Do you have a busy schedule and struggle to find time for race training? These time management tips will help you balance it all!
I am so excited today because I am co-hosting the Tuesdays on the Run Linkup with April at Run the Great Wide Somewhere, Erika at MCM Mama Runs, and Patty at No Guilt Life! Since I am wrapping up my training for the Cherry Blossom Run and looking forward to training for the 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Half Marathon, I thought it’d be great to share and learn some time management tips on how to balance life while training!
[bctt tweet=”It’s Tuesdays on the Run! We’re talking about time management while training! #totr “]
Time Management Training Tips
If you’ve ever trained for a race, you probably learned quickly that it easily takes up a LOT of your time. With warming up, cooling down, stretching, and cross-training, not to mention running itself, you’ve basically got a part-time job! It’s so important to balance training with your regular life, and while it can be challenging, there are some tried and true methods that make it a lot easier! Check it out below!
Evaluate Your Goals
How serious are you about your upcoming race? Is this a fun run, are you shooting for a big PR, or are you somewhere in between? Are you coming back from injury? Knowing your goals for your race will tell you how much time you’ll need to dedicate to your training. For example, when I trained for the Rock and Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon last summer, I was running 3 days a week since it was my first half marathon in nearly 2 years due to past injuries, and I didn’t want to push myself too hard. For the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, I’ve been running 4 days a week. I’m hoping that the extra time I’m taking to train will pay off when I reach the finish line! When you know how much time you’ll need for your goals, you can schedule accordingly.
This is my “I’m in serious training mode” faceWrite It All Down!
Now it’s time to make your schedule. Do you use a planner? Keeping a running journal is extremely helpful not only to monitor your progress, but to get a good gage on your time management. I work with a running coach, and I record all of my training runs on Final Surge, which is awesome! My coach assigns my training runs, and when I complete them each week, I upload the data and add my own comments. Each week tallies how many miles and how much time I spent running, which is so helpful! It’s also easy for me to move around my runs to better accommodate my schedule.
My training calendar on Final Surge. Very helpful to keep track of my runs!But there are so many other ways that you can keep a log of your training. You just have to find what works for you. Here are just a few suggestions:
- Runkeeper
- Nike+ Running – a really great app that I use year-round
- Google Calendar – I still place my runs here so that I don’t forget
- Blogging – I do it every week!
- Simple Pencil and Paper!
Set Your Priorities and SHARE Them
Once you know what your goals are for your race, you have to set your priorities between training and everything else! The bottom line is this: sacrifices will have to be made. It’s important to let your friends and loved ones know how important your training is to you, and that you may not be as available as you normally would be. And don’t feel guilty about that either!
Sometimes training for a race can be an isolating experience. Maybe your family doesn’t understand why you’re always out the door heading for a run. Try to see things from their point of view and make sure you’re not using your training as an excuse to be distant from difficult people or situations!
Let your loved ones be a part of the experience whenever possible. Push your child in the stroller on one of your easier runs. Invite your friends to cheer you on at your next 5K. Post training photos and share your accomplishments on Instagram or Facebook!
Make Yourself Flexible
As much as you may try to schedule your day down to the hour (I know I have done this SO many times!), there will always be something unpredictable that will throw off your training – an impromptu night out, a rescheduled appointment, terrible weather, or a sick family member. Everything can’t be planned. Sometimes, believe it or not, training has to take a backseat to “real life”!
One way that I try to prevent these situations is by reviewing my racing schedule at the beginning of each week to see where I have room for flexibility. For example, this week I had two runs scheduled for Monday and Wednesday as part of my taper, but since there is rain in the forecast for most of the week, I need to move my Wednesday run indoors on the treadmill after work. I know that this will get me home later than usual and will impact where I’ll be able to park my car when I get home. It’s a small sacrifice and somewhat inconvenient, but I’m getting my run done no matter what!
Here are some other ways that you can stay flexible and stay on track with your race training:
- Split up a long run over 2 days
- Squeeze in a run or workout during your lunch hour
- Move a morning run to the evening or vice-versa
- Keep a set of running clothes at work or in your car
Race training can be one of the most rewarding experiences you have as a runner, and managing your time effectively will provide huge dividends at the end of the day. Hopefully, you’ll find these tips useful when you start training! What are the strategies that you use to keep your life balanced while training for a race?
Great tips! It took me a long time to be flexible, but I can run after work if I really need to!
Great tips! Thanks for being our guest host this week!
