Where Do You Find the Time??!

Added a year after this was written:  So many things have obviously changed in a year since I wrote this.  My kids no longer nap, I don't use the jogger stroller anymore to fit in runs, and I'm finding it just a bit easier to multitask now that the kids are little older.  But I do still give up certain things for the sake of working towards a goal that is satisfying and rewarding...a goal that gives me drive and motivation in so many other areas of my life (almost all of them).  I don't have to take as much time away from my family as I used to when they were younger...things feel easier now.  I do however, choose wisely how I spend my time.  I don't say that I don't "have time" for ___________. However, I do say that I choose to spend my time doing the things that are at the top of my priority list.  I let go of things that I might enjoy doing outside of training:  reading more for fun, going out with friends as much (this is only a season), watching television or movies (I rarely do this anyway), etc.  

If I had a dollar for every time someone asks me how I find the time to run so much...well, gee, I'd be rich!  

Source

Here's the thing:

• We are all busy with life.  Life is busy.  And it is easy to fill with things.  Work, running kids around, chores, family outings, sports, etc. etc. etc.  
• We all make choices. 
• We make time for things that are important to us. 
• It is up to us to set goals for our life and determine what is important to us.  
• What is of value to one, might be worthless and pointless to another.  
• Running and training for a marathon might seem like a big waste of time to a large portion of the population.  But for me, it is enjoyable and challenging.  
• Having a big goal like training for a PR in a marathon isn't something that will be an "ALWAYS" in life but it is something that I'm going to do with a bang right now.  Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.  
• A movie lasts about 2 hours.  So does going out and running approximately 15 miles (for me). Most of the time, I'll choose the 2 hours of running over the 2 hours of sitting.  
• I don't watch a lot of television.  Unless I'm watching from the treadmill.  
• I don't play video games.  
• I've cut back on writing blogs.  
• In order to fit in higher mileage, I get up early to run before my kids wake up.  
• I also run more than once a day this time around (most days) because I rarely have long enough stretches of time where I can be running unless my husband is home.  
• As a stay-at-home mom, I might not work outside the home but I do work.  My ass off.  I rarely have a moment to myself where somebody doesn't need me but I do sometimes find time for "quiet time".  This is quiet time for my kids and myself. It is good for all involved. Now that my 2 year old is trying to be done with naps, this means that he spends time with quiet toys or books in his crib or heaven forbid, sometimes I turn on ELMO for him.  ELMO buys me a good half hour.  A nap buys me about 1-2 hours.  The other kids...one is usually in school  and the other one can self entertain for up to an hour.  This buys me some time to fit in a run up to 8 miles.  
• Yes, I would say that being a SAHM gives me more options for fitting in my runs now that I have a treadmill.  However, when I worked outside the home, I had more time to myself to where I could leave work on time (rarely did that as a teacher) and hit the gym BEFORE picking up my kids.  I also had the option of working out before work but this meant getting up REALLY REALLY early since teachers have to be at school by 7:30.  But it was possible.  
• It really is all about priorities.  This is different for everyone.  If it is important enough, we usually find time.  
• I own a treadmill...this is key for me.  Last time I trained for a marathon, I went to the gym to use the treadmill at night, I rarely slept through the night (baby), and by the time the day was over and it was time to run, I was so exhausted that I often shortened my workouts.  This time around, I am well rested, have more options for running, am more driven and can wake up earlier since I sleep through the night. 
• I multi-task!!  Okay, so I don't consider my walk with God a "task" or chore but it is something I want to make time for.  I often pray, listen to worship music or meditate on an idea/subject while I run.  My running time can also be used as self-time  and time with God.
• When it is nice outside, I take my oldest daughter on her bike and put the other two in a stroller and we run together.  This is not only quality time with my kids but it is also a wonderful opportunity to GET OUTSIDE and model a healthy and active lifestyle for them!    

Things I give up so that I have time to train (Again, this is only temporary...this training is for a set goal in April.  It isn't my entire life!) :

• television (I still watch some.  Just not much. This one was easy since I have never been too big of t.v person.)
• writing.  This is important to me but my writing has taken a back burner for a few months.  And that's okay.  
• reading for book club.  Most of my reading now is nonfiction material related to training, nutrition, etc.  
• sleeping in later
• napping
• lounging around
• I admit, I'm giving up some time with my family.  I don't feel too guilty for this.  I do, however, stay conscious about the time that I AM with them and I make it count.  
• reading as many blogs as I used to...I'm missing many of them.  
• staying up super late  

Why do I do it?  
Now this is a pretty deep question that could be a blog post all on its own.  But a brief answer to this question is:

I'm doing this because it is fun!  It is a challenge for me to see what I can do with this one body that I have.  This one life.  It is exciting to try out new training strategies, more mileage, fueling better, etc.  Seeing results is energizing and makes me want to keep climbing.  Finding friends out there with common goals is motivating and sharing training with them is also fun!  And inspiring.  I feel like my training makes me stronger in every other area of my life.  It helps me live with focus, health, a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and it makes me want to bring the same fire and energy to so many other things that I do.

1.  Wow, my second post in 24 hours!  You'd think I'm on vacation or something.  Oh, wait, I am.   Thank you for your comments about my training from my last post on Mileage.  Again, 85 miles a week is NOT my typical training week.  This was just a sample taken from last Wednesday to Today. Way too high for a regular weekly mileage for me right now.  I'm really trying to be conscious of not pushing myself too hard and also not holding back too much...there is a fine line here. However, I am excited to see this number and feel strong after running that much.  Makes me proud of my hard work.

2.  Also in my earlier post, someone asked me if I count my calories.  I'm assuming they  were wondering if I'm counting my calories to make sure I'm getting enough.  The answer is No.  I eat based off my hunger and if I think I'm getting enough.  The thing is, I'm always hungry.  I eat a lot and I try to eat lots of good calories and carbs so that I'm not filling up on junk.  This can be tricky during this time of year.  I also don't make myself feel guilty for eating "junk". I eat healthy most of the time but I certainly indulge in pizza, sweets, and the occasional french fries.  I've found it nice to start my day (after my morning run) with a big bowl of oatmeal with toasted whole wheat bread.  I'll post more on this another time.  During my last marathon training, I don't think I ate enough carbs and I think I deprived myself of too much.  I'm learning this time around that I NEED those high carb foods!!  

Are you training for something?  Why do you do it?  And How DO YOU make the time so that your goals are a priority in your life?

Amanda