Running Tips for Moms

I’m sure you’ve heard it before but being a stay-at-home mom is more than a full-time job. It’s a 24/7 job which requires endless multi-tasking with no vacations or sick days in sight. Trying to etch out a few quiet moments to yourself can seem downright impossible at times. When you do find that elusive “me” time life can suddenly seem so much lighter and happier. So, how can the average stay-at-home mom find the time to run, much less train for a goal race such as a 5k, half marathon or marathon?

When I started running my kids were ages 2 and 3. I had to be creative with my time in order to fit in my running and cross training. Some things in my life had to take a back burner to my running or as I like to call it, my lifestyle change. My biggest challenge was finding the time to get my weekday runs in. What follows are the top ways I have been able to fit running and training into my life.

1. Join a gym – This has been my biggest life saver because my gym offers free babysitting. I was not a huge fan of treadmills before this but now I will happily hop on a treadmill if it means I can get my run in.
2. Hire a babysitter – I found a wonderful babysitter who does in-home sitting. I drop the kids off one morning a week for a couple of hours to get my longer weekday run in and thus I have the opportunity to run outside at least once during the week.
3. Rely on family and friends – Some days I really want to run outside and hitting up a babysitter again can drain my pocket. Instead, I drive the kids over to my parents, who works from home, or my sister, who works in the evening. I also trade time with friends, watching each others children so that we can run errands or in my case, run. The trick to this is not to ask too often for the free babysitting.
4. Wake up early – When I first started running I was not an early riser. However, since I’m not the biggest fan of treadmills I have learned that waking up early and getting that run in before my husband leaves for work is the perfect start to my day. I no longer need to worry that I may or may not get that run in and I am energized for the rest of the day. This is also a perfect alternative to summer heat.
5. Flexibility – If all else fails I hop on my bike, pop the girls in the bike trailer and head off for a bike ride. The cross training gives my running muscles a rest and exercises some of the less used muscles.

* The jogging stroller did not make my list because I don’t use one. I know many of you out there do and that is a wonderful option.

What are some tricks that you’ve found that allow you time to get that run in?