Wringing out the time to run

When I am in the elevator at work at lunchtime, dressed in my running getup, colleagues often ask me where I find the time to run. I resist the urge to answer with an exaggerated glance at my watch.

I feel obnoxious enough as it is in my tights and cap and headphones, a reluctant ambassador of the message, if I can fit it in, you should be able to fit it in too!

Don’t worry, I know it’s not true, you don’t have to tell me! Not everybody can allocate the time to exercise. There are only so many hours in a day. And if you’ve got too much shit to do, then you gotta do your shit instead. I get it, believe me!

I am no superwoman. Yes, I have two little kids, a full-time job, a household to upkeep, a board of directors to sit on, lawns to mow, basement leaks to mop up, parenting books to read, speech therapy to administer, back-floats to teach. I do all that stuff because I have to look after my family.

But I also have to look after me. I am a critical pillar in my family. If I crumble, it all falls down. Not just all around me, but right on top of me.

I think all moms know that they have to look after themselves. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are plenty of moms out there who are suffering because they are the stump of the totem pole, buried deep in the dirt through no fault of their own. But I think that any mom who is surviving, is taking the time to look after themselves somehow.

There are plenty of ways in which moms can look after themselves. And how you choose to do that is deeply personal. What works for one mom might not work for another. And you have to factor in time, energy, money, and most importantly, net benefit to your soul.

My life is complicated enough as it is. When I became a parent, I decided I would always have one thing on the go that was mine. Just one thing. Over the years that has taken several forms, sometimes it’s blogging, or it could be writing a novel, or renovating a bathroom, or some kind of athletic pursuit.

Right now, I’m training for my first triathlon. And it’s a lot of training, putting miles into three different disciplines. It’s a challenge, for sure. But it’s keeping my weight in check, keeping me fit and strong, allowing me to blow off steam, and giving me something to look forward to.

Make no mistake, it comes at a price. I don’t take breaks at work, I don’t socialize with colleagues at lunch. I don’t read novels or magazines anymore, I don’t write, I don’t bake. I hardly go out at all because I’m pretty pooped a lot of the time.

Not much to admire, is it people? Running isn’t for everyone and I’m not challenging anybody but myself when I go out. I choose to run, you choose to have a relaxing lunch with your colleagues. Neither is better than the other. All I know is what’s right for me, so I wring out the time for it.