By far the most popular question from the Q and A was how I balance my training with parenting/blogging/commenting. First let me say I feel flattered that many of you have the perception that I AM balancing it all. Sometimes that’s the case, sometimes it’s not. But it’s always a juggling act. Here are some things that work for me:
1. Take your training seriously. Training is hard. It requires dedication. It doesn’t take a vacation. Develop a mindset. Mine is “This is what I do”. I devote time to it that’s nonnegotiable. The kids know it, our neighbors, family and friends know it. Except for one person who told me I need to get a life and left the room when someone asked to see my race bling, nobody questions it. Plus going into long races poorly trained hurts way too much and I’m a wuss that way.
2. Strike a deal with your spouse. Here he gets M/W/F I get Tues/Thurs/Sun. Saturday is up for grabs. We both choose to get our workouts done early so it’s all done before 7am, usually before the kids are awake. I’ve followed the RLRF 3 runs/week plan (and run relatively low mileage) for all 6 of my marathons until this year. Would devoting more time to training be beneficial? Yes. But with the the kids’ current schedules, this is the amount of time I feel comfortable devoting to training and it has worked well for me and my family.
3. Make use of the home gym. I only have 3 days a week I can get OUT early. But I can get down to my mill anytime I want. I survived the days when I’d have to nurse/pump/run with ears pealed in case I heard the baby fussing over the monitor. I’d setup the baby in her bouncy chair or swing and squeeze in a run on the mill watching Baby Einstein. Those were tough times. But time flies.
4. Any workout is better than no workout. Everyone’s busy and chunks of workout time are at a premium. Especially when the kids were babies, I’d resort to dropping on the carpet and doing corework or I’d lunge around the house and/or do squats while holding a baby. Be creative in the ways you sneak your workout in. Now that the kids aren’t babies anymore, they often join me for corework/stretching/yoga and it becomes fun and games for all. We’re active together, I’m setting a good example and we’re having fun. Win-win-win!
5. Pick your battles. I don’t hesitate to decline requests to volunteer/chair school events/help out with anything that conflicts with prime marathon season. No guilt. There are plenty of other opportunities throughout the year when I am better able to contribute. Also my house won’t be featured in Better Homes and Gardens anytime soon as my domestic duties often play second fiddle to running. It’s all about priorities, right?
6. Make destination races your family vacations. We went to Hawaii this way, Boston, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, California and more.
7. Blogging is really stream of consciousness for me. I don’t plan much. I don’t edit much. I just let it rip. I do what I can comment wise. I wish I could do more. I started it as a creative outlet and a way to journal my training progress. I didn’t anticipate that it would take on a social aspect but I love that it has. I enjoy seeing what others are doing. I love watching people realize their potential. I unplug and don’t blog and rarely comment on weekends.
Michel asked: Did you find it easier to have a training schedule once both kids were in school?
Yes and no. Because Thing 2 only goes a 1/2 day, once I get them both up and off to school, there’s a 2-1/2-hour window of peace and quiet time. I’ve used this to bang out training runs or hit up a yoga class but it’s not as long as you think so I frequently revert to the pre-dawn workout and use that time for errands, etc.
