Before the halfie, I wrote a post listing some high intensity runs that only require a maximum of 30 minutes but can improve strength and speed.
While short bursts of interval training or hill sprints are great for the time poor, long slow distance (LSD) runs are also important in a runner’s training regime.
It all depends on how much endurance your training your body to handle.
During half marathon training, a weekly commitment of an LSD run – with a gradual increase from 30 minutes to 2 hours – is mandatory.
But really, who’s got that luxury of time?
Over the long weekend, I was determined to fit in an 8km run.
With a dose of creative thinking and working out a few negotiations with certain stakeholders (ie Mr Surfer), I’ve pleasantly discovered it can be done.
Here’s how to fit in a long run with your family in tow.
- The day before I mapped out my run and based on previous runs and result times, figured how long it would take me.
- Picking out where the 8km would be, I told Mr Surfer of my intentions and thus started the typical husband/wife negotiations. I told him he could sleep in while I did breakfast duties, on the condition that he and the twinions meet me at the 8km landmark.
- Pack a bag with a change of warm, comfortable clothes (including shoes), towel, hairbrush, face moisturizer (especially when running in the dry winter wind), a quick easy carb filled snack like a protein bar or in my case, medjool dates, a full bottle of water and most importantly, DEODORANT.
- Morning of the run, have a light breakfast (piece of whole grain toast with peanut butter or almond spread) and a small cup of black coffee.
- By the time Mr Surfer had woken up, the twinions had eaten breakfast, I was in my running gear and out the door I ran.
- Voila! Roughly 50 minutes later and just 300 metres away from the destination and in perfect timing my beloved family turned up!
- As I had my packed bag with clothes and snacks waiting for me in the car, we decided that a family outing was next on the agenda. Off we went to jump around on the trampolines at Flip Out. While not glamorous, there, in the comforts of their public toilets, I got changed (and showered myself with lots of deodorant). It was a fine interim solution until I got home to have a relaxing hot shower.
So, there we have it: a win-win situation where I get a chance to clear my headspace but doesn’t eat up much time from the family.
There was a time in my life when running was simply an obligatory activity to “keep me fit”. I knew physically it was good for me but my heart (or my head wasn’t in it). So, finding excuses not to do it was just too easy. Saying I was too busy looking after my family was a frequent one.
But it’s been the past year or so, it’s necessary for mental health. When those snarky, crabby Mama moods start lurking, I have no one else to blame but myself because I know the endorphin fix from running can rectify all of that.
We can make our own choices. We all know that.
Sometimes though, it’s not about picking from the obvious options that are conveniently placed in front of you; it’s choosing the ones you’ve created for yourself.
How do you make time to clear headspace? Most importantly, have you ever forgotten to wear deodorant?
Joining Essentially Jess for IBOT
Absolutely!! Good on you for taking the effort to plan this! Running does help me to loosen up and clear my head.. especially when I’m stuck in the office for the whole day, I really just need to get my body moving!
Ai Sakura recently posted..Letter to my girl #14 | Make Time for Friends
It all comes down to good planning and perspective. I once met a mum who had twins and had put on something like 30kgs and she told me that her ‘me’ time was going for a run, while other mums would indulge in pampering or reading a book. She runs marathons and she honestly looks so healthy. I love going for a jog but it will be a while before this pregnant mama gets her jogging shoes on. I might start nice a slowly with a walk instead. You’re inspiring Grace. I love your passion for running. 🙂
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This is awesome Grace. It goes to show you can make time for anything with a bit of planning. One thing I’ve missed since I had my bub is going for a run – for mental health reasons, I’m no fitness fanatic. I just haven’t worked out a way to keep it up. You’ve inspired me now. It’s time I started again.
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It is so hard to fit in long runs isn’t it?
I do my long runs on the weekend and usually it is a loop or two around a 5-10km lap. If I have the kids at home and no hubby I do hill sprints at the front of my house and stick Miss 5 in front of the TV. Or I get Miss 15 to babysit. If there is a will there is a way. I also run in the morning before work on the 4days a fortnight that my hubby goes to work slightly later because I don’t like dark running. Thanks for sharing your experience. I never go out after a run because….. stinky…..
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I really wish I could run. It’s not just timing and being away from the family it’s my bad knees and shins that mean it’s possibly never going to be an option. I do a lot of walking when I can but it means getting up at 4am to fit it in and during winter I even find this hard. Excuses excuses. I think I might need to set myself a walk/run challenge and just get on with it.
Mystery Case recently posted..Conversation Corner | Self Care with Sarah Barrett from Creating Contentment
well done you, I need to make the time for more exercise…. I just lack the motivation…..
Mandy, Barbie Bieber and Beyond recently posted..7 Tips to Prepare Your Child For the Death of a Loved One
Love this post Grace. Hubby & I write out our training schedule the week before. That way, we’re both happy. If either of us miss our training slot for whatever reason, we lose it! I usually do my long runs on a Sunday morning before the sparrows are even up. 🙂
I am rendered almost speechless/wordless by your efficiency and organisational skills, Grace! It’s a formidable self-discipline and an impressive one.
All flippancy aside, exercise is so very important for our mental well-being. My own pales beside a half marathon but an early run around the dog park clears my head and gives me the illusion of fitness. 🙂
*rushes off to admire rock thighs in mirror*
Lee-Anne recently posted..Average is the new black.
Well done Grace. I used to get hubby and son to drop me at one beach, then they’d drive down to another one 7km away and have breakfast and play on the beach while I ran and met them there. We haven’t done that in ages though, maybe I need to start doing that again. It was amazing how much better I got after a couple of months of doing that as well as just 4-5k runs a couple of times a week.
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How clever Grace! Would love to go for a run but after having five boys its kinda not possible if you know what I mean!!!
Actually I prefer a workout at the gym when the kids are asleep, its a great place to clear the head and have some me time, and I am on a mission to get my body back into shape 🙂
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Ahh it is so good you are getting so much out of running. I look at your and Champagne Carolyn’s running posts on Facebook and admire you. I really am not a runner. I walk though and that is my chance to clear my head space. I try to go early in the morning – a little harder now when it’s dark – or on the weekend when hubby can look after the kids.
Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me recently posted..I quit sugar – one year on
I don’t run much these days, but I use my exercise bike daily for the endorphin rush. I’m just useless without it!
EssentiallyJess recently posted..The Do You Like Camping Quiz #IBOT
What a handy post Grace, and I’d missed your high intensity runs one so ust go and have a look. I’m up to 4.5k!!!
Seana – Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel recently posted..John Cleese Told Me To Take A Blogging Break
It’s all in the planning, for sure Grace. Whatever it is that makes you feel good about yourself, is a good thing x
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen recently posted..Indigi Day Out
You are a super mum!! I’m slowly starting to get my head around the fact that I need to make time for me to exercise, as well as work! Proud of you girl x
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Good point. About a year ago I started making sure I was getting all the housework done during the day where possible so I could have an hour or two to myself during the evenings. It’s been a real revelation. It sounds so simple, but I’d been trying to be a ‘good mum’ and spending as much as time as possible playing with the boys. Once I made the housework into a bit of a game for them it became much easier.
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Good on you for finding something that works for your family. The twinions must love getting to spend a day out too!
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