How many times have you used the “I didn’t have the time” excuse to justify missing a run? I suspect more often than is required, as with a bit of creativity there is normally a way to fit a run into the busiest of schedules.
The obvious solutions for making the time to run are to either get up that little bit earlier for a pre-breakfast jog or combine your run with a commute to work. But if that’s not possible – or, like me, you just simply aren’t a morning person – you are going to have to be a little bit more creative.
My biggest tip for the busy runner is to always have an emergency kit bag in the car to take advantage of those unexpected windows of opportunity. How many times have you thought to yourself, “If only I had my trainers with me!”
If you’re a dad, you probably spend lots of time in the car, shuttling kids back and forth. If you find yourself with a small block of time in between pick-ups and drop-offs, use it for a run rather than heading home for a bit. Combining kids activities with running can also work well. Running around the sports field while they are at football practice, or investing in a baby stroller to get out of the house with the younger ones, are just a couple of simple options.
If the opportunity arises, but you are limited to half an hour, make it count. A warm-up, 20-minute tempo run and warm-down is a worthwhile session. Similarly, dropping that TV series you only watched because the wife does can free up some run time.
However you manage it, ensuring you maintain the consistency in your training is the number one way to help you reach your potential. So don’t forget: every run counts!
