Okay, here’s a post I’ve been planning for awhile, except I had initially planned to discuss it in the abstract. It’s about when the running stops.
Well, no. Not stops. But diminishes. For the past two years or so I’ve been running 30 – 35 miles per week over the course of 3 – 4 days per week. I have run almost exclusively after work because I am not a morning person. I sometimes adjusted my schedule around hanging out with friends, but it was never very hard.
Even in this easily managed period, I started to wonder: how long can I keep up this time commitment? Certainly not indefinitely…
Two months ago I started seeing someone. And I did the unthinkable: I blew off a few runs to hang with him. No, not ALL my runs. I’ve come in more or less on point with my mileage more weeks than I haven’t. But I have a sneaking suspicion it’ll happen again… and maybe not even entirely infrequently. (Just to clarify: he has never asked me to skip anything. It’s my own decision to say I’m not busy.)
Now, this doesn’t come down 100% on the head of the boy. We’re dating, that’s all. Heck, he’s on vacation this week; when he gets back he may well inform me that he found his time away from me highly enjoyable and would I kindly remove myself from his universe permanently. It could be a self-solving problem. It’s not impossible. But neither is it the point.
Because: six or seven hours dedicated to working out every week, plus a handful of ballet classes. That has been my M.O. for a very long time. And as much as it’s worked for me in the past, I have to accept that it’s unlikely to be sustainable forever. I mean, maybe things WILL work out with this guy; countless new time-sucking scenarios could stem from that. Or maybe I’ll get a promotion or new job that’s more demanding. Maybe I’ll find myself unexpectedly caring for a sick relative, or needing to get a second job to make ends meet. I don’t know. And I don’t know what impact it will have on my training schedule.
So I’m wondering: has anyone made the transition from plenty of time to run to not enough? How did you deal? How do you balance your training with work and personal life? Or do you recommend that I cut ties with all non-running-buddy humans?
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I have had issues getting my running in due to puppy drama… never ending puppy drama lol I have been able to manage to pop a workout DVD in for 30 minutes each morning though and running when I can. It will all work out. Good luck!
Awwwwww. Puppy drama is the best kind of drama! I guess more cross-training is probably a good idea…
I'm officially slacking on running at the moment. But I'm also in the midst of some work stress and family drama, and basically all I want to do when I come home is go out with Markers (or stay in and cuddle with him and/or the cat). And I've kinda been forsaking my running for that, because I know while I need to keep running because I have EVERY RACE IN THE WORLD between the end of next month and mid-January, you gots to keep yourself sane when you can. I very firmly believe that. I also think now is pretty good slacking time, because, you know, the death heat of summer and all…
Agreed. And really, who WOULDN'T rather cuddle a kitty? (And a nice boy, I guess. But mostly a kitty.)