Juggling Running and Life
It's an off season for me. Done with marathon training. Next Marathon (planned, havent even open for registration) is only up in October. With that in mind, training cycle should only start in June the earliest. Hence, it's totally an off season. I have a half mid May, but starting a Half training plan would just be irrelevant at this point. I hope my previous fitness level is still in tact. So I'll just carried on where I left off, or dipped into more like.
Marathon training is tough they say. I agree so to a certain extent, but I disagree some bit as running itself is a joy for me. But one cannot avoid to say that marathon training is tough. So i'll stick by it.
How do I juggle it then? Being a mom first, work commitment second, student at certain instances, life in general, and then there's running to abide with. Before that, lets look into the recipe of my training. For non runners, run is just mere runs.
Oh, I think I want to run today. Lets hit the gym and see how far I can last.
Today I'm quite free, lets have a run.
I just run the same way every day.
My workout consist of merely runnings.
Runners would know that it is never just like that.
I had to plan ahead what type, time/distance and intensity level that I'll be running.
At some point, I even plan for the speed or target pace
Long runs is about whether pure easy or steady
The type of run determine what time of the day that I need to run (lunch time or evening for weekdays), and what time I need to start and finish on weekends. What time I need to wake up.
If there's commitment in d weekend, some runs might have to be moved here and there. Long run moved to saturday, need to catchup the easy run at other, if time permits.
That's what goes on in this little brain of mine. As if life is uncomplicated enough that I have to resort to other sort of complex situation to complicate it further.
Of course I have followed a training plan. That's how I've started mixing the running recipe out. That's how I become a believer to any given workout type. I've adopted the Full Marathon Training Plan given by SCKLM from their website in 2013. I think it's the McMillan's plan. I like the plan as it doesn't require so much training time. The longest long run required is only 2 hours (the training plan goes by hours rather than distance). That is a very important consideration for me. More family time, less complaints from the hubs, safety and aesthetic reason (aesthetic being not exposed in the sun for too long).
I think the plan provides enough spice and variety in your training in these ways
Marathon training is tough they say. I agree so to a certain extent, but I disagree some bit as running itself is a joy for me. But one cannot avoid to say that marathon training is tough. So i'll stick by it.
How do I juggle it then? Being a mom first, work commitment second, student at certain instances, life in general, and then there's running to abide with. Before that, lets look into the recipe of my training. For non runners, run is just mere runs.
Oh, I think I want to run today. Lets hit the gym and see how far I can last.
Today I'm quite free, lets have a run.
I just run the same way every day.
My workout consist of merely runnings.
Runners would know that it is never just like that.
I had to plan ahead what type, time/distance and intensity level that I'll be running.
At some point, I even plan for the speed or target pace
Long runs is about whether pure easy or steady
The type of run determine what time of the day that I need to run (lunch time or evening for weekdays), and what time I need to start and finish on weekends. What time I need to wake up.
If there's commitment in d weekend, some runs might have to be moved here and there. Long run moved to saturday, need to catchup the easy run at other, if time permits.
That's what goes on in this little brain of mine. As if life is uncomplicated enough that I have to resort to other sort of complex situation to complicate it further.
Of course I have followed a training plan. That's how I've started mixing the running recipe out. That's how I become a believer to any given workout type. I've adopted the Full Marathon Training Plan given by SCKLM from their website in 2013. I think it's the McMillan's plan. I like the plan as it doesn't require so much training time. The longest long run required is only 2 hours (the training plan goes by hours rather than distance). That is a very important consideration for me. More family time, less complaints from the hubs, safety and aesthetic reason (aesthetic being not exposed in the sun for too long).
I think the plan provides enough spice and variety in your training in these ways
- first few weeks of hill repeats
- few weeks of fartleks, to build speed
- final few weeks of intervals for lactate threshold pace.
Each week will always be with 1 mid week long run and 1 weekend long run built up throughout the training season.
These kind of variety has managed to economies the long run that I need to do in the weekend.
So back to the training regime.
For now, my runs are 5 times a week. I've learnt a rule or 2 for your training, to keep injury at bay and at the same time improve your fitness.
- Always have an easy recovery run following a long run. The run can be as slow as ever. Run slower on your slow runs and faster on your faster runs. Polarised training they say.
- Each week must consist of 1 midweek long, 1 key run (hills, interval, tempo), 1 long weekend run
- Never have 2 hard workouts back to back
- If pressed for time, the simplest form or warmup is at least some squats.
- Stretches are important. Warmups and stretches are must haves with every run.
