I knew running was going to continue to be an important part of my life with a baby. While I had envisions of how I was going to fit in a daily run, I also knew it was going to be a challenge. But it is something that is really important to me, and I’m a firm believer in the fact if it is important enough, you will make time for it.
Cullen and I at my first race postpartum (2 months).
We have yet to purchase a jogging stroller and we don’t have a treadmill at home, so my runs have either been before Craig goes to work, at the gym where Cullen can go to the child care, or after Craig gets home from work. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get up early every morning to run as I would be too sleep-deprived, nor did I want to pay for the child care every time at the gym (plus, I don’t want to–nor do I like to–do every run on the treadmill), and I am too much of a morning runner to run every evening, so my schedule is a mix of the three options, and I have to say it is working quite well.
It helps that I am a planner, so at the beginning of the week (or more like the week before), I plan on when I am going to run and decide on the distance and the type of workout as well.
This is what a typical week looks like for me.
Monday
Early morning on the treadmill run by myself. Usually 9 – 10 miles that includes a tempo run of 6 – 7 miles.
Tuesday
Early morning easy, medium-length run. Sometimes by myself, sometimes with a friend.
Wednesday
Evening run after Craig gets home from work. During the winter I would go to the Dome (an indoor track) to run, now I go to the track outside.
Thursday
Usually this is my day off, but now that my mileage is ramping up, I will have to start including a run on this day. I will most likely run before work or at the gym.
Friday
I usually do this run on the treadmill mid-morning. Usually I go to the treadmill that work has for their employees and then Cullen plays beside me. It is usually a shorter run (5 – 6 miles), so it doesn’t take me very long.
Saturday
Long run day. If I work, I have to get up early to do this, which has been occurring more often than not. Sometimes I do this by myself, other times I have company.
Sunday
Afternoon run after church. This is usually a shorter run, so I’m out and back before too long.
So there you have it: 2 early morning runs, sometimes 3 if I work on Saturday;1 evening run,;1 – 2 runs on the treadmill.
Whitney and I
It also helps when I have a friend to meet up with. I have a handful of friends I call on when I need a training buddy. Brittany and I have been training together 1 – 2 times per week, and it is great for the company, the accountability, and she also has a little one so our schedules are very similar and we have no problem coming up with things to talk about.
So there you have it, it is possible to train with an infant without a jogging stroller or treadmill at home. No it isn’t easy, especially being sleep-deprived as Cullen still gets up 2 – 4 times each night, but I love running too much to give it up, and I still have PRs to break!
so great to see this can be done without lots of fancy equipment! no kids here yet, but i really agree with the sentiment that you make time for what is truly important!
I have run almost everyday since my daughter was 4 weeks old (she will be 2 this summer), but I have to run with her in a jogging stroller 95% of the time. My husband works long hours and has a long commute so if I wanted to run before he leaves for work I’d be running at 3am! (I might be a morning person…but not that early!). And he doesn’t get home until dinner time, so my evenings are shot. So I’ve logged maybe 2000+ miles with the stroller. Sometimes I can get weekend time or Grandma to watch her on a weekday to go for a really long run without the stroller, but otherwise I push!
Kudos to you!! I think you should be able to log double the miles when pushing a stroller!! If I were you, I’d opt for the stroller versus running at 3 a.m.–yikes!