Sharing my runs publicly (hello, blog!) has really helped me this training cycle! Now I feel more of a responsibility to go running or work out. I love all these tips! Thanks for hosting 🙂
Yes, blogging is great for tracking your runs! Sometimes training is more of a mental challenge than physical! And you’re welcome 🙂
Good advice Janelle! I so agree that learning to be flexible about how to get all of your workouts done is key!
Thanks Michelle! You gotta be flexible!!
These are all really great tips! I couldn’t agree with you more on setting the priorities and sharing them. I’ve recently become more involved with sharing my training through my social media for a)the accountability but also b) the support!
Thanks for guest hosting the week! 🙂
Some people may find it obnoxious, but I think it’s great to share your training successes on social media, plus you never know who you’re inspiring! 🙂
I’ve ended up calling my training as a plan since life forces me to be flexible. I feel like a schedule is more set, but there are absolutely days when I need to improvise or just skip a workout.
good tips! hope to see ya in DC on sunday 🙂
Hope to see you too Courtney!
Such a great topic! It is really hard to fit everything in but I think being flexible and realizing that you can do it all are keys. Plus it is always great to get your friends and family involved somehow!
I’m so happy that my boyfriend is also a runner. It helps. He actually gets more annoyed at the time I spend blogging than my time running!
Great tips! I especially love the suggestions about writing everything down and being flexible. I am amazed at how motivated I am to run simply by seeing the miles add up week after week in my training log! And, life frequently gets in the way of our training plans – so being flexible is a MUST. I think it takes a lot of pressure off, too, knowing that the training plan is not written in stone!
Agreed! I like final surge because I can easily move my runs around on the calendar by dragging it to a different day. Training logs are very motivating!
I use a planner for all aspects of my life, not just my workouts and it has helped tremendously!
Me too! Planners make me feel sane!
Hi Janelle! Great tips! I think some of these can apply to any type of workout routine. You should have a plan, be flexible and also know that you may be making sacrifices along the way. Although I’m not much of a runner, I will certainly look back at this if the time comes to train! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! 🙂
Great tips! I wish I would have suggested these when I started running 🙂
Love this! And absolutely agree about evaluating your goals. If life is too crazy busy, it might NOT be the best time to train for a time goal. Better to be honest about that going in than to be frustrated during the whole training! Great post.
So glad to have you guest host this week! Love the topic suggestion, so relevant! Your training calendar is great and I think flexibility is a wonderful tip!
Thanks so much April, it was fun getting to share tips and pick up some along the way!
Great, comprehensive post on training! Love all the tips. Being flexible is key.
Thanks Wendy! I’m constantly moving my runs around to make it work!
I hadn’t thought about it before but you’re right – the seriousness of the goal definitely affects how much of a priority the training takes in my schedule. For this training cycle, I have a specific time goal so I’ve been really diligent with workouts. For the half marathon I did in January as part of the Rebel Challenge, I just wanted to finish and have fun, so I really only prioritized the back to back runs on the weekend. Great advice!
Thanks Jessica! And that’s a perfect example of how much of a difference it makes!
Great tips! I recently switched to the Run Less, Run Faster plan which calls for 3 runs per week vs. the 5 I used to do. It’s so much better for me, especially because I like to get in at least 3 days of strength training. Less days of running also help me enjoy running more 🙂
Oh I’ve heard great things about that plan, that’s awesome that it’s been going well for you. I can’t believe how comfortable I’ve become running 4 days a week!
These are very sound tips. I plan to share this with my runner friends who are serious about their runs and their races. #wowlinkup
That’s awesome…thank you!
Terrific tips- I swear by Runkeeper, but agree that more publicly stating your goals is even better for accountability. I think I too will start keeping some running shoes/clothes in my trunk so I can hope for #noexcuses!!
Accountability helps when you’re feeling a little lazy! Yes, keeping the clothes handy helps so much!
Great tips! I need to get back into running, I took a little break since I have runner’s knee. It is getting better so I need to get back at it so I can race this summer! I want to do a half marathon eventually, but I need to get my running base back up again. Maybe later this summer or fall I will get my mileage up safely without bothering my knee again! #wowlinkup
Oh, I have had trouble with Runner’s Knee in the past too…I feel your pain! I’m glad you’re getting better…I was told strengthening my quads, hips, and glutes and making sure you’re wearing proper shoes would help with knee problems. I hope you can get back out there!