Runners...help!

saverchic

I am wanting to get back into running, and I wondered when you find the time to run.  I work as a teacher, and I have to leave the house by 7 each morning.  I don't have any free time during the work day to work out.  I've been waking up at 5:30 so I can have time to eat breakfast, make bottles, etc., and the time flies by.  I get home at 4, and spend a few hours with my boys before they go to bed at 7. Then my husband comes home, we eat dinner, and I crash.  I'm usually asleep by 9.  I don't want to give up what little time I have with my husband and boys, but I know I really need to get back into a good exercise routine.  I used to run marathons, but now I'd be happy to run 3 miles a few times a week.  My boys are 9 months old.  Any suggestions or advice?  I'm thinking I might just have to suck it up and get up at 4:30 if I want to run...no fun!

togagirl

I usually go after the kids are in bed.  Stinks to run at 7:30 at night but it was the only way to get it in.  Now I take them with me to gym and put them in the babysitting room during the morning.

leslie13510

Can you get a jogging stroller, and run with them after you get home from work?  I know it's not as convenient as running by yourself, but it would be a compromise that doesn't require you to give up your time with them. 

kafunder

It's so hard to find time. DH and I both run (we're hopefully running our 9th marathon at the end of Oct if my knees hold up). We run early in the AM or at night. If it's in the AM, the one who runs gets up at 4:30am and runs until 5:15am, and then we get ready for the day and leave the house by 7am. If it's at night, it's after we put the babies down at 6:45pm for about 30-45 minutes. 

The key to all this is that we purchased a treadmill and put it in our basement. We only run outside on the weekends.  

jenkm

I found it SO hard the first year, I was really bad about running until the boys were sleeping more normally, close to 6 - 9 months. 

Like a PP, I'd suggest a jogging stroller - you can, once you work up to it, knock out 3 miles in about a half hour with them in a jogger and not eat into too much time with them.  Alternatively, I'd consider making your bottles and breakfast at night before bed, getting up and running before they're up and eating your food on the way to work.

BTW, just do this 2 days a work week and then run each day of the weekend, more manageable! 

GL!

punkin06

no advice, just wanted to wish you luck!  even if it does take away an extra hr from the kids per week, your sanity and health might thank you for it! we take care of the kids, but it's also important to take care of ourselves. 

cauli001

I am a teacher and have basically the same schedule.  I have 4-7 every day with my kids and do dinner alone before dh gets in.  I hate running after they go to bed, because that is when we eat and finally relax!

If the weather is nice, I will either bring my jogging stroller to daycare and run with them from there (there is a paved trail nearby), or park and jog somewhere.  if I get home, I lose total motivation.  I am finding that being with them is more important right now then running, so I don't do it every day. Also, at 16 months, they get sick of the stroller so fast!

We also got a treadmill and gated it off in their play area.  I will get on there and put a video on and let them play.  I can usually get 20 min in, and that is better than nothing...but I hate running on a treadmill! Gosh, I am a complainer!

Haven1

It's so hard.  I see you're from Chicago, so a jogging stroller won't work for you in the next few months.  I'm dreading winter since we're in a great jogging stroller routine right now. We get home from work and go straight out for 4-6 miles. Then on the weekends, I run by myself while DH stays with the boys.  Good luck.  As the previous posters have mentioned, anything is always better than nothing.

jennie13

when it was cool out, I would go at 4 when my husband got home from work.   In the summer, I started going after I put the babies to bed - fortunately they go early so I can head out the door by 7.    I get up early enough - there's no way morning running is happening unless it's the weekend and 8am. 

saverchic

Thank you for all of your kind words and advice.  I'm glad I'm not alone in finding that this is really hard to fit in.  It's looking more and more like we might need to buy a treadmill if this is really going to happen.  Okay...off to research treadmills!