Who elses running has struggled with the kids ... - Couch to 5K

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Who elses running has struggled with the kids summer holidays?

alarkin1979 profile image
alarkin1979Graduate
10 Replies

I had my last run on last Monday. Finding it hard to find me time. With the children being off for the holidays

Worried incase fitness levels will reduce.

My hubby wotks 11hour days shift patterns. So its qiite hard to find the times to get out there. I so miss it. Having withdrawls. Lol

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alarkin1979 profile image
alarkin1979
Graduate
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10 Replies
rmnsuk profile image
rmnsukGraduate

yeah, they are all in my local park - oh that's not what you meant is it - ooops

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate

I commiserate. My kids are bigger now (teens) so when I go running they're still in bed (and sometimes still are when I get back). I'm guessing yours are too small to be left unattended. Here's an idea for you: Could you do a babysitting swap with another mum, whereby you look after each other's kids in turn so you can both get "me time"? I used to do that over the school holidays with friends when our kids were small - we took it in turns to have our own mini 'playgroup', and it worked out well as the kids knew each other and saw it as "playtime" rather than feeling they'd been fobbed off so that mummy could get out for a well-earned breather :D

alarkin1979 profile image
alarkin1979Graduate in reply to mfamilias

That is a good idea but the 3 of them also hav additional needs. People who take care of our children needs training.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate in reply to alarkin1979

Sounds like you have your hands full there... Looks like you'll have to sort out a plan with hubby and stick it on the wall. Eleven hour shifts are long though :(

dagshar profile image
dagsharGraduate

For me it's the opposite - I have a lot more time during the hols as my 2 are older and have been/are away a lot. The main benefit of the holidays is that there are no regular activities during the week/no home work and as school governor no meetings!

I sympathise with you though and wish you all the best!

jaynekate profile image
jaynekate

Yes, that's frustrating alarkin.

My boy has a week with his dad then a week with me. He's with me this week and I'll either plead with him to come out with me or leave him at home for 30 mins On his iPod touch. He's 10 but I wouldn't have done so last year so found the same prob as you. Would they be old enough to play in the playground at a park while you run around the edge?

blue-notes profile image
blue-notesGraduate

When I read your headline I thought at first "Yes, me!", because I've been rapidly sliding into holiday habits with them: sleeping in, then finding it too hot to run and generally not wanting to be bothered. But when I read on and realized how lazy I had become, I just put on my gear and went out. So, thanks for the unintended kick in the proverbial, even if that doesn't help you right now.

In your case I think I would invest into training a babysitter so that you have the possibility to get out, be it for running or whatever. I honestly believe every person looking after three little ones deserves a little breather once in a while.

jaynekate profile image
jaynekate

Just read what you said about them needing extra attention so leaving them isn't an option. You'll not lose too much fitness, don't fret!

gary_bart profile image
gary_bart

If you "half-trained" a babysitter just enough to deal with anything that can't wait say 5 minutes, then maybe just for now you could go with babysitter and kids to the nearest local park with play facilities (that might even be your warm up walk), and then do small circuits? It's not quite the same as heading out on a run, but you can cover the same distance in small circles (or, better, a figure of 8, so you don't get dizzy). Not ideal, but not too terrible, either.

You needn't even stick to the program. Maybe try fartleks (it's a real Swedish word, apparently). Sprint away from the kids for say 30 seconds (ow!), and then get your breath back by circling in on them. You could make a game of it?

At worst, you could run up and down the stairs, and drive yourself and the neighbours mad. :-)

SillyMummyPants profile image
SillyMummyPants

I'm in a similar position so I got on gumtree and bought a 2nd hand treadmill. You can pick them up quite cheap. It is a monstrosity in the corner of the room but it means I can train and keep an eye on them. It will be going in the shed after the hols but is great as I also don't have to make a complete prat of myself in my own locality.

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