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Marathoners/ex-marathoners/runners?
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Anonymous
| When do you find the time to run? I have a great printed out running schedule- but life always gets in the way. I am attempting to train for the Marine Corps and I really want to do it. I just can't figure out a way to fit it all in. Any advice? Any is welcome.... Thank you!!! |
Anonymous
| crack of dawn. |
Anonymous
| Keep to the schedule. Think of it as a mandatory meeting that cannot be moved or rearranged. Or like going to work everyday and getting there by a specific time. You have to make it a priority without exception. |
Anonymous
| Really- so does the morning work the best, before the kids get up?? |
Anonymous
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For your weekday runs - either crack of dawn or after the kids are down. I find it challenging to fall asleep after a run so for me the only choice is crack of dawn - which means you are probably going to need to rethink evening routine and get in bed at least 30 minutes earlier.
For the weekend long runs either crack of dawn with a VERY supportive spouse, or get a sitter. But if you are training for MCM, your long runs are going to be in August and September. You need to do these at the crack of dawn or you will die in the DC heat and humidity. |
Anonymous
Thank you! I really appreciate the information. It is helping me get motivated and re-create my schedule. Any more advice is very welcome. It is really helping me... I know it will be hard when the terrible heat and humidity hit us- yuck! TIA. 
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Anonymous
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New poster
I also say to myself that i have to exercise 5x week. If i skip Monday then i am going to have to do Saturday, etc etc. If the total # is RIGID and unchanging then you are only screwing yourself later if you dont get out the door. Weekends are hard for me because there are always more fun things to do so i try to do all my runs when the kids are in school (i freelance so my schedule is more flexible than most). Morning is def best, too. 9:30 at the latest. also, if you have an iphone get RunKeeper. It is so fun to track your miles and speed. very easy to use and keeps you distracted a little! |
Anonymous
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I don't marathon train anymore since I had my daughter. It is a serious time commitment and there are too many things I have to do instead of running for 4 hours on a Saturday. (that's about how long the longest long run takes.) Plus I kept getting injured, and the days after a super-long run (20 miles), it was hard to climb stairs and I didn't have much energy for daily living. when I marathoned, I was doing 40-56 miles a week at an 8:00-8:30 pace, so about 7 hours of running, plus cross-training on the off days.
That said... I do still fit in about an hour of exercise every day, and more than that on weekends. You just fit it in wherever you can. If you have a spouse, then you explain to them that you need to do 3-4 days of training per week. The midweek runs will take you about an hour - you can do that before work, during your lunch hour or after work - whatever works for you and your spouse. (if your child is in a stroller, stroller-running will work out your upper body as well, so that's something to consider, but I wouldn't recommend it for the long runs right away unless you want to hurt for days!) I fit in my daily workouts by (a) working out during lunch when I can, (b) going to the gym when I don't have my daughter, or on my telecommute days when I have some extra time, or (c) taking my daughter to the gym with me on weekends, or out for a run. Before I had my daughter, I worked out every day before work, and then every weekend morning before my other errands. BTW, if it doesn't work out, there's no shame in being a half-marathon runner or a ten-miler runner or a 10K runner. Those are a lot easier to fit into a busy schedule! |
Anonymous
I agree with this PP. You need to make it a priority, and arrange your schedule to fit your training in. I like www.mapmyfitness.com - you can create routes, check your pacing, etc. |
Anonymous
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I am not going to be super helpful because I am a SAHM and usually I run with DD in a stroller. We usually just go in the morning after her breakfast. I also think joining a gym can help because then you could take them in the evening before or after dinner and run on the treadmill while they play.
When I worked after DD was born, I trained for a marathon. I ran one morning a week and then I ran two nights a week after she went to bed (or close to her bedtime). Luckily you can train for a marathon with 3-4 days a week of running (although Id say 4 or 5 is preferable). i agree with PPs, rearrange your schedule and write yourself a schedule with calendar days on it. As in, if friends want to go out for dinner on May 21st late....you say "I can't go then, I'm running 20 miles the next morning". Also, getting a regular schedule to your husband/wife so that they know when you won't be helping with the kid(s) and when you will take over, etc can help. Good luck! I'm sure you'll enjoy the overall experience. It's great to do something like this for yourself when you have kids. You deserve it (we all do!). |
Anonymous
| Can you go to work by bicycle? |
Anonymous
| the hardest part of training is putting your shoes on |
msully
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OP here- love the last post! That is how I feel. Oooooo... it can be so hard. I truly appreciate all the advice. Everyone has been so kind and helpful. I do think it is important to do something for ourselves- making us feel strong. I just hope I can stick to it. I never thought I would end up running- but I've done a few 10 milers and loved them... I hope I have the extra umph to do 26.2! Ahhhh- scary. Anything you all felt you ate that really helped or didn't hurt your stomach?
Thanks again! This means the world to me. I need to get my husband to more supportive now... ha! |
Anonymous
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For eating, do you mean while running or do you mean post/pre running? My advice on that is to train on all of those things with the stuff you'll want to do day of the marathon.
Pre-long runs I'd always have a bagel with PB on it for breakfast. Marathon day, that'd be my breakfast. I also trained with a gel/sport beans/sports cubes (the gummi ones) during long runs. I would have one of those things every 45-50 minutes of running. Then, you can do that marathon day. I made the mistake once of using a different brand and different flavors on race day. I had an upset stomach for the last 8 miles. So, if you know the race is going to have PowerAde and you are going to drink it on the course and not carry it, train with PowerAde. It helps the stomach. I also think it can be difficult post long run to STOP eating because you are really hungry and dehydrated. My advice there is drink as much water/gatorade/etc as you can stomach all day and have small snacks or meals every hour after a long run. If you have a large meal after a long run, you are likely to feel hungry again in an hour or two and need another meal. I am not sure if this is true for everyone but it was for me. I gained weight training for my first marathon but since then with hydration and smaller meals I have managed to avoid that for subsequent races. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great. |
Anonymous
| Good advice from PP. Also, you might want to try bananas. And don't forget to ice your legs after your weekly long run. |