of an idiot I was after and end up eating all of my money. Live and learn I guess!
I know where you’re coming from. It’s hard to deny yourself the things that you find most fun. Enjoy it while it lasts, I say. One day you’re not going to be able to.
I am pretty last minute about races so I am good there. However I commit to too much other stuff: teaching too many classes, committing to working out with too many others, etc.
Balance is healthy, whether it is with racing or any other hobby in our life <3
Balance! It’s so hard to get to that place where everything fits and everyone is happy. My struggle is primarily with blogging/consulting/working/family. I want to spend all my time growing my consulting business and blogging BUT then my supportive husband gets neglected. I’m still looking for the sweet spot but I feel like I’m improving every day.
I feel like I get the stink eye a lot when it’s mid-training/racing season. I love my family but I love my running, too! It’s hard to strike a good balance. I don’t road trip much for races because of that but I do like to travel at least once a year!
I think work-life-training balance is one of the most difficult things to maintain. And, for me, it changes weekly based on my client schedule. All we can do is try our best and not to get too down on ourselves when we can’t do it all. In fact, I find it’s important to just lose the notion that I CAN do it all. It’s not possible to do all the things all the time. And I’m ok with that.
Looking forward to more TOTR link ups with you!
It’s so hard to keep a balance. I was getting ready to book a beyond pricey hotel for Grandma’s next year when I got the stink eye…so I backed off and signed up for Rockford instead, LOL.
The last thing you want to do is injure yourself. I think you are totally doing the right thing. Rest and relax! 🙂
My first year running I went a little berserk with the race calendar too! It’s so easy because there are so many great races out there! Excited to get to “know” you as the new link up host!
Sounds like you made the wise decision. It’s fun to do ALL the races but sometimes ya just gotta take a break (and make your other half happy). 🙂 It is definitely hard to balance this time of year for me, with school, soccer practices & games, moving, traveling, etc. but we just try our best and it will all work out some way or another…
I’ve had to learn the difference between what I absolutely have to do and what I really want to do. Not always the same thing, apparently. Or so I’m told. 😉 El husbando is great about helping me keep perspective; since he’s typically not emotionally invested in my crazy ideas, he is more logical about what I should do. He’s often right. (Shhhh. Don’t tell him I said that.)
it’s harder for my atl friends and my family to understand all of my travel. i don’t mind being out of town to race and luckily rich is super supportive of my goal. I REALLY want to do 10 states next year in hopes of knocking out a lot to prepare for a possible little one in our future.