- Strength training is a must if you wish to bring your fitness up a notch. I am still lacking with this one though. But lets try where we can
So when do i do these workouts?
My weekday runs are always at the office's gym. I have put the idea of outdoor runs at rest or I'll never get the run done. It's either too hot, rain, it's already dark or work just won't permit.
Having a gym option is handy in the sense that I get to run during lunch time. Lunch will be thought of earlier on if I need to go to gym during lunch time. Buy breakfast at any stalls serving breakfast food and keep it until lunch time so I can eat it at my table after my workout. Only on very rare occasions that I go to the office's cafe for lunch. If the workout is shorter runs, I will either go during lunch or evening, since I won't be pressed for time so much.
Weekend is easier, I will just wake up at 6 and try to leave home from 6.30 onwards. Usually 6.30 target is seldom met.
Venue is as closest to home as possible. And run must start as soon as I step out of the gate. So this leaves even bkt jelutong out of the option. And I only have 1 route to run every single weekend. Only occasionally that I go further to bkt jelutong, but that is the furthest that I've been to. Running at Lake Garden or FRIM or the metro park i think in Kepong is only in my wet wildest dream. That leaves joining any running clinic is an even more remote option.
And I always run alone. And I'm getting used to it so much too. I get to pick my own pace, route, time etc. It does have its own perks.
My warmups are always while brushing teeth or putting my scarf on with squats or lunges. I can't multitask on leg swings sadly. But I do multitask the swing while setting up my nike plus at the gym.
I used to skip strength workout. But I notice I've been losing muscle mass and that is never a good thing. Endurance running somehow has this downside compared to speed running. Speed running easily yield muscle definition, while endurance running do the opposite if you don't invest in strengthening those muscles.
So my planks are sually while I wait for my 2nd to prepare himself for school. My usual plank time is around 4...3 sometimes with the other 1 minute for side planks. Sometime I rotate it with some abs workout too. Sometimes I sneakily do some squats and lunges while holding the baby. Sometimes I make it a group planking or leg raising with the kiddos. I even squeeze some side leg raisers while nursing Qaisar on the bed. Only if I have a lot of spare time that I can dedicate these workouts to its proper session. But this seldom happens.
So there you go, the constant juggle that I do. It's about will and where you put this interest of yours into one of your priority list. My kids are also with me. They request for the phone or ipad to count their planking time. Maybe this is why I'm destined to have just boys.
Having a gym option is handy in the sense that I get to run during lunch time. Lunch will be thought of earlier on if I need to go to gym during lunch time. Buy breakfast at any stalls serving breakfast food and keep it until lunch time so I can eat it at my table after my workout. Only on very rare occasions that I go to the office's cafe for lunch. If the workout is shorter runs, I will either go during lunch or evening, since I won't be pressed for time so much.
Weekend is easier, I will just wake up at 6 and try to leave home from 6.30 onwards. Usually 6.30 target is seldom met.
Venue is as closest to home as possible. And run must start as soon as I step out of the gate. So this leaves even bkt jelutong out of the option. And I only have 1 route to run every single weekend. Only occasionally that I go further to bkt jelutong, but that is the furthest that I've been to. Running at Lake Garden or FRIM or the metro park i think in Kepong is only in my wet wildest dream. That leaves joining any running clinic is an even more remote option.
And I always run alone. And I'm getting used to it so much too. I get to pick my own pace, route, time etc. It does have its own perks.
My warmups are always while brushing teeth or putting my scarf on with squats or lunges. I can't multitask on leg swings sadly. But I do multitask the swing while setting up my nike plus at the gym.
I used to skip strength workout. But I notice I've been losing muscle mass and that is never a good thing. Endurance running somehow has this downside compared to speed running. Speed running easily yield muscle definition, while endurance running do the opposite if you don't invest in strengthening those muscles.
So my planks are sually while I wait for my 2nd to prepare himself for school. My usual plank time is around 4...3 sometimes with the other 1 minute for side planks. Sometime I rotate it with some abs workout too. Sometimes I sneakily do some squats and lunges while holding the baby. Sometimes I make it a group planking or leg raising with the kiddos. I even squeeze some side leg raisers while nursing Qaisar on the bed. Only if I have a lot of spare time that I can dedicate these workouts to its proper session. But this seldom happens.
So there you go, the constant juggle that I do. It's about will and where you put this interest of yours into one of your priority list. My kids are also with me. They request for the phone or ipad to count their planking time. Maybe this is why I'm destined to have just boys.
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